After a nervous 3-2 win at home to Fintan in the league last week, the first round Cup draw against the same team - at their rain-soaked King George V ground - promised to be a tough challenge for Rovers.
Would they have what it takes to get through to the next round?
In the end, Charlton Rovers swept Fintan aside with probably their best performance this season - comfortably securing their place in the next round of the Cup.
And even though the rain pelted down for most of the match (and ruined a few hairstyles too) - nothing could take the shine off this magnificent Rovers performance.
Sluggish
After a sluggish start, the Charlton Rovers engine soon started to fire as Jake Budenis released Harry Benton down the left wing. He was unlucky not to open the scoring with a shot across the face of goal.
A few minutes later another chance. This time a sublime four-man move saw quick and accurate passing by Harry Durnberger, Archie Wickens and Joe Perry to set up Jake Budenis in the Fintan box. Jake skilfully beat a defender only to have the keeper save well at close range.
Rocks
Now it was Rovers’ turn to defend a free kick at their end. Fintan rocketed a powerful direct free kick at the Rovers goal but new goalie Ibrahim Chesshire impressed his teammates and the watching crowd with his superb save, pushing the ball wide.
Throughout the match James Timony, Harry Durnberger and later Harry McMillan were the rocks in defence and hardly put a foot wrong.
Superb
Rovers’ first goal came in the 10thminute. The clever build-up and ruthless finishing was a pleasure to watch - the best play of the match. Joe Perry broke up a Fintan attack deep in the Rovers’ half. He then dribbled round three Fintan players and sidestepped another to thread a lovely pass to Jake Budenis on the right wing. Jake’s radar had picked up Harry Benton making a diagonal run into the Fintan box and with his first touch he weighted a perfect pass to Harry who connected with the ball powerfully as he slid into the box. The ball rifled into the bottom right corner of the goal. Superb dribbling, passing and finishing. 1-0 to Rovers.
At it again
Four minutes later Rovers were at it again. This time Joe Perry picked up a ball from Archie Wickens in the centre circle and with a darting run towards the Fintan goal, unleashed a powerful shot against the upright. Archie gathered the ricochet and the ball found its way back to Joe Perry again. This time Joe pounced and made no mistake, letting rip a powerful left foot shot that the Fintan keeper was never going to stop. 2-0 to Rovers.
So close and yet...
Charlton Rovers continued to pile on the pressure and had most of the ball. But Fintan weren’t going to lie down without a fight. Bad luck and great defending stopped Rovers increasing their lead sooner. Jake Budenis was unlucky to have his shot cleared off the line after Joe Perry had bamboozled the Fintan defence to slip through a pass to Jake on the edge of the box.
Later James Timony, Tommy Brookes-Holder, Joe Perry and Harvey Edwards all had near misses. Archie Wickens’s shot was cleared- incredibly - off the line by the desperate Fintan defence - with the crowd mistakenly celebrating what looked like a certain goal.
Hungry
But even at 2-0 with the driving rain and wind in their faces Charlton Rovers were still hungry for more goals. The third came in the 36th minute from a Joe Perry pass that curled behind the Fintan defence to pick out Ed Shaw making a run on goal. Ed’s first effort was well blocked by the keeper but undeterred Ed snapped at the rebound and buried the ball in the back of the net - his first goal for Charlton Rovers. 3-0 to Rovers.
Better and better
Rovers killed off the match three minutes later with an effortless pass from Jake Budenis releasing Harry Benton down the left wing on a magnificent solo run. It was a strong and powerful run that ended with Harry smashing the ball home at close range. 4-0 to Rovers. It summed up the strong team spirit and will to win on the day and the crowd roared their approval.
Coach Jon Budenis said: "I thought Harry B, Archie, Joe Perry and Jake worked well together again today. Doug and I kept Archie and Joe on as they were controlling the midfield. Ibby did really well in goals too. He is a very good shot stopper and hasn't let a goal in yet in 4 halves! The team’s performance left me buzzing!"
Charlton Rovers Reds just keep getting better and better - expectations of a good run in the cup and a healthy position in the league are high.
