Carshalton Athletic (0) 1 - 3 (1) Kingstonian

Saturday 2 April 2011
Ryman Premier League
Carshalton Athletic (0) 1 - 3 (1) Kingstonian
(Ray 75) (Vines 45, Clayton 46, Hutchinson 71)
Att. 397

By Peter Randall

For their last local derby of the season, the Robins fielded what was very much an experimental line-up as the player revolution at Colston Avenue continues. Rob Kember, signed in midweek from Folkestone, made his debut and, following the departure of Chris Henry to Tonbridge just before the transfer deadline, Academy players Darren Bryan and Sean O’Toole were preferred up front for their first appearances in a Carshalton starting line-up. With a mid--table position assured, the effect was to give the Robins team a pre-season feel. For Kingstonian things were rather more important with points still desperately needed to claim a place in the play-off places and, despite some promising individual performances from the Robins players, the visitors superior team-work, experience and motivation saw them leave with the points.

Kingstonian dominated the early stages and the Carshalton defenders were called on to show the sort of resilience that had earned a surprise away point at Concord the previous Saturday. Dan Young in particular caught the eye with some timely interceptions and Craig Ross once again did well to fend off the efforts of the K’s players swarming around his goal. For all their pressure, however, the best chance of the half was created by the home team five minutes into the game. Joel Ledgister and Michael Boateng combined on the right and the full-back’s low cross found Bryan on the edge of the six yard area. With the goal at his mercy, his attempt to go for power rather than placement saw the ball crash against the underside of the bar and down before being hacked away. As the half progressed Carshalton began to match the work-rate of Simon Huckle and Bash Alimii in the K’s midfield and Kember began to move forward in support of the Robins attack. Bryan and O’Toole were at a considerable height disadvantage against Gary MacDonald and Tom Hutchinson at the heart of the K’s defence, but the young players could not be faulted for effort and attitude and both will only improve with experience. It came as a blow therefore when Kingstonian went ahead in the final minute of the half, Paul Vines displaying his scorer’s instinct to seize onto a ball into the area from Simon Huckle before lobbing it past the advancing Ross into the top corner. With the referee’s whistle about to blow, the Robins almost scored an instant equaliser when Luke Pigden’s free-kick was inches away from the head of Young who had advanced into the area.

The Robins' hopes of getting back into the game were dashed as early as the first minute of the second half when Sam Clayton found space on the right before placing his shot beyond Ross to double the lead. Tashan Adeyinka came on in place of O’Toole and his height and strength immediately made life a little more difficult for the K’s defenders. Pigden, enjoying a good recent run of form in the Robins midfield, worked hard to gain possession before sending in a dangerous cross from the left, and Dwayne Williams forsook his defensive duties to advance into the area to set up Bryan, but the Kingston defence were quick to close down the chance. With 20 minutes remaining Matt Reece came on in place of Bryan to add to Carshalton’s attacking options, but before he had touched the ball the visitors were three up when Hutchinson was the first to a corner from the left to deflect the ball past Ross with a glancing header. To their credit the Robins kept going and gained some reward for their application when Pigden won a corner on the left and Ledgister’s set piece was headed home by captain David Ray. A quick second could have produced an interesting finale, but although Reece came close, volleying over at the end of a good move involving Stevens and Pigden, it was not to be and Kingstonian safely saw out time to avenge their home defeat by the Robins earlier in the year.

Robins team: Craig Ross, Michael Boateng, Justyn Roberts, Dwayne Williams (Barry Stevens), Dan Young, David Ray, Joel Ledgister, Rob Kember, Luke Pigden, Darren Bryan (Matt Reece), Sean O’Toole (Tashan Francis-Adeyanki)Subs not used. Nial Aketa, Josh Turner