Charlton down Dons to ease to derby success

Posted Sunday, December 16, 2018 by PA

Goals from Lyle Taylor and Mark Marshall earned Charlton a 2-0 south London derby success over AFC Wimbledon as both sides played out the majority of the game with 10 men.

The Addicks suffered an early blow, with just 56 seconds on the clock when Naby Sarr was shown a straight red card by referee Trevor Kettle for a late lunge on Tennai Watson.

Despite this it was the hosts who looked more composed in the early exchanges and they almost went in front midway through the half when Joe Aribo found former Dons striker Taylor, whose shot was well blocked.

It took until the half hour for the visitors to create their first opportunity but Tom Soares blazed his effort well over.

Numerical parity was restored in the 33rd minute when Mitch Pinnock followed in Sarr’s footsteps. Pinnock, already on a yellow card for an earlier foul on Ben Reeves, picked up a second caution for diving after going to ground far too easily while trying to shake off the attentions of Patrick Bauer.

Reeves really should have done better when he blasted a shot high over Joe McDonnell’s crossbar early in the second half and Aribo also saw two attempts fly off target in quick succession as Charlton continued to knock on the door.

Finally their hard work paid off on the hour and it was Taylor who made the Dons pay with a close-range finish after getting in front of Terrell Thomas to convert Nicky Ajose’s excellent delivery.

McDonnell had to rush out of his area to thwart Ajose in the 75th minute, with Taylor testing the visiting keeper moments later with a shot.

The game was wrapped up four minutes from time when substitute Marshall drilled a low angled drive into the bottom-left corner of McDonnell’s net.