Tepid start, but storming finish
A largely second string Charlton team was embarrassed by an opening goal by League 1 side Hartlepool United in the Carling Cup fixture at The Valley last night in front of a crowd of 10,328 (almost all Addickted). However, the crowd was treated to the rare spectacle of a Charlton penalty just before the break and JJ made it 1-1. Darren Bent was brought on for the second half and made it 2-1 for the Addicks. Jay Bothroyd then celebrated his Valley debut with a screamer of a goal to make it 3-1.
The low key nature of the occasion was emphasised by the fact that we only had a black and white scoreboard with no details displayed of scorers or minutes remaining. Charlton were generally tepid and lacking urgency in the first half and only woke up when Hartlepool scored. No doubt they were not helped by the unfamiliarity of some of the players with each other in a match play situation and the fact that we were playing 4-4-2.
Lloyd Sam showed early promise when he put the ball into the side netting. Hartlepool showed that oil industry money had been well spent when Sweeney put in a shot that was just wide with only Myhre to beat. Sorondo, the subject of some criticism by the Addickted on the list, provided a good defensive header. An effort from JJ was caught easily by the Hartlepool keeper 'My name is too big for my shirt opoulos'. Thomas launched Charlton's first real attack and won the Addicks a corner.
Bartlett got into a promising position, but his effort was almost as near to the corner flag as the goal. Sam broke away, drawing a save from Konstantopoulos at the near post. Thomas won Charlton a corner but it was overhit and the quality of corners throughout the evening was often poor. JJ won Charlton a corner which was taken by Lloyd Sam and cleared. For their next corner, the Addicks tried taking it short and Holland put in a shot that was saved. Yet another corner was won by the Addicks, suggesting that Hartlepool were not that dominant, but Bartlett's effort was wide.
Then Williams fed Daly who put in an excellent shot that put the visitors 1-0 ahead on 40 minutes. However, the advancing Lloyd Sam was brought down in the box and referee G Hegley pointed to the spot. JJ stepped up to the plate and put his shot into the corner of the net to make it 1-1.
Charlton won a free kick but Holland's effort was way over. As the game moved into two minutes of time added on, the Addicks won another corner.
Half time: Charlton 1, Hartlepool 1
The spirits of the Addickted were lifted by the sight of Darren Bent coming on to the pitch before the end of the break, the hapless Bartlett having been withdrawn. Bent fed JJ who put in a shot that the keeper had to turn round the post for a Charlton corner which was caught. A Hartlepool free kick went just past Myhre's post. Holland tried a shot from distance.
Hartlepool withdrew Istead and brought on Llewellyn. JJ put in a good ball to Sam, creating a chance, but the keeper made a good save. Smertin was brought down and was on the ground for a long time, a reminder of the risks to those who say we should play a full strength team for such fixtures. Luke Young put in a shot that was well over. Myhre had to make a great save to preserve Charlton's lead. Thomas turned provider for JJ, but the Finn's effort came off the woodwork.
Smertin was withdrawn in favour of Murphy. Hartlepool withdrew Jon Daly for David somebody or other whose name was not in the programme. On 73 minutes Bent scored the crucial goal to make it 2-1 with a great header. Bothroyd then came on in place of JJ and soon afterwards had a go from distance. An effort from Holland was saved.
Bothroyd got a yellow card for a lunge that could have easily seen him sent off if the referee had been one of those who train at Staverton Park. Then a foul by Humphreys gave Charlton a free kick 25 yards in front of goal. The ball was slipped sideways to Bothroyd who put in a screamer of a shot that found the back of the net to make it 3-1. A deliriously happy Bothroyd ran across the pitch saluting the crowd and then embraced Mervyn Day, although he did not pick him up.
A shot by Sam was saved, but Hartlepool were still making an effort and Myhre had to make a save. A good run by Bent was checked and Thomas put in a cross that flashed across the front of goal. Matt Holland found himself in a good position in front of goal but dallied when he should have shot. Charlton then had a late corner but for some reason tried to keep the ball there.
The whistle blew and it was job done - an eventually comfortable win after an early scare without jeopardising any key player.
Match analysis
Third string match analyst Monty Martin from Blewbury, Oxon had no hesitation in awarding Lloyd Sam his first ever Silver Bone. Showing tremendous speed and skill, he was highly creative, bringing about the penalty which gave the Addicks their get out of gaol card. Surely he now deserves a place on the bench against the Baggies on Saturday? Meanwhile, the young midfielder was somewhat bemused to be jumped at by an excitable spaniel.
Myhre showed why he is an international goalkeeper and excellent back up for Andersen and Deano. He was hardly at fault for Hartlepool's goal which was well taken. Luke Young was actively involved all over the pitch. Hreidarsson was solid as a central defender. This was the first time we had seen Sorondo playing for Charlton and he displayed composure and the ability to make neat and accurate passes. Spector was fully of energy and enthusiasm and performed his role well. Smertin was a class above most of the players on the pitch.
Holland showed that he is far from past it and had a number of shots on goal, as well as contributing in defence. Thomas was able to carve up the Hartlepool defence. Bartlett was insipid and was rightly withdrawn at half time. JJ took the penalty well, but otherwise did not contribute much. Bent showed once again that he is a quality act. Murphy lifted Charlton's game when he came on.
Bothroyd was a revelation and looks like a very good signing, another candidate for the bench on Saturday.
The Hiss of the Match was given by Juneau the Soccer Cat to the authorities who close one bore of the Blackwall Tunnel when there is an evening game on.
