An Addicks team, sprinkled with first teamers, lost 2-1 to Chelmsford on Tuesday evening despite taking an early lead.

Guy Luzon was amongst those in attendance at the Melbourne Stadium.

An intricate move down the left, involving Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Johnnie Jackson and Zak Bergdich, paved the way for Karlan Ahearne-Grant to slot home the opener, from an acute angle, after 14 minutes.

The teams went in level at half-time, after Dimitar Mitov was beaten by a deflected effort from Billy Bricknell, four minutes before the break.

Charlton made four changes at the start of the second-half and a further five during the course of the second period.

The Clarets had to withstand considerable pressure after the break, and Ashley Timms in the home goal, had to be on his mettle.

The Addicks were the architects of their own downfall twenty minutes from time. A sloppy pass out by substitute keeper, Jordan Beeney, gifted Lee Sawyer the winner.

Luzon will have much to ponder before naming his team to face Queens Park Rangers at The Valley on Saturday.

Charlton: Mitov (Beeney 46), Staunton (Barnes 46), Sarr (Thomas 62), Lennon (Obileye 62), Holmes-Dennis (Edwards 62); Kennedy (Sho-Silva 62), Muldoon (Aribo 78), Jackson, Bergdich (Kelly 46); Ghoochannejhad (Pigott 46), Ahearne-Grant.

Subs (not used): Aribo, Konsa, Ansah.

Goal: Ahearne-Grant 14.

Chelmsford: Timms; Girdlestone (Ekpieta 75), Toner, Hughes (Morgan 71), Haines; McAuley, Daley, Sawyer, Bricknell (Spence 78); Henry, Graham (Skepelhorn 46).

Subs (not used): Baffour, Lewis, Gosling, Pearce.

Goals: Bricknell 42, Sawyer 70.

Referee: Fred Graham (Essex).

Attn: 371.