Concord Rangers (0) 1 - 1 (1) Carshalton Athletic

Saturday 26^th March 2011

Ryman Premier League

Concord Rangers (0) 1 – 1 (1) Carshalton Athletic

Elmes H (pen) 46                              Henry 24

Att 164                                                                                                                            

On their first ever visit to Thames Road, Carshalton Athletic dented the playoff hopes of an energetic Concord Rangers side with a display of resilient defending which owed a little to good fortune but also something to fortitude and endurance.

The Robins lined up in a 4-4-2 formation which saw the return of Fulham loanee Matt Reece and the excellent debut of Dwain Williams, often on the bench under Mark Butler but never previously utilised.

Concord opened at a fast pace on a hard and bumpy pitch and Williams set the tone making a goal-saving challenge when Gary Ogilvie was set to score. The early 1pm kick off seemed to have no effect on either side as play settled into a pattern of Carshalton repulsing Concord attacks. Harry Elmes forced Craig Ross into a hurried save but when Carshalton moved the ball forward quickly Pigden and Williams were linking up well with those ahead of them. On 24 minutes Pigden fed Chris Henry in space on the left and, as the Concord defence backed off, the winger cut inside and from 25 yards curled the ball beyond the despairing dive of Dale Brightly.

Almost immediately Concord responded as Tony Stokes danced through the Carshalton defence and his shot beat the be-bandaged Ross but rebounded off the post. Chris Henry was almost single-handedly taking the game to the improbably nicknamed Beach Boys and he again found space just outside the area but this time his shot was off target.

Carshalton’s defence was standing firm when first Boateng and then Ross denied Miller and then King. For the Robins, Joel Ledgister beat three defenders to deliver a cross to Matt Reece who could only get the faintest of touches which still required a scrambled save from Brightly. Reece nearly doubled the Robins’ lead moments later as Henry's cross was missed by King in the penalty area but the Robins' striker lost his composure and could only lift the ball onto the angle of bar and post from 12 yards. As the young mothers pushed their prams towards the bar in anticipation of half time, Carshalton enjoyed a spell of domination and an excellent passing move involving Williams, Boateng and Joseph led only to a tame Pigden shot. The final action of an entertaining period saw a promising Concord free kick hammered straight into the Robins wall.

The start of the second half saw Carshalton forced into a change as the injured Henry was replaced by Barry Stevens. Concord had clearly experienced the halftime hairdryer as they huddled before the kickoff and came out screaming. The first minute of the second half saw two quick chances for the home side as Captain Crowley and then Ogilvie shot straight at Ross. The Robins defence was rocking but when Stokes fell theatrically in the penalty area few spectators saw anything amiss but referee Fitch took a long hard look and after several seconds awarded a penalty kick which was dispatched hard and centrally by Harry Elmes.

The smudged Essex edgelands have never looked bleaker as the Carshalton defence barricaded the storm doors and hunkered down. First Ross saved from Miller and then Pigden cleared off the line as the chances kept coming.  Stokes shot wide after robbing Young of the ball just outside the area and then King found space, beat Ross, but saw the ball hit the bar and Harry Elmes could only head the rebound over. Carshalton replaced the quiet Reece with young Darren Bryan in an effort to keep the ball higher up the pitch but Concord were still spurning chances as Stokes again blasted a shot wide and substitute Maxwell had his goal-bound shot blocked by Roberts. In a rare foray upfield Bryan made an early impact but just failed to connect with a Boateng cross. Back in front of the Robins’ goal, a rare Ray error let in Stokes who collapsed under pressure from Dan Young but this time Mr Fitch waved away the penalty shouts which at first sight seemed to have more veracity than the earlier claim.

Bizarrely, given the unstinting Rangers pressure earlier in the period, the final few minutes of the game saw three good chances fall to the visitors. David Ray shot over as a Pigden free kick fell to him just inside the box and then Bryan nearly made a name for himself as a solo run from inside his own half saw him beat three men but he could only shoot over at the crucial moment. Joel Ledgister had the final chance in injury time but he dragged his shot past the post.

In truth, Concord will look at the point Carshalton took from the game as a robbery and they will be disappointed not to take all three as they chase a playoff place. For the Robins it was a reward for a defensive display of great application and a full part in an absorbing game.

Robins team: Craig Ross, Michael Boateng, Justyn Roberts, David Ray, Dan Young, Dwain Williams, Anthony Joseph, Luke Pigden, Matt Reece (Darren Bryan 60), Joel Ledgister, Chris Henry (Barry Stevens 46)

Subs. Sam Sneed, Josh Graham-Turner, Jake Richards

Carshalton Athletic (0) 0 - 2 (1) Molesey

Tuesday 22 March

Surrey Senior Cup 4^th Round

Carshalton Athletic (0) 0                       Molesey (1) 2

                                                  (Spencer 38, Prately-Jones 70)

Attendance: 109

By Peter Randall

Carshalton’s competitive season effectively came to an end with their departure from the Surrey Senior Cup, defeated by a well-organised and fired up Molesey team, fully deserving of their passage through to a semi-final tie against Leatherhead.  Carshalton in contrast looked like a side lacking shape, purpose and motivation and their was no sign of any “bounce” as a result of Paul Dipre’s recent move from Director of Football to first team manager.

