Our U18s suffered last minute heartbreak as Charlton Athletic produced an inspired second half performance to win 3-2 at the Valley.
This disappointing defeat, however, should not overshadow what has been a brilliant season for Tom Harban’s young Reds.
Barnsley started brilliantly, with Fabio Jalo having the ball in the back of the net within the opening five minutes, but his effott was ruled out for an apparent offside. Our Reds continued to press and had much of the possession in the opening exchanges.
The hosts had their first chance at testing Kieren Flavell’s goal just before the quarter of an hour mark as Jason Adigun fired straight at the keeper from the edge of the area.
We continued to be on top with most of the ball and were getting into threatening areas but just couldn’t execute the final pass or shot to trouble Ahmed Kone in the Charlton goal.
Even though we enjoyed large spells of possession, the home side still got their chances with left back Toby Bower striking the ball high and wide from distance.
Barnsley had the final chance of the first half, after a great passing move found Hayden Pickard out wide on the left. He picked out Jalo, but the young forward could only volley over the bar.
HALF-TIME: Charlton Athletic 0-0 Barnsley
Jalo broke the deadlock early in the second half slotting in from close range after finding himself one on one with the keeper following a flick on by Harrison Nejman.
The Addicks searched for an immediate response and almost found it as Mack Reilly blazed high over the crossbar from a decent position.
Jalo got his second and doubled our lead ten minutes after grabbing his first with a wonderful goal, cutting inside from the right before curling the ball into the far-left bottom corner.
Flavell had to pull off a great save to few minutes later, keeping Reilly again at bay after striking low from just inside the area.
Charlton threw everything at the Reds and, with 12 minutes left to play, they finally got their breakthrough with Daniel Kanu bagging his 40th goal of the season.
With the home crowd behind them, the hosts had a second wind and a shift in momentum was clear as the Addicks kept on the offensive with our defenders holding strong as they continued to repel wave after wave of attacks.
Unfortunately, the home pressure was too much to contain, and the equaliser came at the start of injury time. Ryan Huke was slipped in behind the defence before confidently slotting into the bottom corner.
Barnsley hearts were broken in the last minute of injury time when a Bower corner was met by the head of Nathan Asiimwe to complete the Charlton comeback and put an end to an incredible season for our youngsters.
FULL-TIME: Charlton Athletic 3-2 Barnsley
REDS XI: Flavell (GK), Pickard, Lacey (Makessi), Joof (Anaman), D Benson, Hickingbottom, T Chapman, Nejman (C), Dyer (Benjamin), Hartley, Jalo.
Unused: Ravenhill, McKay.
