Charlton U21 3-3 Queens Park Rangers U21

Charlton’s U21s twice came from behind to claim a hard-fought point against QPR in a pulsating encounter at The Valley on Monday afternoon.

Karoy Anderson, Euan Williams and Ryan Viggars were all on the scoresheet for the young Addicks, who played the final 30 minutes with 10 men as captain Williams was forced off through injury with all of the outfield substitutes having already been made.

Charlton made the perfect start to proceedings, racing into an early lead through Anderson. Williams played a corner out to the midfielder, who shifted the ball onto his right foot, drove inside and found the bottom-left corner with a pinpoint finish from the edge of the D.

Hamza Serrar was forced into an alteration on 19 minutes. Toby Bower entered the fray, replacing Nazir Bakrin who suffered an awkward landing following an innocuous aerial challenge with former Addick Macauley Bonne.

Minutes after Olamide Shodipo had dragged an effort just wide of Ahmed Kone’s left upright, Rafferty Pedder drew the visitors level, latching onto a loose ball inside the Addicks’ penalty area and rifling home on the angle.

A combination of Kone and Jason Adigun somehow kept out Trent Rendall’s volley before Kone produced an outstanding stop to keep out Shodipo’s drive from distance.

The R’s were given a golden chance to take the lead on 42 minutes when Zach Mitchell brought down Shodipo. The winger stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick but saw his Panenka comfortably saved by Kone.

QPR did add a fortuitous second on the stroke of half-time as Dillon De Silva’s cross was turned in by the outstretched boot of Matt Dench, with Kone left helpless.

Tyreece Campbell replaced Tolu Ladapo during the interval, though the first meaningful action of the second period came at the other end. Kone was alert to excellently foil Pedder from close range, denying the midfielder his second and QPR’s third.

Williams equalised for the Addicks on 53 minutes, heading home Mitchell’s deep cross following an excellent, free-flowing move from Serrar’s side.

George Thomas restored Rangers’ advantage on the hour-mark with a simple finish from close range before captain Williams hobbled off minutes later, forcing the Addicks to play the remainder of the contest with 10 men.

The Addicks continued to threaten despite the numerical disadvantage, with Adigun scooping over Sahid Kamara’s low-drilled cross following another superb passage of play.

Substitute Viggars brought Charlton back level in fine fashion on 73 minutes, racing onto fellow substitute Jacob Roddy’s well-weighted through ball and clinically finishing past Joe Walsh.

The Addicks continued to push for a winner and it very nearly arrived right at the very death. Adigun rattled the crossbar with a venomous effort before the visitors scrambled clear follow-up efforts from Kamara and Adigun.

Charlton: Kone; Mitchell, Bakrin (Bower 19), Toure (Roddy 55), Dench; Anderson, Adigun, Williams (c); Kamara, Kanu (Viggars 60), Ladapo (Campbell 46)

Subs (not used): Molyneux

Goals: Anderson 5, Williams 53, Viggars 73

Booked: Anderson 79

Report: charltonafc.com