Town’s U18s warmed up for their FA Youth Cup third round tie against Leeds United on Tuesday night, a for game for which
Coach Russell Osman elected to leave in-form striker Jack Marriott and 15-year-old midfielder Byron Lawrence on the bench, whilst Charlton named England U18 captain Jordan Cousins at right-back.
Neither side created any real chances during the first half, with Town coming closest when Callum Bennett’s shot was blocked from the edge of the area.
As the half-time whistle was approaching, Town keeper Conor O’Donnell did well to get down at the feet of Adebayo Azeez and prevent the Addicks striker from getting in an effort on goal.
Within two minutes of the restart, Azeez had a good chance to give his side the lead but he placed his shot wide of O’Donnell’s post.
Bradley Jordan pulled his effort across goal and Harry Lennon headed Callum Harriott’s freekick just wide when he should have hit the target.
O’Donnell ensured the scores remained level on 69 when Bradley Jordan’s corner was met by Azeez, but the young Irishman produced a fine reflex save to claw the ball away from danger.
Osman introduced Marriott, Lawrence and Mark Timlin with 15 minutes remaining, but within a minute the visitors had taken the lead.
Charlton sub Tobi Sho-Silva held the ball up in the area and with the Town defence not closing the ball down, fellow sub Joe Pigott was left with the simple task of side-footing the ball past O’Donnell.
Two minutes later O’Donnell was again called into action when he got down well to prevent Sho-Silva scoring again, after the Addicks striker had out-muscled Elliot Scotcher.
Town offered little up front, with too many long balls leaving Jack Simmons isolated, and the closest they came to grabbing an equaliser was when Jide Maduako’s effort looped onto the roof of the net following a Scotcher freekick.
Lawrence showed some nice touches during his late cameo, while full-backs Bennett and David October looked solid throughout. But Town will have to up their game if they want to progress to the next round of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday evening.
That game, which kicks off at 7pm, is at Portman Road with tickets £3 for adults and £1 for children and concessions. Meanwhile, Town's U16s recorded a 2-1 victory over their Charlton counterparts.
U18s: O’Donnell, Maduako, Scotcher, October, Jones, Bennett, Simmons, Tiofack (Marriott 74), Meikle (Lawrence 74), Leddy (Timlin 74), Thorsteinsson. Unused: O’Neil, Winter.
Report: James Ager