Charlton'S U18s fell to a 1-0 defeat at Sparrows Lane against Barnsley on Saturday afternoon.

A Marley Dawkins 14th-minute own goal separated the sides in New Eltham.

The young Addicks came close early on when skipper Jacob Safa breezed through the Tykes’ midfield, before letting fly with a low effort which was comfortably claimed by the visiting stopper.

Shortly after, the visitors took the lead through an unfortunate deflection at the back. A cross was fizzed across the face of goal and the ball parried into the path of Dawkins, whose touch flicked into the back of the net. 

At the other end, a quick free-kick saw the ball spread out to Ellis McMillan who cut in from the flank and saw his strike collected by Aston Wilson.

Substitute Stuart Oduro was next to test the Barnsley keeper as he received the ball on the edge of the box. The midfielder curled his strike towards the bottom corner, forcing an important stop.

McMillan came closest for the young Addicks will full-time rapidly approaching as Michael Mylona delivered a cross into the box, but McMillan was unable to convert.

Up next for the U18s is a trip to south Yorkshire as Pearce’s side lock horns with Sheffield United on Wednesday, April 16th (KO 2pm BST).

Charlton: Williams (Woodham 65); Valentine (Randall 78), Elliott, Dawkins, Davis (Hines-Leacock 78); Brown, Safa (c), Belton (Mylona 65); Burnham (Oduro 65), Richman, McMillan

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