Crowd rating The fickleness of football crowds was illustrated by boos when Hartlepool scored and shouts of 'Easy' when Charlton equalised. As the Addicks came to dominate more, the crowd got more into the spirit of things. 6/10
The low key nature of the occasion was emphasised by the fact that we only had a black and white scoreboard with no details displayed of scorers or minutes remaining. Charlton were generally tepid and lacking urgency in the first half and only woke up when Hartlepool scored. No doubt they were not helped by the unfamiliarity of some of the players with each other in a match play situation and the fact that we were playing 4-4-2.
Lloyd Sam showed early promise when he put the ball into the side netting. Hartlepool showed that oil industry money had been well spent when Sweeney put in a shot that was just wide with only Myhre to beat. Sorondo, the subject of some criticism by the Addickted on the list, provided a good defensive header. An effort from JJ was caught easily by the Hartlepool keeper 'My name is too big for my shirt opoulos'. Thomas launched Charlton's first real attack and won the Addicks a corner.
Bartlett got into a promising position, but his effort was almost as near to the corner flag as the goal. Sam broke away, drawing a save from Konstantopoulos at the near post. Thomas won Charlton a corner but it was overhit and the quality of corners throughout the evening was often poor. JJ won Charlton a corner which was taken by Lloyd Sam and cleared. For their next corner, the Addicks tried taking it short and Holland put in a shot that was saved. Yet another corner was won by the Addicks, suggesting that Hartlepool were not that dominant, but Bartlett's effort was wide.
Then Williams fed Daly who put in an excellent shot that put the visitors 1-0 ahead on 40 minutes. However, the advancing Lloyd Sam was brought down in the box and referee G Hegley pointed to the spot. JJ stepped up to the plate and put his shot into the corner of the net to make it 1-1.
Charlton won a free kick but Holland's effort was way over. As the game moved into two minutes of time added on, the Addicks won another corner.
Half time: Charlton 1, Hartlepool 1
The spirits of the Addickted were lifted by the sight of Darren Bent coming on to the pitch before the end of the break, the hapless Bartlett having been withdrawn. Bent fed JJ who put in a shot that the keeper had to turn round the post for a Charlton corner which was caught. A Hartlepool free kick went just past Myhre's post. Holland tried a shot from distance.
Hartlepool withdrew Istead and brought on Llewellyn. JJ put in a good ball to Sam, creating a chance, but the keeper made a good save. Smertin was brought down and was on the ground for a long time, a reminder of the risks to those who say we should play a full strength team for such fixtures. Luke Young put in a shot that was well over. Myhre had to make a great save to preserve Charlton's lead. Thomas turned provider for JJ, but the Finn's effort came off the woodwork.
Smertin was withdrawn in favour of Murphy. Hartlepool withdrew Jon Daly for David somebody or other whose name was not in the programme. On 73 minutes Bent scored the crucial goal to make it 2-1 with a great header. Bothroyd then came on in place of JJ and soon afterwards had a go from distance. An effort from Holland was saved.
Bothroyd got a yellow card for a lunge that could have easily seen him sent off if the referee had been one of those who train at Staverton Park. Then a foul by Humphreys gave Charlton a free kick 25 yards in front of goal. The ball was slipped sideways to Bothroyd who put in a screamer of a shot that found the back of the net to make it 3-1. A deliriously happy Bothroyd ran across the pitch saluting the crowd and then embraced Mervyn Day, although he did not pick him up.
A shot by Sam was saved, but Hartlepool were still making an effort and Myhre had to make a save. A good run by Bent was checked and Thomas put in a cross that flashed across the front of goal. Matt Holland found himself in a good position in front of goal but dallied when he should have shot. Charlton then had a late corner but for some reason tried to keep the ball there.
The whistle blew and it was job done - an eventually comfortable win after an early scare without jeopardising any key player.
Match analysis
Third string match analyst Monty Martin from Blewbury, Oxon had no hesitation in awarding Lloyd Sam his first ever Silver Bone. Showing tremendous speed and skill, he was highly creative, bringing about the penalty which gave the Addicks their get out of gaol card. Surely he now deserves a place on the bench against the Baggies on Saturday? Meanwhile, the young midfielder was somewhat bemused to be jumped at by an excitable spaniel.
Myhre showed why he is an international goalkeeper and excellent back up for Andersen and Deano. He was hardly at fault for Hartlepool's goal which was well taken. Luke Young was actively involved all over the pitch. Hreidarsson was solid as a central defender. This was the first time we had seen Sorondo playing for Charlton and he displayed composure and the ability to make neat and accurate passes. Spector was fully of energy and enthusiasm and performed his role well. Smertin was a class above most of the players on the pitch.
Holland showed that he is far from past it and had a number of shots on goal, as well as contributing in defence. Thomas was able to carve up the Hartlepool defence. Bartlett was insipid and was rightly withdrawn at half time. JJ took the penalty well, but otherwise did not contribute much. Bent showed once again that he is a quality act. Murphy lifted Charlton's game when he came on.
Bothroyd was a revelation and looks like a very good signing, another candidate for the bench on Saturday.
The Hiss of the Match was given by Juneau the Soccer Cat to the authorities who close one bore of the Blackwall Tunnel when there is an evening game on.
Crowd rating The fickleness of football crowds was illustrated by boos when Hartlepool scored and shouts of 'Easy' when Charlton equalised. As the Addicks came to dominate more, the crowd got more into the spirit of things. 6/10
posted by Wyn Grant at 6:32 AM
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