Our U18s ensured they went unbeaten at home in the Professional Development League this term with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over southern league leaders Charlton Athletic on Friday afternoon.

Theo Chapman’s first half strike was added to after the break by Josiah Dyer and Emmaisa Nzondo, as our young Reds chalked up a fourth consecutive win to extended their lead at the summit.

The first notable piece of action came midway through the opening period, when a last ditch challenge from Matty Doyle prevented the onrushing Addicks striker from bursting through on goal.

Minutes later, Chapman had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock but was denied by a smart piece of goalkeeping from the visiting stopper.

Charlton eventually breached the Reds’ defence and opened the scoring late on in the first half when an unmarked Ryan Huke fired the ball into the bottom corner from close range.

However, Barnsley didn’t have to wait long for their leveller. Shortly before the break, Chapman advanced into the area and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike past the despairing goalkeeper.

HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1-1 Charlton Athletic

Our young Reds began the second half with an attacking intent and took the lead just minutes after the restart. Pickard’s looping cross was tipped away by the goalkeeper, but only as far as Dyer, who leapt highest to head home.

Barnsley came close to scoring once more as Doyle’s powerful header ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar and out of the area, with the defender left wondering how he hadn’t increased his side’s advantage.

Just after the hour mark, our U18s’ attacking endeavours were rewarded once more when they capitalised on a defensive mishap to extended their lead. Nzondo received the ball from Jonathan Bland, before he turned his man and fired clinically into the bottom corner.

The Addicks gave themselves a glimmer of hope when they pulled a goal back late on as their overlapping centre-back surged forward and powered a strike beyond Rogan Ravenhill.

Nicky Eaden’s side dominated the dying embers of the game as they looked to put the result beyond doubt and had an excellent opportunity to do just that, but Rafael Monteiro skewed wide from point blank range.

The final whistle sounded soon after, and our U18s claimed a fourth consecutive Professional Development League victory as they head into the end-of-season play-offs in a rich vein of form and full of confidence.

FULL-TIME: Barnsley 3-2 Charlton Athletic

REDS XI: Ravenhill (GK), Trialist, Pickard, Doyle, Joof, Murchison, Bland (C), Makiessi, Dyer, Chapman, Nzondo.

Subs: Carter-Rogers (GK), Monteiro, Yoganathan, Farrell, McKay.