Charlton Athletic U23s defender Zach Mitchell spoke to Valley Gold for Academy Notes after the recent 3-3 draw with Coventry City at The Valley.
The young centre back signed for Charlton at the age of 8 and started as a midfielder before switching to the defence and has ever since interchanged between the two positions adding versatility to his game. Speaking after the high scoring draw with Coventry City, he told Valley Gold:
“The visitors made the better start to the game testing U23 debutant Henry Molyneux early on with a powerful effort on goal. Their threatening start led to Coventry taking a seventh-minute lead, after their high press was rewarded, the ball squared and finished from inside the box. After the initial spell of pressure from the visitors dwindled, we took back control of the game and began to threaten at the other end.
“Our first real chance came when Ryan Viggars was freed up with some clever play down the right-hand side from Leaburn and Anderson but he fired narrowly wide of the mark on 21 minutes. We maintained dominance over our counterparts and in pursuance of that inevitable equaliser and contained them in their own half for the remainder of the first 45.
“However, we could not level the scores until a fine move down the left saw Oliver Hobden slip Miles Leaburn into the box. The striker’s pullback was met by a brilliant first-time finish from
Karoy Anderson. The highlight of the game was presented to us in the 69th minute when Jeremy Santos produced what can only be described as pure magic. The midfielder picked up the ball outside the left-hand corner of the box and arrowed an unstoppable shot straight into the top right-hand corner.
“Our momentum carried forward and some good work from Euan Williams down the left resulted in him laying off for substitute Daniel Kanu on the edge of the six-yard box. Taking a touch under pressure from a Coventry defender, he steadied his feet before firing in a third from close range.
“The visitors did pull a goal back from the penalty spot late on after Charlie Barker was controversially accused of a shove in the back, worthy of a penalty kick. After converting from 12 yards, 3-2 was a score line that spread an apprehensive ambience around The Valley. Devastatingly, the dreaded equaliser became reality in the 92nd minute. The Sky Blues denying us what would have been a deserved three points, whilst keeping them in the Northern section title race.
“We remain in 4th position in the League Table, unable to challenge for a place in the Top Two.”
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