Crewe Alexandra Under 23's earned a 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic in the first game of the 2018/19 Professional Development League 2 season.

Regan Griffiths opened the scoring inside seven minutes, with the Addicks being gifted an equaliser through Luke Carey shortly after the interval.

Crewe were on top for most of the game & deservedly took ther lead early on, Oli Finney delivering a corner-kick from the right, Michael Raynes flicking on at the near post & Griffiths diverting his header home from inside the six-yard-box.

Charlton's first chance came on 22 minutes, Wilberforce Ocran curling a shot over the bar from the edge of the box before Crewe took over again.

Goalkeeper Maynard-Brewer used his legs to save a one-on-one from Lewis Reilly just four minutes later, and Oli Finney hit the outside of the post from a Travis Johnson cross with 32 minutes on the clock.

Three minutes after the break, Crewe gifted parity to Charlton. Tommy Lowery's attempted pass to a team mate on the edge of the box was blocked by Ocran, & the ball deflected to striker Carey one-on-one with Garratt to fire into the corner.

Crewe tried to force the game in order to get back in front & Owen Dale tested Maynard-Brewer with a low shot from the edge of the box after a mazy run.

Substitute Joe Lynch whipped a 79th minute cross into the box for Finney to cushion a volley first time, but he couldn't keep it down as the ball flew over the top.

Charlton almost robbed it against the run of play with seven minutes remaining when left-back Jordan Zemura stole in at the back post to plant a header across goal, but the effort dropped wide as the match ended with a point apiece.

Crewe: Garratt, Johnson, Sass-Davies, Raynes, Offord, Lundstram, Lowery, Dale (Lynch), Finney, Griffiths, Reilly