Taylor and Forster-Caskey net as Charlton Athletic win 2-1 at the KNK Stadium

BY SAM SMITH

Goals from Lyle Taylor and Jake Forster-Caskey gave Charlton a 2-1 victory against Dulwich Hamlet.

Nyren Clunis created Hamlet’s first chance with clever wing play and his eventual cross was diverted over the bar by Nathan Green.

Former AFC Wimbledon forward Taylor should have given Charlton the lead, somehow clipping Tariqe Fosu’s knock-down over the bar, but the 28-year-old eventually netted from the Addicks’ next attack. A loose ball fell Taylor’s way in the penalty area and he clinically slotted beyond Preston Edwards.

Charlton had the better of the chances in the first half. Fosu cleverly backheeled Chris Solly’s cross straight at Edwards before Karlan Grant took too long to shoot and was eventually thwarted by Michael Chambers.

Dulwich were scarcely poor though, and their trialist striker had a couple of half-opportunities. The best came when pin-ball in the penalty area almost fell in his favour but Charlton goalkeeper Dillon Phillips managed to grab hold of the ball before the forward could tap home.

And Gavin Rose’s side equalised on 36 minutes courtesy of a wonderful goal from Byron Lawrence. The former Ipswich midfielder received possession 30 yards from goal and his speculative shot was initially met by groans given that he perhaps had better options – but the ball swerved away from Phillips in goal and into the net via the post.

Charlton regained the lead within nine minutes of the second half. Grant did well to work space in the penalty area and his low right-footed ball across the face of goal was tapped in by Forster-Caskey.

Lee Bowyer changed his entire outfield 11 on the hour and one of those subs – Alfie Doughty – should have scored at the back post from a right-wing cross but managed to divert wide.

The rest of the exchanges were scrappy. Dulwich’s trialist striker was correctly booked for inexplicably diving when he had gone round Charlton sub goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer and had an open goal to tap the ball into.

Lawrence then hit another long-range drive at goal with 10 minutes to go but this time the ball trickled just wide of the post, and Charlton managed to hold on.

Photos by Benjamin Peters