However, Carshalton still had to play well and there were good performances from Paris Hamilton-Downes, Dwayne Williams and the returning David Obaze but the young substitute Sonny Ayres caught the eye as he claimed the points with his first league goal.
The off-field atmosphere at the War Memorial is still strange, with the supporters now crystalised into two distinct camps; those behind the goal trying to start the singing and a more sizeable group on the Wrythe Terrace pointedly not. The derby at Gander Green Lane tomorrow will be interesting for many reasons, not least to see how the Carshalton fans conduct themselves.
Ryman Premier League
Carshalton Athletic (0) 1 Canvey Island (0) 0
(Ayres 70)
Attendance: 240
After suffering at the hands of promotion contenders on the three previous Saturdays, football demonstrated what a surprising game it can be as the Robins recorded their first win since early March and their first since Paul Dipre appointed himself as first team manager. A single second-half goal by substitute Sonny Ayres with his first kick of the game proved to be enough to separate the sides, but in truth the Gulls looked anything but a promotion chasing team and Craig Ross enjoyed his quietest afternoon in many weeks.
David Obaze was a surprise selection at centre back, his first appearance in a Carshalton shirt since early January, and Paris Hamilton-Downes was the latest of the Academy players to be given a start in midfield. From the start there was little to choose between the two teams and the heat and the bumpy pitch proved to be as big a problem as the opposition for both sides. Canvey’s Rob King tied his luck with a shot and at the other end goalkeeper James Russell was fractionally first to Anthony Joseph’s cross with Tash Adeyanki closing in. Goalmouth incidents were few and far between, but Adeyanki headed wide and Canvey’s Danny Heale was inches away from connecting with King’s cross, but the portents for the Robins were good when they managed to avoid conceding a goal in the final minute of the first half, a feat that had been beyond them in the previous 3 games.
Robbie Kember replaced Dwayne Williams after the interval and the visitors were most threatening in the early stages of the second half. Another dangerous cross by King was headed away by Obaze who was enjoying an effective afternoon at the heart of the Robins defence, but the effort put in by all of the Robins players could not be faulted. What was missing from the game was the extra bit of quality that would have enabled either side to take control, but Jon Easterford should have done better with a free header that he directed straight into the arms of Ross. On 60 minutes a long range shot by Kember flew just over, probably the Robins first direct goal attempt of the game, but the breakthrough was only five minutes away. Canvey defender Chris Moore carelessly conceded a corner and Joel Ledgister’s set-piece was met by David Ray’s head. The header was blocked by Russell as was Obaze’s follow-up shot, but Sonny Ayres was on the spot to turn the ball in seconds after coming on as a substitute. The expected response from the visitors failed to materialise in the twenty minutes that remained and the Robins missed out on a couple of good chances to increase their lead. Barry Stevens lost possession and failed to release Ayres for a run on goal and late in the game Darren Bryan failed to make contact with Joseph’s low cross from the right. The final chance of the game fell to Canvey, but Alex Rhodes’ shot at the end of a break down the left was wild and wide, giving the Robins the opportunity to savour a win they just about deserved with the inviting prospect of the short trip cross the Borough on Monday to play the Ryman champions.
Robins team: Craig Ross, Michael Boateng, Jake Hill, Paris Hamilton-Downes (Darren Bryan), David Obaze, David Ray, Anthony Joseph, Dwayne Williams Robbie Kember) Joel Ledgister, Tashan Francis-Adeyanki (Sonny Ayres), Barry Stevens
Subs not used. Nial Akata, Dan Young
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