Ahearne-Grant On Target To Make A Point

Kwame Kufuor reports on Charlton U-21s’ entertaining match with Huddersfield Town at The Valley – and sees a spectator step in as an official.

Karlan Ahearne-Grant’s fantastic free-kick from 25 yards cancelled out Flo Bojaj’s strike for Huddersfield Town to earn Charlton a point in a 1-1 draw.

It meant Jason Euell’s side extended their lead on top of the League Two South table to nine points, after their London and title rivals Millwall suffered a loss to Sheffield United.

The encounter at The Valley was brought to a standstill in the 19th minute after the fourth official went down with what looked like a groin injury. Without a stand-in fourth official present, a member of the public, ex- referee Gary Spencer, was called upon to replace the injured official.

Before that, The Addicks had taken only two minutes to register their intentions when Ahearne-Grant wasted a golden opportunity after being put through by Ademola Lookman.

Charlton’s teen sensations, Regan Charles-Cook and Lookman, used their quick feet and pace to cause The Terrier’s defence nightmares inside the opening quarter of an hour.

Both teams had great chances. The first opening fell to Charlton’s Joe Aribo swiftly followed by an effort from Huddersfield’s Duane Holmes, but both attempts were saved.

The first opportunity in the second half fell to Joshua Umerah. He latched on to Aribo’s flick and used his strength to hold off the Huddersfield defence, before forcingd Lloyd Allinson to make a save.

Costly

Umerah’s miss proved costly as in the 58th minute Frankie Bunn began to put a string of passes together and create great openings for the visitors. Bolaj’s strike from the edge of the area after superb link-up play secured his ninth goal of the season and gave Town the lead.

Charlto soon replied. The equalizer came from talented teenager Ahearne-Grant, who curled in a fabulous free-kick with pace in the 69th minute that got both sets of fans to stand and applaud.

Huddersfield held on for a point at the end after pressure from Charlton, with substitute Brandon Hanlan who replaced Lookman, to the fore.

Hanlan’s quick speed and pace in the closing stages of the game caused the away defence lots of problem, but the game ended in a draw.

Euell hopes to keep his side’s unbeaten home record intact when they face Cardiff City on Thursday at Sparrows Lane.

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