Charlton's U23s secured an emphatic victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Princes Park on Monday afternoon.
First-teamers Albie Morgan and Matt Smith both gained vital minutes in midfield for Hamza Serrar's side as Junior Quitirna's penalty was followed up by a brace from Charles Clayden and a strike from a trialist in a 4-0 win.
The hosts registered the first effort on target with 15 minutes on the clock with Morgan looking to pick out the bottom corner from the edge of the box but keeper Josh Render was equal to it.
Morgan was involved again on the half-hour mark as the Addicks came inches away from taking the lead. His inch-perfect ball into the box allowed Quitirna to get in behind the defence and send a volley narrowly past the left-hand upright.
Come the 38th minute, Charlton would have a deserved lead and it came via the penalty spot. The hosts’ trialist in the number 11 shirt was tripped in the box when a ball was flashed across the face of goal and Quitirna stepped up to stick his resulting spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.
It was soon 2-0 thanks to a fine solo effort by Clayden two minutes before the break.
The wide man got down the left-hand side and cut inside before placing a shot into the corner of the net.
Charlton picked up where they left off in the second half and they soon had a third with Clayden securing his brace nine minutes after the restart.
Morgan again picked out a peach of a pass to find Clayden who took on the Owls’ defence on the left-side of the box before firing inside the near post.
The Addicks’ domination continued and they had a four-goal lead by the 61st minute. A neat passing move down the left saw Smith exchange a one-two before trialist number one was teed up to divert the ball home.
There were no more goals to come, although sub Johl Powell came close late on when Render kept him out one-on-one and Charlton saw the rest of the game out in a professional manner, claiming three points for the first time in five games.
Charlton U23s: Harness, Barton, Barker (Vega 72), Mingi, Aidoo, Smith, Morgan, Clayden (Powell 72), Trialist, Quitirna, Trialist.
Subs (not used): Beadle, Henry, Burstow.
Goals: Quitirna 38 (pen), Clayden 43, 54, Trialist 61
(Photos: Tom West)