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