The Robins started well enough and a good passing move involving Barry Stevens and Anthony Joseph presented Luke Pigden with a shooting chance that was driven wide, but Molesey were in no mood to be overawed by their Premier Division opponents and Dan Young did well to divert a goalbound drive from Ashley Lodge.  Joseph again provided a shooting chance, this time for Sonny Ayres, with another low cross from the right, but the young striker making his first team debut hit his shot hurriedly over.  Molesey were enjoying as much of the play as the home side, their willingness to challenge for every ball going a long way to overcoming any possible difference in quality and their confidence grew by leaps and bounds when their captain and former Carshalton youth team stalwart, Moses Spencer, put his side in front on 38 minutes, seizing on a loose ball just to send his low shot beyond the reach of Craig Ross.  

Paul Dipre made a double substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on the vastly experienced Tommy Williams and the totally inexperienced Darren Bryan on in place of Henry and Joseph and the move almost paid off when Bryan did well to somehow reach Ledgister’s cross from the right that had beaten Molesey keeper, Wester Young.  Sadly his shot lacked power and was cleared off the line and what was probably Carshalton’s closest chance of the evening was gone.  A decent drive by Luke Pigden was parried by Young as the Robins pressed forward for an equalizer, but any chance of a semi-final place disappeared on 70 minutes when Joe Prately-Jones shot took a deflection on its way past Ross to put the visitors two up.  Carshalton tried to get back into the game in the twenty minutes remaining with Joel Ledgister the instigator of their best efforts.  A snap shot was saved by Young and then Ledgister presented shooting chances to Stevens and then Ayres, both of which were wasted.  When Ledgister’s cross was just too high for the incoming Pigden it was obvious that the game was up and a delighted Molesey were sportingly congratulated by the disgruntled Carshalton supporters at the final whistle.

Carshalton team; Craig Ross, Michael Boateng, Justyn Roberts, Luke Pigden, Dan Young, David Ray, Anthony Joseph (Tommy Williams), Barry Stevens, Sonny Ayres, Joseph Ledgister, Chris Henry (Darren Bryan)

Subs not used; Ricardo Joseph, Paul Johnson, Jake Hill

Forthcoming games

Saturday 26 March

Ryman League Premier Division

Concord Rangers v Carshalton Athletic

Kick-off 1.00

Saturday 2 April

Ryman League Premier Division

Carshalton Athletic v Kingstonian

Kick-off 3.00

Saturday 9 April

Ryman League Premier Division

AFC Hornchurch v Carshalton Athletic

Kick-off 3.00

Carshalton Athletic (0) 2 - 2 (2) Aveley

Saturday 19 March

Ryman League Premier Division

Carshalton Athletic (0) 2                       Aveley (2) 2

Attendance: 210

By Peter Randall

The match was played in a totally surreal atmosphere, following the midweek dismissal of first team manager, Mark Butler, and the decision of club owner and self-appointed Director of Football to take the managerial reins himself until at least the end of the season.  The bulk of the supporters gathered behind the dug-out left no-one in any doubt about their thoughts on the decision and their loyalty to the players left by the departing manager, but the ambience transmitted itself to the Carshalton team who looked uncertain and lacking in confidence for much of the first half.  Aveley, themselves desperate for points, were not in the mood to look a gift horse in the mouth and took the lead with a simple goal by Ryan Salmon on 11 minutes.  The Robins created little to worry Aveley keeper, Dave McCartney, and his fellow defenders and the visitor’s lead was doubled in the final minute of the half when Orlando Smith threw himself to the ground with a flourish when tackled on the goal-line by Dan Young and midfielder Kenny Beaney confidently despatched the penalty kick.

Carshalton made a change at the interval with Fulham loan signing, Matt Reece coming on to replace Paul Johnson and a change to a very attacking 4-4-2 formation.  The change brought an early dividend when Reece scored with almost his first serious kick, volleying home from just inside the area on 48 minutes.  A moment of madness by the Aveley right back five minutes later cost his side dear, Ryan Andrews accusing the referee of being a cheat when a decision went against him.  Even Alex Ferguson has found that he can’t get away with this one and Andrews was ordered off for his uncalled-for opinion.  Aveley substituted a forward for a defender to hang on to their lead, but the momentum was moving unerringly in the Robins direction.  On 70 minutes Carshalton were level with a move of stunning simplicity, Michael Boateng hitting a long ball crossfield to Chris Henry.  Henry’s decision to pass the ball first time across the face of the area proved to be the right one and Joel Ledgister was on hand to half-volley past McCartney for a brilliant equaliser.  In the final 20 minutes the Robins were well on top and came close to taking the lead twice with moves in which Anthony Joseph was prominent.  A long run resulted in the Aveley defence being prised open with an invitation to shoot, but the midfielder chose to pass to Henry instead and Henry’s cross-shot passed just wide of the far post.  Joseph went on another run down the right late in the game before squaring the ball across the front of the goal to Ledgister.  Sadly, his shot was hurried and passed harmlessly over to leave Aveley with a point to add to the three they had taken from the Robins just weeks before.

Carshalton team; Craig Ross, Michael Boateng, Justyn Roberts, David Ray, Dan Young, Luke Pigden, Paul Johnson (Matt Reece), Barry Stevens, Joel Ledgister, Anthony Joseph, Chris Henry

Subs not used; Tommy Williams, Guy Hollis, Dwain Williams, Sonny Ayres

Forthcoming games

Tuesday 15 March

Surrey Senior Cup

Carshalton Athletic v Molesey

Kick-off 7.45

Saturday 26 March

Ryman League Premier Division

Concord Rangers v Carshalton Athletic

Kick-off 1.00

Saturday 2 April

Ryman League Premier Division

Carshalton Athletic v Kingstonian

Kick-off 3.00