Charlton’s U18s continued their hot streak with a seventh straight victory on Saturday as they put six goals past Bristol City without reply.
Those seven victories have seen the young Addicks hit a hugely-impressive 29 goals and top-scorer Daniel Kanu was at it again, netting his 12th and 13th goals of the season as he secured a brace against the Robins, with Jason Adigun, Toby Bower, Mack Reilly and Miles Leaburn also getting on the scoresheet in a convincing win.
It took just three minutes for the scoring to get under way as Adigun rose to send a firm header past the goalkeeper from Oliver Hobden’s excellent cross from the right wing.
A handball in the box gave Charlton the chance to score again, only for Reilly to see his spot-kick well saved, but it was not long before the lead was doubled with left-back Bower finding the net on 18 minutes in some style. Stepping up to a free-kick 22 yards from goal, he sent a curling effort inside the right-hand upright to make it 2-0.
Two would become three just four minutes later as Kanu finished off a devastating counter-attack which saw Hobden send in yet another pinpoint cross for the striker to head home.
And Kanu would only have to wait three minutes to secure his brace, combining brilliantly with Adigun to exchange passes before firing low into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the box with an angled drive to put the hosts in complete control with a four-goal cushion going into half-time.
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Indeed, that half-time score could have been even more convincing but for the woodwork coming to the visitors’ rescue on three occasions – Kanu first headed an effort against the post, before firing a shot against the crossbar later in the half, while Adigun also hit the bar with a header.
Charlton continued their dominance into the second period, but had to wait until the 80th minute to net their fifth – Ladapo squaring for Reilly who coolly slotted home from 12 yards.
And it was up to substitute Leaburn to add the cherry on top of the Addicks’ impressive cake to add the sixth in injury-time, getting his head on a ball into the box and teeing himself up to side-foot a volley past the onrushing keeper.
The victory sees Hamza Serrar’s youngsters sit in second position in Professional Development League 2 – South, two points behind leaders Ipswich Town, but with a game in hand.
Charlton U18s: Kone, Hobden (Laquertabua 65), Mitchell, Asiimwe, Bower, Kedwell, Ladapo, Adigun, Huke (Hand 75), Reilly, Kanu (Leaburn 65).
Subs (not used): Okechukwu.
Goals: Adigun 3, Bower 18, Kanu 22, 25, Reilly 80, Leaburn 90+2
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