It was only a snap-shot of 14 minutes against non-league opposition, but what an encouraging one it was!
Jake Charles was introduced late in the piece in Monday’s 4-1 victory against Guiseley at Nethermoor, but he scored and made an impression to whet the appetite for what is to come.
The 18-year-old from Mirfield has been with Town since the age of 11 and has always been noted because of his footballing pedigree – he’s the grandson of Leeds, Juventus and Wales legend John Charles.
But the lad whose formative years were spent with Battyeford Juniors and Garforth Villa has the ability to shine in his own right, having represented Wales at age-group level and pushed himself through the PPG Canalside Academy to the edge of Mark Robins’ first-team squad.
Contracted until 2017, Charles was sent on for Philip Billing at Nethermoor with Town leading through lively Duane Holmes (35mins), impressive Harry Bunn (50) and quality Oli Norwood (69), although Adam Boyes had notched in style for Guiseley (63) to ruin what should have been a clean sheet for Lloyd Allinson.
Charles showed poise on the ball, an eye for a pass and, when his chance came barely seven minutes after he entered the fray, he took it with vicious accuracy, whistling a left-foot drive past Steve Drench, who had kept his Conference North side in the match with a string of excellent saves.
For me, however, it wasn’t so much the goal which underlined his potential but the effort he had in Town’s very next attack.
He showed awareness to link neatly with his colleagues and also to then find space for a left-foot drive which, while it was smothered by Drench, highlighted a natural striker’s instinct to think “goal” whenever he is near the box.
Academy manager Mark Lillis has previously said: “Jake works hard every single day both on the training field and on his off-the-field education.”
If he keeps showing that workrate and applying it, don’t be surprised if Robins gives him a chance.
“Jake looked bright when he went on,” confirmed Robins, who started Matt Crooks in central defence (to great effect) and had Philip Billing alongside Norwood in central midfield.
“He provides a real attacking threat for us and he took his opportunity really well.
“He is another young lad with a lot of ability and, if he can ally workrate to his ability then he has got a real chance.”
Town played a 3-5-2 formation with Jordan Sinnott and Jake Carroll as wing-backs and Tommy Smith playing alongside skipper Lynch and Crooks in the centre.
Holmes broke nicely off the midfield while Bunn and Martin Paterson worked the line hard, and Town dominated – easily having enough chances to have doubled their tally.
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