REPORT U18 | Birmingham City 3 Charlton 2

The young Addicks were doomed to defeat in the Professional Development League Two play-off final as Birmingham City claimed a 3-2 extra-time triumph.

Henry Rylah scored the Addicks’ first in the second half before Micah Mbick added a second from the penalty spot with eight minutes remaining in the 90.

Kai Enslin went close to opening the scoring when Ethan Brown pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot, Enslin tried to tap in from close range, luckily for the home side they managed to clear it off the line.

It was the hosts who drew first blood in the West Midlands when Frank Tattum lifted the ball over Lennon MacLorg with a composed finish on the half-hour mark.

Patrick Casey was the next to threaten inside the Blues box, curling a left-footed shot into the bottom corner, forcing an important save from Tyrese Warmington.

The Addicks equalized in the 72nd minute through substitute Henry Rylah. A Charlton free-kick was deflected to Rylah on the edge of the box. The forward let fly with a first-time strike, firing an effort into the bottom corner to tie the score.

Birmingham City responded well to equalize, restoring their lead just minutes after the restart. Briar Bateman’s attempted cross was deflected into the path of Caleb Sanders who lifted the shot into the top corner.

Substitute Ibrahim Fullah gave the Addicks an instant impact when he was brought down in the Blues box soon after. The prolific Mbick rose from 12 yards, sending Warmington the wrong way from the spot, to draw Jason Pearce’s side level.

Even at the final whistle, the two teams went into extra time after an intense 90 minutes of head-to-head action in the PDL2 play-off final.

It took just five minutes for the hosts to take the lead again as Daniel Isichei flew over from distance, curling his shot into the top right corner.

Birmingham were then reduced to ten men at the ET half-time whistle as Byron Pendleton received a second yellow card for a foul on Rylah.

Despite their best efforts, the young Addicks were kept at bay after a superb goalkeeping performance from Warmington, denying Charlton several chances to secure victory for Birmingham City.

Charlton: MacLorg, Gough ©, Cann, Hunter, Brown (Rylah 62), Mwamba, Safa (Elliott 62), Wales (Fullah 79), Enslin, Mbick, Casey (Sol-Loza 70)

Subs (not used): Sadler

Goals: Rylah 72, Mbick 82