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