Restrictions caused by the Olympics, meant Charlton’s friendly with Southend on Wednesday afternoon had to be played behind closed doors.

The Shrimpers lost 2-1 to Millwall at Roots Hall on Tuesday evening so it was pretty much a second string that faced the Addicks at The Valley. For Charlton, Semi Ajayi played the whole 90 minutes after playing 45 minutes at Tonbridge on Tuesday evening.

Former West Ham reserve keeper, Peter Kurucz, played in a fairly strong Addicks line-up.

The Addicks showed plenty of spirit to snatch a 3-2 victory with three goals in the last twelve minutes, with Bradley Wright-Phillips desperately unlucky not to grab a hat-trick.

Former Millwall winger, David Martin, put the visitors ahead after six minutes and waif like midfielder, Stephen Brogan, doubled Southend’s advantage five minutes before the break.

Wright-Phillips halved the arrears are 78 minutes and added a second straight from the restart, when he robbed a defender and advanced to slot past Bentley in the Southend goal.

Wright-Phillips nearly completed a quickfire hat-trick after 82 minutes, but his shot was well saved by Bentley. Unfortunately for the Shrimpers custodian, Salim Kerkar was on hand to volley home the rebound. Those few minutes will have done wonders for the striker’s confidence.

Charlton: Kurucz; Wilson, Ajayi, Taylor, Evina; Wagstaff, Green (Wright-Phillips 74), Hollands, Kerkar; Smith, Haynes (Jackson 51).

Goals: Wright-Phillips 78, 79, Kerkar 82.
Southend: Bentley; Woodyard, Coughlan (Tatham 51), Prosser, Bancutt (Ikpomosa 57) (Bridge 80); Martin, Folan, Donnelly, Brogan; Atieno (Opinie 57), Eastwood (Njie 57).

Subs not used: Smith, Payne, Hyms.

Goals: Martin 6, Brogan 40.