Charlton fans have reacted with disappointment to the news that the annual fixture with Welling United at Park View Road which traditionally opens the pre-season is not happening this year. The fixture was originally known as the Crown Berger Cup, although what happened to the cup is not known.
The fixture was convenient for locally based Charlton fans who have pointed out that Welling forms part of the Charlton family.
Just 1,020 turned up to see Charlton playing at Welling yesterday and, according to Richard Cawley, that included a number of freebies. Charlton retained the Crown Berger Cup with a 2-1 win, but apparently the cup has been lost in a cupboard somewhere, so they were playing for the Eric Brackstone trophy.
Welling took a surprise lead on six minutes when Adam Coombes found a lot of space down the right wing before firing a measured shot inside the far post. Within a minute the Addicks were level. Nicky Ajose had a shot beaten out by Wilks as far as Karlan Ahearne-Grant. His shot was pushed away by Wilks but it fell kindly for Ajose to finish from a tight angle.
Charlton had the better of the second part of the half with Wilks saving from Josh Magennis and Patrick Bauer heading over from a Simon Dawkins corner.
Bowyer put on a different eleven for the second half and they very nearly made an immediate impact when George Lapslie went down in the area but calls for a penalty were waved away. A good move involving Albie Morgan and Igor Vetokele ended up with Fosu firing over for Charlton, while Forster-Caskey was unable to score following good work by Morgan, his effort being saved comfortably.
Hopeless defending from the home side presented Charlton with a chance to go ahead but Lyle Taylor shot wide when he should have done better. He then had a powerful shot saved by Wilks before Vetokele was unable to hit the target with a header. Then 14 minutes from time Forster-Caskey's free kick looped up off the wall and found Taylor, who was just onside and bundled the ball home from close range.
First the start of the season Crown Berger cup match between Welling United and Charlton was set for 14th July, then it was moved to the 7th, now it's back to the 14th again: Moveable feast
Quite what this means for a pre-season tour is not clear. First that was off because Roland couldn't afford it, then it was thought to be on again.
Of course, there could be a cut price tour of Bromley, Dulwich Hamlet and Ebbsfleet where one would encounter some former Charlton fans.
