RKC Waalwijk sent their healthy following of 217 supporters home happy after winning a penalty shoot-out decider at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.
Roger Johnson and Karlan Ahearne-Grant – despite being given a second bite of the cherry by referee, James Linington – missed their spot-kicks. Morgan Fox, Callum Harriott and Ricky Holmes successfully converted theirs.
Dillon Phillips produced a superb save to foil
Pieter Langdijk, but Sifneos,Fred Benson, Nando Wormgoor and Baggerman all scored to give Waalwijk a 4-3 win.
Russell Slade fielded an experimental side and formation, which would no doubt have confused the watching Bury scouts.
Johnson was flanked by Ezri Konsa and Terrell Thomas, with Chris Solly and Tareiq Holmes-Dennis filling the full-back berths.
Nicky Ajose and Ademola Lookman were the front runners, ahead of midfield trio, El-Hadji Ba, Kevin Foley and Andrew Crofts.
Slade made seven second half substitutions, and reverted to a more traditional 4-4-2 shape, with his preferred midfield of a winger and three central midfielders.
The visitors started brightly but the Addicks gradually got into the game. It was the Dutch side who took the lead after 25 minutes though.
Picking a loose ball up in midfield, Langdijk darted into the area, and pulled the ball back for Fred Benson to apply the finishing touch at the far post.
Johnnie Jackson and Ricky Holmes replaced Terrell Thomas and Ba at the interval, as Slade changed his formation.
Charlton played some good stuff after the interval and levelled things up midway through the half.
Lookman held the ball up on the edge of the box and played Crofts in. Coming in from the right, the Welsh international fired across substitute keeper, Etienne Vaessen, and into the far corner.
The Addicks went in search of the winner, with Holmes looking particularly menacing.
Slade will be pleased with what he saw, particularly after the break.
The manager still has much to do though, and expects to add to his squad before next week’s match at Bury.
Charlton: Phillips; Solly (Hanlan 72), Konsa, Johnson, Thomas (Jackson 46),Holmes-Dennis (Fox 65); Ba (Holmes 46), Foley, Crofts (Gobern 77); Lookman (Ahearne-Grant 72), Ajose (Harriott 72).
Subs (not used): Mitov, Yao, Muldoon.
Goal: Crofts 69.
Booked: Johnson 57 (tussle).
KRC Waalwijk: Williams (Vaessen 62), Ndefe (Mezghrani 67), Nieuwendaal (Sifenos 89), Greene, Cortie (Engberink 72), Rienstra (Wormgoor 62), van de Sande (de Graauw 89), Anderson (Baggerman 85), Benson, Verduijn (De Baar 72), Langerdijk.
Subs (not used): Bijdevier, Graauw, Sifneos.
Goal: Benson 25.
Booked: Greene 57 (foul), Nieuwendaal 57 (tussle).
Referee: James Linnington (Isle of Wight).
Attn: 1,626 (217 Waalwijk).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic