U21 Professional Development League 2
Team: Lumley, Furlong, Kakay, Diakite, Dieng, Haran (Wise), Manning, Rosenthal, Grego-Cox, Corkery (O’Sullivan), Ismaji (N’Guessan)
Sub Not Used: Brzozowski
A Charlton player was booked in the opening minutes.
Joe Lumley has been in superb form of late and he went down to make a great save to deny the visitors.
Nathan Corkery’s through pass found Reece Grego-Cox and, as Dimi Mitov advanced, the R’s No.9 tipped the ball past him but unfortunately the ball ran out of play.
Grego-Cox went on a good run but should have pulled the trigger whilst well placed in the box. The ball went out to Ryan Manning who then shot just wide. At the other end Joe Lumley made double saves from close range.
As Ryan Manning was waiting to take a corner, Mr Donnellan booked a second Addicks player. The ball was headed by French trialist Nathanael Dieng which then had the Charlton keeper stretching low as it just evaded the post.
Approaching half-time, the visitors took the lead following a long clearance when Brandon Hanlan’s low shot hit the back of the net via the inside of the post. Half-time: 0-1.
Reece Grego-Cox was at full pelt from midfield and with two players on him, he went wide and still managed to put in a great cross from close to the bye-line.
Ryan Manning’s well-placed, side-foot shot was heading for just under the crossbar, which had the Charlton keeper at full stretch to concede a corner.
As with the U18’s on Saturday, three substitutions were made simultaneously which saw the introduction on the hour mark of Harly Wise, Joseph N’Guessan and Callum O’Sullivan at the expense of James Haran (who had been booked), Nathan Corkery and another trialist, Sphat Ismajli.
After the Rangers defence had failed to successfully clear the ball, a Charlton
player absolutely belted the ball on target from close range which Joe Lumley kept out with an amazing one-handed save.
Joseph N’Guessan swung over a great cross into the box but a well-placed Tom Rosenthal couldn’t manage to successfully control the ball to put it away.
The visitors really should have doubled their lead when a Charlton player was put through into a dangerous position but ended up firing wide of Joe Lumley’s far post. Full-time: 0-1.
I thought the R’s were the better side overall, particularly in the 1st half. I’m a big fan of Joe Lumley and he was superb again. I was pleased to see Reece start and he worked his socks off and ended up wide right in the 2nd half.
One problem, which ChrisPTenner has been closely monitoring, concerns the large number of players who aren’t playing regularly. Chris reckons that 51 different players have turned out for the U21’s so far and that figure doesn’t include 19-year-old midfielder Joshua Wallen who arrived recently from Australia.
This victory for Simon Clark’s side made it 10 wins in 11 matches to keep them top, seven points ahead of Millwall, who have two games in hand.
Gareth Ainsworth, Pat Holland and Richard Langley were among the attendees.
Steve Russell