U23S REPORT | Charlton 4 Sheffield Wednesday 1

Josh Parker bagged a double as Charlton’s U23s cruised to victory against Sheffield Wednesday at The Valley on Friday afternoon. 

The forward – who has been struggling with illness for the last seven days – netted once either side of half time in SE7 with both goals being notched by his head. 

Reeco Hackett-Fairchild and Abraham Odoh also hit the target and the win sealed a fourth successive win in Professional Development League 2 South for Jason Euell’s side.

The Addicks grabbed the lead on 12 minutes. Some neat footwork on the edge of the box from Albie Morgan saw him find skipper Taylor Maloney and he sent in a low cross to Hackett-Fairchild. The forward then turned on a sixpence and fired the ball into the roof of the net. 

It was a great bit of play from Hackett-Fairchild and four minutes later he helped his team double their lead. He broke down the left a sent in a delicious cross that strike-partner Parker headed home. 

Wednesday forward Sam Winnall stung the palms of goalkeeper Henry Newcombe with a powerful shot on 28 minutes but five minutes later the Addicks made it 3-0. 

A mis-hit clearance landed at the feet of Parker inside the box. He found Hackett-Fairchild, who fired a shot against the post and Odoh was there to gobble up the rebound. 

Charlton had completely dominated and it was almost four right on half-time but Wednesday stopper Josh Render made a great save to flick a Parker shot from a corner onto the crossbar. 

Ten minutes after the break, Charlton did get a fourth. Morgan whipped in a set-piece from the left-hand corner quadrant and Parker glanced a header into the far corner for his second of the game. 

Wednesday pulled one back 15 minutes from time when full-back Warren Clarke slammed home from a tight angle and substitute Conor Grant then struck the post, as they looked for a second goal.

The Addicks were reduced to 10 men in the 93rd minute when Mikhail Kennedy was given a straight red card for a foul on Owls goalscorer Clarke. That was the final piece of action as Euell's boys held on to win.

Charlton U23s: Newcombe, Yao, Bowry, Stevenson, Scott, Maloney (c), Morgan (Kennedy 59), Odoh, Doughty, Hackett-Fairchild (Ocran 77), Parker (Cummings 89).

Subs (not used): Ibrahim, Birch. 

Goals: Hackett-Fairchild 12, Parker 16, 55 Odoh 33

Tickets for Charlton’s next home game – against Portsmouth on Saturday, March 9th – are on sale and can be purchased online by clicking here

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