MATCH REPORT: Charlton v United

United headed to the Valley in their latest League One fixture.

Paul Simpson made one change from the side that faced Reading last time - Dylan McGeouch replacing Josh Vela in the starting line-up.

On the bench, meanwhile, there was a return for Josh Emmanuel after a spell on the sidelines.

It was the Blues who began brightly - Jack Armer saw an early cross find Luke Armstrong who in turn tried to tee-up Jack Diamond, only for the Addicks to clear before the loanee could get his shot away.

But the first real chance fell the way of the hosts and their skipper George Dobson, who saw a diving header superbly tipped wide by Harry Lewis after United only half-cleared a corner.

And the significance of that save would be felt moments later when the Cumbrians took the lead.

A Taylor Charters corner wasn't convincingly dealt with by Charlton and the midfielder's second delivery was hooked into the top corner from ten yards by Armstrong for his second goal since his January switch to Brunton Park.

The hosts upped the ante from that point and Lewis had to make another fine stop as he got down to parry Thierry Small's drilled effort from the edge of the box as the Addicks began to dominate possession.

That pressure eventually told on 37 minutes - Daniel Kanu's deflected shot fell kindly for Alfie May who slotted home from the edge of the area to restore parity.

The forward then twice had opportunities to put Charlton ahead before the break, first being crowded-out by the United backline before he could get a shot away and then blazing a volley wide from the edge of the box.

United, though, would have the last major chance of the first half. Charters led the break from a corner and slid in Diamond who advanced into the area before firing narrowly wide of the far post.

The second half began as a far more tepid affair, but burst into life ten minutes after the restart when Charlton took the lead.

May played a raking ball into the area which Kanu latched onto, mis-kicking his first effort before then firing into the roof of the net from close range.

Their lead would last just nine minutes though, as the Blues hit back.

Jack Armer's teasing cross looked set to be slotted home by Armstrong before he was dragged down by Macaulay Gillesphey, with referee Tom Nield then pointing to the spot. Charters did the honours and comfortably dispatched from 12 yards in front of the travelling Cumbrians to bring Carlisle level again.

Charlton's response was almost immediate - Kanu hitting the inside of the post with a header and Lewis smartly stopping Conor Coventry's rasping volley after a sustained spell of pressure following the leveller.

But the Addicks would find a third with just 15 minutes remaining when May netted his second of the afternoon, latching onto a backpass and firing home from a tight angle.

United saw plenty of the ball during the closing period of the game but were met by a stubborn home backline as Charlton saw out the victory.

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Goals

Charlton Athletic - May (37, 75), Kanu (54)

Carlisle United - Armstrong (20), Charters (63)

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Bookings

Charlton Athletic - Anderson (7), Edmonds-Green (46)

Carlisle United - McGeouch (44)

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Teams

Charlton Athletic - Isted, Edmonds-Green, Thomas, Gillesphey, Watson, Coventry, Dobson, Anderson (Whickham 72), Small, May (Ladapo 86), Kanu. Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Asiimwe, Hector, Bakinson, Campbell

Carlisle United - Lewis, Armer, Lavelle, Huntington, Charters, Ellis (Emmanuel 72), McGeouch (Gibson 86), Mellish, Diamond (Maguire 72), Neal, Armstrong. Subs: Breeze, McCalmont, Butterworth, Robinson

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Match officials

Referee - Tom Nield
Assistant Referee 1 - Matthew Mcgrath
Assistant Referee 2 - Richard Wild
Fourth Official - Scott Tallis

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Attendance – TBC (872 away)

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