Charlton’s U21s snatched a dramatic late 1–0 victory over AFC Bournemouth’s U21s on Friday afternoon.
Chris Lock’s side were comprehensively beaten by AFC Bournemouth the last time the two teams met, but Friday’s performance marked a significant improvement from the young Addicks.
George Hardy produced a flurry of fine saves midway through the first half, as Bournemouth’s Jonny Day repeatedly tested him with a series of dangerous efforts.
Both teams had the chance to go ahead before half-time, but they went in level at the break.
The Cherries came close to breaking the deadlock again on the hour mark, working the ball sharply inside the Addicks’ box. However, Dionte Davis produced a superb defensive block to deny Bournemouth the lead.
Bournemouth applied sustained pressure throughout, but the young Addicks stood firm at the back. Their resilience was rewarded late on, when a deep cross from the left hand side picked out the trialist at the back post, who headed home to seal all three points for Charlton.
The U21s are next in action on Tuesday, April 14th as they take on Wigan Athletic’s U21s away at Christopher Park (KO 12pm BST).
Charlton: Hardy; Brown (c), Elliott, Ewens-Findlay, Davis; Belton, Washington-Amoah, Mwamba (Amissah 69); Trialist, Dixon (Sol-Loza 69), Reid (Lock 69)
Subs (not used): Williams, Kuczynski
Goal: Trialist 87
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