Charlton’s U18s continued their hugely-impressive run in front of goal by scoring another six as they brushed aside Queens Park Rangers at Sparrows Lane on Saturday.
The prolific Daniel Kanu was at it again, plundering four goals, while Toby Bower and Tyreece Campbell rounded things off with two more later in the second half with the young Addicks now having netted 36 goals in their last eight games as they prepare for Tuesday’s FA Youth Cup tie at Accrington Stanley.
The win was made all the more impressive by the fact the young Addicks were made to come from two goals down early on in New Eltham with QPR striking two goals in two minutes to find themselves 2-0 up by the 15th minute. First, a penalty saw them open the scoring, before an impressive, curling strike from the left-hand corner of the box put QPR seemingly in control.
That, however, seemed to awaken the Charlton beast with Kanu springing into action to pull a goal back just nine minutes later – a quick free-kick saw the ball eventually delivered deep for the striker to guide it home from close range.
The Addicks’ comeback was temporarily halted on the half-hour mark when the visitors restored their two-goal cushion with a neat flicked header following some patient build-up play, but they were straight back at it, showing their resilience once more when Kanu secured his brace a minute before half-time, taking advantage of a defender’s inability to control an interception to finish into the bottom corner.
The home side would only have to wait until three minutes into the second period to complete their comeback as Kanu bagged his hat-trick by diverting in Toby Bower’s cross from a short corner and it would be just six more minutes before Charlton went ahead for the first time with Bower turning from provider to scorer – the left-back controlled well in the box before shifting to his left and dispatching a confident finish into the bottom left-hand corner to make it 4-3.
Charlton began to take more control and made it 5-3 on 58 minutes with Kanu adding yet another to his goal haul.
Bower claimed another assist, threading a pass through to the goal-getter who finished in off the post for what was his 27th goal in all competitions, so far, this season.
Although the turnaround was complete, there was still time for the Addicks to add some gloss with substitute Tyreece Campbell making it 6-3 with 13 minutes remaining, hitting a first-time volleyed effort into the ground and over the helpless R’s goalkeeper.
The result was the perfect way for the Addicks to prepare for their FA Youth Cup clash with Accrington Stanley on Tuesday evening.
Charlton U18s: Kone, Asiimwe, Laqueretabua, Mitchell, Bower, Kedwell, Ladapo, Adigun, Anderson (Huke 60), Reilly (Campbell 70), Kanu (Leaburn 65).
Subs (not used): Molyneux, Kamara.
Goals: Kanu 24, 44, 48, 58, Bower 54, Campbell 77
Report: cafc.co.uk