A Lyle Taylor hat-trick helped Charlton into the second round of the FA Cup as the Addicks completed a 5-0 victory over Mansfield Town at The Valley.
The striker, not long off a plane after international duty, was well set-up by Nicky Ajose for his first two goals before completing his hat-trick in the 85th minute with a Claus Jensen-like chip.
Mark Marshall and Ajose were also on the scoresheet as a late flourish gave the scoreline a gloss the Stags didn’t deserve.
The game also saw Patrick Bauer return to the line-up for his first match in 12 as Lee Bowyer again set the side up in his preferred 4-4-2 diamond formation.
Charlton’s first look at goal came in the opening minutes when a deep Tariqe Fosu cross from the left found Taylor but the striker, who missed the target anyway, was adjudged offside.
At the other end Dillon Phillips did very well to palm away an early Danny Rose effort after the striker played a neat one-two with his strike partner CJ Hamilton to find himself free in the area.
After his early cross Fosu threatened again and skipped away from his defender but shot straight at Robert Olejnik after George Lapslie had done well to break free and find the winger.
Charlton took the lead shortly after and again Fosu was involved. Ajose played a one-two with the former Reading man to get in behind the opposition defence on the Charlton left. From there Ajose’s driven cross was perfect for Taylor arriving at just the right time to slide in and poke home from the six yard box.
Shortly after the Addicks took the lead Hamilton looked certain to equalise as he went through on goal but the returning Bauer did brilliantly to stretch and deny the striker.
The visitors certainly had the better of the remainder of the first half and Hamilton really should have scored when he hit the post sliding in trying to tap in a Hayden White cross from the right.
Hamilton then did have the ball in the net with an effort not dis-similar to his left-footed smash in the initial game last Sunday. This time though he was correctly adjudged offside.
Charlton doubled their lead just after the break. A beautiful chipped ball from Billy Clarke found the Toby Stevenson marauding forward. The left back cleverly passed inside to Ajose whose cut-back cross was again into the path of his strike partner and for the second time of the game Taylor made no mistake, this time with a calm, powerful side-footed finish.
White continued to cause problems down the right for the visitors while at the other end Clarke forced a keeper fumble and Ajose fizzed a volley over.
Charlton’s third came in controversial fashion, referee Kevin Johnson appeared to give a free kick Mansfield’s way but then looked to change his mind. The Addicks reacted fasted with Stevenson again breaking down the left and crossing for Marshall to tap home.
The goal of the of game came from Taylor to complete his hat-trick. With five minutes remaining the striker collected the ball drove forward and from just inside the area exquisitely chipped Olejnik.
Ajose got the goal he deserved in stoppage time. Lapslie played a ball over the top and Ajose tapped it past an onrushing Olejnik outside the area and went through on goal to put past a Stags defender as the scoring finished at five.
Charlton: Phillips; Dijksteel, Bauer (Sarpong-Wiredu, 61), Sarr, Stevenson; Clarke (Morgan, 74), Pratley (C) (Marshall, 66), Lapslie, Fosu; Taylor, Ajose
Subs (not used): Steer, Grant, Hackett-Fairchild
Goals: Taylor (11, 53, 85), Marshall (82), Ajose (90)
Booked: Taylor (55, foul on Rose)
Mansfield: Olejnik, Benning, Preston, Pearce (C), Mellis (White, 22), Atkinson, Butcher, Sweeney, Elsnik, Hamilton (Graham, 61), Rose (Walker 61)
Subs (not used): Logan, Law, Gibbens, Blake
Booked: Atkinson (57, foul on Fosu), White (82, dissent), Pearce (84, foul on Fosu)
Referee: K Johnson
Attendance: 1,910 (291 from Mansfield)