COLCHESTER UNITED 3

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 6

Under-18 Professional Development League Two

COLCHESTER United under-18s' season finished with an incident-packed defeat against Charlton Athletic, at Florence Park.

There were nine goals, a sending off and a penalty save, as the Addicks consolidated their runners-up spot in the southern division.

Chris Llewellyn's U's side were much younger than their opponents and started with seven under-16 or younger outfield players.

That was in contrast to Charlton, who had six players who will be too old for youth football next season in their starting line-up.

Charlton almost took a second-minute lead when Billy Cracknell somehow managed to divert Powell’s effort onto the post.

And Colchester went behind after 13 minutes when Wiberjotel Ocran headed in from six yards following a cross from the left.

Charlton doubled their lead five minutes later thanks to Jardel Adeyinka's fine solo goal.

Colchester halved the deficit on the half hour when Andre Hasanally fired in from distance.

But little more than 90 seconds later, the two-goal margin was restored as Powell’s low shot from the edge of the box was spilt and Adeyinka tapped in his second.

And things got worse for the U’s on the stroke of half-time when Matt Tricker was sent off for tugging back Ocran, who would have been through on goal.

Charlton squandered a great opportunity to increase their lead early in the second half when Colchester's trialist keeper saved skipper Sarpong-Wiredu's penalty.

And Colchester pulled a goal back when Noah Chilvers intercepted Charlton keeper Osaghae’s pass out and drove into the area to shoot under his dive.

It was 3-3 just before the hour mark after Todd Miller fired low into the far corner.

But parity only lasted for five minutes as Sarmiento restored the Addicks' lead, from Sarpong-Wiredu's pass.

Osaghae denied Hasanally before Charlton extended their lead with 12 minutes remaining through substitute Jordan Zemura.

Zemura and Sarpong-Wiredu both hit the woodwork in quick succession before Brendan Sarpong-Wierdu wrapped up Charlton's win, late on.

COLCHESTER UNITED U18: triallist, Michaels, Sayer (sub Kazeem, 46), Cornish (sub Fouche, 46), Cracknell, Tricker, Miller, triallist, triallist (sub triallist, 64), Chilvers, Hasanally. Substitutes (not used): Maughn, Mudd.