Charlton Athletic's U21s drew 2-2 away at Barnsley in the Professional Development League on Sunday after surrendering a two-goal halftime advantage. The young Addicks were pegged back by a second-half comeback from the hosts in South Yorkshire.
According to a match report published by Charlton Athletic Football Club, Reuben Reid opened the scoring in the 37th minute. His goal followed an Ethan Brown effort that struck the post, with Michael Mylona providing the free-kick delivery. Mylona then doubled the lead himself in first-half stoppage time, firing a direct free-kick into the top-right corner for a stunning goal. Charlton hit the woodwork several times during a dominant first half.
How did Barnsley fight back?
Barnsley's comeback began from the penalty spot in the 56th minute. George Hardy was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the area, and the resulting spot-kick was converted. The Tykes completed their recovery with an 80th-minute equalizer, scoring from a set-piece to secure a share of the points. The draw leaves Chris Lock's development squad with a point from their latest league outing.
Who featured for Charlton's U21s?
Charlton's starting lineup at Oakwell was: Hardy; McNamee-Burke, Brown, Minto-St Aimie, Valentine; Tagoe, Belton, Thomas; Mylona, Safa (c), Reid. Manager Chris Lock made four changes during the second half. Washington-Amoah, Burnham, and McMillan all entered the fray in the 64th minute, replacing Thomas, Mylona, and Reid respectively. Davis then came on for captain Safa in the 75th minute. Williams was the unused substitute.
What is next for the academy sides?
The U21s turn their attention to the Premier League Cup this Wednesday, August 26th. They travel to Greater Manchester for an away fixture against Stockport County's U21s. This cup match offers a quick chance to respond after the weekend's dropped points. Fans can follow the progress of all the club's youth teams through the Valley Gold scheme, which provides vital support to the academy.
This development squad result comes as the senior team enjoys a strong start to the Championship season. The first team sits 3rd in the table with six points from two wins, scoring four goals and conceding two. Tyreece Anthony Tupac Shakur Campbell is the current top scorer with two goals. The seniors' next test is a home match against Preston on August 29th, a game you can find on our fixtures page. The current league standings show a positive opening for the club overall.
