CHECKATRADE TROPHY REPORT | Charlton 3 Fulham 2

Joe Aribo and Joe Dodoo scored late goals as Charlton came from behind to beat Fulham U21s 3-2 and qualify for the second round of the Checkatrade Trophy. 

Ben Reeves had previously levelled for the Addicks after an early Fulham goal and Mark Marshall was also very impressive in his first start for the club.

The game saw centre-half Jo Cummings and left-back Jamie Mascoll handed their Addicks’ debuts in a side with 11 changes from the team that beat AFC Wimbledon on Saturday

Fulham took a fourth minute lead through Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson who curled in an effort from the edge of the area after a lovely chest down by striker Elijah Adebayo.

Dillon Phillips prevented Adebayo from doubling the lead in the seventh minute when he palmed away after the striker had been cleverly slid in by Thorsteinsson. 

Charlton eased into the game and begun seeing more of the ball with Aribo and Karlan Ahearne-Grant both having efforts blocked. 

Ahearne-Grant gave Fulham goalkeeper Magnus Norman a scare when he picked up an Aribo pass on the left wing and curled an effort just past the post in the 16th minute. 

Ben Reeves hit the post from a tight angle on the right in the 27th minute after a clever pass from Aaron Barnes following a quick Charlton throw. 

Charlton levelled in 30th minute with Reeves netting his second in as many Checkatrade Trophy games. The Addicks moved the ball from left to right with Marshall whipping in a cross of quality from the right wing. Fulham captain Aron Davies headed away but straight into the path of Ben Reeves just inside the penalty spot who calmly passed the ball into the Fulham goal.  

Aribo was denied a wonder goal after picking up the ball in the Charlton half and running to near the Fulham six yard box. His left-footed effort was saved well by Norman. 

The Addicks pressure continued and Ahearne-Grant headed just wide from another fantastic cross from the right wing by Marshall in the 43rd minute. Shortly afterwards Norman was again called in to action when he had to gather a long range, left-footed effort from Reeves.

Just before half-time Barnes bravely blocked an overhead effort from Adebayo meaning the sides went in at the break at 1-1. 

Fulham started the second half brightly and Phillips saved comfortably to stop a Thorsteinsson header.

Again Charlton began to take control of the game with Mascoll picking some nice passes from left back and Reeves, Marshall and Ahearne-Grant getting on the ball. 

Fulham took the lead for the second time when they countered catching the Addicks four-on-three. The clever Thornsteinsson played in substitute Cameron Thompson for a 63rd minute goal against the run of play. 

Charlton equalised with just minutes to when a corner was headed across goal by Cummings and found Dodoo free who headed into the top corner. 

Following the goal the Addicks pressured the Fulham defence and Aribo, wearing the captain’s armband following the substitution of Jackson, was on hand to pounce with a calm left-footed finish from a Ahearne-Grant cross from the left wing. 

Charlton: Phillips, Barnes, Dijksteel, Cummings, Mascoll, Jackson (c) (Maloney, 75), Aribo, Marshall (Hackett-Fairchild, 68), Reeves (Lapslie, 68), Ahearne-Grant, Dodoo.

Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Maloney. 

Goals: Reeves (30), Dodoo (88), Aribo (90)

Fulham U21s: Norman, O’Riley, Atkinson, Kait, Davies (c), Thorsteinsson, Adebayo (Elstone, 78), Harris, Kwietniewski (Thompson, h/t), Jenz, Spence.  

Subs (not used): McDonnell, Robinson, Sibbick, Hartigan, Egan.  

Goals: Thornsteinsson (4), Thompson (63)

Attendance: 741 (67 from Fulham)

Referee: C Hicks.

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