Saints reserves crashed to a 3-1 defeat at home to Pontins Combination South leaders Charlton Athletic at Staplewood tonight, writes SIMON WALTER.

First-team squad members Adam Hammill and David McGoldrick both played the full 90 minutes in front of a crowd including new manager Nigel Pearson.

But a strong Charlton side including Ben Thatcher, Sam Sodje, Chris Iwelumo and Jerome Thomas scored three goals in the last 15 minutes to keep the south Londoners on track for the Pontins title.

Two-goal Rygaard Jensen came off the bench to hit his brace either side of a McGoldrick equaliser as three goals were scored in as many minutes.

Jensen, a 17-year-old Dane, curled a 75th minute free-kick into the bottom right corner of Andrey Pernecky's goal from the edge of Saints' penalty area.

A minute later, McGoldrick showed strength and skill in fending off a challenge on the Charlton goalline before bending a right-footed equaliser into the far corner from the acutest of angles.

But Jensen restored Charlton's lead immediately, capitalising on slack marking at Andrey Pernecky's near post in converting a free header following a cross from the left.

With a hat-trick in his sights, Jensen hit the outside of Pernecky's left post.

But McGoldrick was denied a last-minute equaliser from sub Matthew Paterson's pass before Thomas sealed the points for the visitors by beating Pernecky in injury time.

Saints had several chances.

Cedric Baseya put a free header over the bar from close range following Jamie Hatch's cross midway through the first half.

And, after showing good spatial awareness in venturing forward unchallenged, Thomson mis-hit an attempted drive.

Welsh winger Kayne McLaggon failed to beat Elliott at his near post and the impressive Simon Gillett's turn and shot was also clawed away by the Charlton keeper.

Saints continued to create in the second half.

Left-back Joseph Mills, McGoldrick and Gillett all fired over the bar, while the latter's powerful drive was beaten away before the night's first three goals were scored in quick succession.

Reserve team manager Stewart Henderson said: "I was pleased with the performance as Charlton had a far more experienced team out.

"We worked very hard and played some good football at times. Their keeper made two or three great saves, particularly from Simon Gillett, and we reacted very well to going a goal down.

"We didn't defend very well for their second but Jake Thomson and Lloyd James, our two centre-backs, are young players who were not playing in their best positions."

Saints: Pernecky, Hatch, Mills, Gillett, James,Thomson, McLaggon (Paterson 63), McGoldrick, Baseya, Giallombardo, Hammill.