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All square against the All Whites

The Valley faithful welcomed the new Addicks era on Saturday but Charlton had to settle for a draw against the All Whites.

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink may well have been on the mind of the Charlton fans who ahead of the game - but head coach Iain Dowie would surely have been pleased at the contribution of two other members of his striking contingent.

Marcus Bent gave Charlton a first-half lead with a sweetly-struck drive and his England international namesake Darren Bent made a welcome return to action following a freak finger injury.

On another afternoon Marcus 'Big' Bent may have toasted a hat-trick while Darren also looked lively in a 25-minute cameo.

Also, the SE7 faithful would have been impressed by Costa Rican trialist Christian Bolanos who set up the opening goal before Campbell Banks stumbled through to level in the 58th minute.

Visiting keeper Chris Paston, once of Walsall, made sure of a creditable draw for his countrymen with a couple of smart stops - and the Kiwis will be more than happy to nick a point off their Premiership hosts.

New was the word of the day at The Valley with head coach Dowie patrolling the home technical area for the first time since replacing the long-serving Alan Curbishley this summer.

The Addicks faithful were also to embrace their new manager together with star summer signing Hasselbaink.

The Valley is the latest destination on a productive football passport for a Dutchman whose Premiership scoring record is bettered by just six strikers.

His partner on his Valley debut was Marcus Bent, one of two survivors from Wednesday's surprise defeat at Welling United.

England star Luke Young captained the home sides after securing his future for the next four seasons this summer with Dowie making nine changes after the Park View Road reverse.

Thomas Myhre took over in goal behind a centre-back pairing of Hermann Hreidarsson and Talal El Karkouri while youngster Nathan Ashton got another chance to impress at left-back.

Costa Rican Bolanos was the other retainee from Wednesday and started on the left with Dennis Rommedahl supplying the width on the other side.

Dependable duo Bryan Hughes and Matt Holland patrolled the centre of midfield while Darren Bent was named amongst the substitutes.

The home faithful were also likely to catch a first glimpse of youngster Simon Walton, snapped up from Leeds United in the summer, and another Spanish trialist Xavier Farinos, also named in the replacements.

The Kiwis offered the first noteworthy effort after three minutes when a curling free-kick from Fulham's Chris James cannoned off the wall and spun just wide of the upright.

The hosts showed for the first time seven minutes later when the pony-tailed Bolanos collected a fine pass from El Karkouri and shrugged off James Pritchett but could only curl a shot into the side netting.

An angled cross shot from Jarrod Smith flew into the side netting at the other end while fine persistent play from Hasselbaink carved out another decent opportunity in the 17th minute.

The Dutchman chased a lost cause on the right and eventually earned a corner.

Rommedahl's flag-kick picked out Hughes in the middle but the midfielder was left to kick the post in frustration as his header flew just over the bar.

More good work from Hasselbaink moments later saw Rommedahl sent clear on the right and the Dane's lightning pace saw him reach the ball ahead of onrushing keeper Mark Paston.

Sadly he was forced wide and with no support in the middle, his eventual drive from an impossible angle went behind off a defender.

James curled another free-kick over the bar from the edge of the box and Bolanos curled another effort over seconds after Hreidarsson had penalty claims turned down when he appeared to be baulked in the box.

By this time Rommedahl was enjoying plenty of joy on the right hand side against the shaggy-haired Tony Lochhead.

Darren Bent received hearty acclaim from the home faithful as he warmed up for the first time and he got a good look at a thumping 35-yard drive from Andrew Barron that flew just wide on the half hour.

And while one Bent warmed up on the sidelines another gave his manager something to think about when he opened the scoring ten minutes before the break.

The impressive Bolanos was the architect, clipping a glorious ball over the All Whites rearguard for Marcus Bent who lashed a terrific low drive past Paston and into the bottom left corner.

He might have added a second two minutes later with the Kiwis rearguard all at sea following a lofted Rommedahl pass but this time he lacked composure and blazed wildly off target.

The Addicks were purring by this stage and Rommedahl was the next to go close when he weaved inside and shot just wide.

Myhre, hardly tested in the opening period, proved his worth four minutes before the break, however, reacting well to tip a curling drive from James over the top.

There were no changes at the interval and the Addicks ought to have doubled their lead four minutes in.

Young picked out Rommedahl on the right and his floated centre somehow eluded Marcus Bent at the far post with the striker cursing his luck for a good few seconds later as he leaned onto the upright.

Paston dashed off his line to foil Hasselbaink moments later while a raid down the right from Pritchard set up an opening for the lively James to fire over the top.

And the Kiwis were right back in it on 58 minutes.

Confusion seemed to reign in the Addicks rearguard as possession was squandered cheaply and, almost in slow motion, Campbell Banks latched on to a Shane Smeltz pass, evaded a couple of challenges and stumbled past Myhre before rolling his shot into the empty net.

Chants of 'you should have played for England' accompanied the popular arrival of Darren Bent for his namesake in the 65th minute.

And there was a new look midfield axis with Walton getting a Valley debut alongside Radostin Kishishev with Holland and Hughes making way.

Stephan Andersen took over from Myhre between the posts two minutes later and Darren Bent produced a critical block in his own box to block a volley from Vicelich after a sweeping free-kick.

Hasselbaink and Rommedahl left the action to rich acclaim in the 75th minute as youngsters Lloyd Sam and James Walker got a late chance to stretch their legs, and back in his favoured penalty area Darren Bent saw Paston block his sweetly-struck effort moments later.

Despite seeing plenty of the ball in the final third in the closing stages the Addicks could not cash in as the match ended, just like the new Valley Review matchday programme - all square.

Charlton: Myhre (Andersen 67); Young, Ashton, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri (Fortune 83); Bolanos (Euell 83), Hughes (Kishishev 65), Holland (Walton 65), Rommedahl (Sam 75); Hasselbaink (Walker 75), M Bent (D Bent 65).

Sub (not used): Farinos.

Goals: M Bent 35

New Zealand: Paston, Pritchett, Lochhead, Old, Vicelich; James, Barron, Brown, Smith, Smeltz, Banks.

Subs (not used): Bannatyne, Boyens, Hay, De Gregorio, Killen, Fisher, Fleming, Urlovic, Wilson.

Goals: Banks 58

Referee: R Styles

Attendance: 10,237

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