Charlton Athletic 4 v Coalville Town 1

Ben Garner fielded a strong side today and was rewarded for it. The gulf in class was apparent throughout the game and if Charlton had been a little sharper and a tad luckier in front of goal, we might have had seven or eight goals. 

The curse of the centre-halves continued today, when Tyrrell Thomas limped off after 18 minutes and was replaced by Zach Mitchell. Any worries we may have had fielding a 17 year old in only his second first-team match were quickly dismissed. Mitchell put in a man-of-the-match display alongside Lavelle. He was sure-footed, very calm and composed on the ball and he played out like Joe Gomez. 

Dobson kept a check on the visitors and Jack Payne and Tyreece Campbell ran them ragged on the flanks with good support from Sessegnon and Clare. We should have been two or three up before Payne ran in to head home Campbell's cross on 24 minutes. Campbell himself had already forced two good saves from White and not long afterwards, Jayden Stockley should have scored when he got on the end of a fine passing move, only to hit the bar from 20 yards. He wasn't to be denied though and ghosted into the centre of the goal to direct a downward header from Payne's peachy cross to give us some breathing space.

After the restart, Dobson was subbed for Aaron Henry. He may have had a knock but it looked more like he was being given a rest and Henry another opportunity. Henry took time to settle and neither Morgan or McGrandles were having a great game either and the tempo dropped for ten minutes. That encouraged Coalville and on 52 minutes, Ashley Chambers chased a high ball and got between our centre-halves. Lavelle's header was too weak to reach Wollacott and Chambers pounced to lob him and flatter the scoreline. 

The visitors huffed and puffed for five minutes after that but we gradually resumed full control. Aneke came on for Stockley on 70 minutes as we pressed for the third. It took us until the 81st to find it. Jack Payne capping a fine show with a smart turn and low drive across White into the far corner. Chuks repeated the feat in the last minute of normal time when he let the ball run across his body before curling a low shot into the same corner to make the scoreline more respectful.

The Coalville fans had been warmly welcomed this week but the graceless nerds spent the entire game telling us that our support was shit and that the ground a library. That in between going on and on about how massive they were. Rather ironic in the circumstances. Still, job done and we are in the hat for Round Two.