CAFC Women vs Leatherhead Youth

CAFC Women vs Leatherhead Youth – Match Report

Carshalton Athletic women thumped Leatherhead Youth 5-0 in the Surrey Premier Division at River Lane on Sunday.

The Robins had a sluggish start to the match, with Leatherhead creating the first opportunity early on – a 25-yard free kick from the left channel that was flashed wide of the post. After some sustained attacking pressure from the Tanners, Carshalton broke at pace through Maria Andrade, but her through ball was overhit, squandering a promising chance. Six minutes in, Josie Alderman tested the Leatherhead keeper for the first time, before Kanita Throp’s follow-up shot was driven into the defender.

Carshalton fans are used to seeing Aaron Lamont’s team play with an intense high press, but Leatherhead turned the tables, matching us in this department, and causing Lara Rodriguez to lose possession while playing out from the back. Fortunately, Leatherhead’s No. 9 fired wide when presented with a chance.

Against the run of play, the Robins took the lead in the 13th minute, with winger Josie Alderman smashing home after a long ball over the top of the Tanners’ backline.

This goal shifted the momentum in favour of Carshalton. Throp almost played striker Heather Eade through on goal, and Alderman sent a shot straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. Growing in confidence, Dulley attacked down the right and squared a ball across the face of goal to Eade, who could not get the intended connection, allowing the keeper to make a comfortable save from close range. On the 20-minute mark, Throp controlled a ball on the left wing before unleashing a dipping shot that came agonisingly close to nestling into the top far corner of the net.

Midway through the half, the Robins extended their lead. After withstanding some attacking pressure, Carshalton broke quickly, with Alderman carrying the ball up field, angling into the penalty area, and calmly slotting the ball beyond the keeper to make it 2-0.

Entering the final third of the half, the Reds forced a turnover in a dangerous area, with Maria Andrade playing a great ball into Eade, but the striker was thwarted by a defender. Minutes later, a lofted pass sent Leatherhead’s No. 8 clear through on goal, but Carshalton’s goalkeeper Georgina Solly made a fantastic diving save to deny a golden opportunity to halve the deficit.

With six minutes left in the first half, Eade went to ground in the penalty area, but the referee waved away the appeals for a spot kick. Just before halftime, Throp’s left-wing set-piece pierced the goalkeeper’s clutches; however, there was no red shirt to capitalize at the far post. The resulting corner saw Eade attack the front post but head wide of the mark.

The final action of the first half saw Alderman’s clever outside-of-the-boot pass send Chapman through on goal, but her half-volley was straight at the keeper, who made a quick save.

The second half began with a bang for Carshalton. Within seconds of the restart, the Robins were 3-0 up. Great combination play between Chapman and Eade saw the latter slot the ball into the keeper’s bottom right corner.

Chapman nearly added another soon after, receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area but sending her shot wide on the stretch. On the hour mark, Alderman beat the full-back down the touchline and delivered a perfect ball across to Eade, who almost found the back of the net but saw her effort blocked by the goalkeeper.

In the 63rd minute, Eade completed her brace after a flurry of chances. Evie Nebbitt threaded a brilliant pass through to Eade, who calmly finished through the legs of the onrushing keeper.

A few minutes later, Throp’s inswinging corner was flicked on by Daisy Olley at the far post, adding a fifth for the Robins.

With 15 minutes remaining, Carshalton had further chances to extend the lead. Measures cushioned a Throp corner over with her head, and Eade missed a golden opportunity for a hat-trick, dragging her shot wide. In the dying embers, Zoe McNulty, who replaced Georgina Solly in goal at halftime, made a trio of superb saves to preserve Carshalton’s clean sheet. She dived to her right to push away a low-driven strike and then made two excellent one-on-one saves to keep the scoreline intact.

The Robins ran out 5-0 winners over the Tanners and the result sees Lamont’s side remain second on 25 points, closing the gap with Dorking Wanderers Development. Thankfully, the Reds boast a couple of games in hand over the Wanderers heading into the final few games of the 2024-25 campaign. There will be hopes the ladies can carry forward the momentum when they travel to Cobham to take on Epsom & Ewell next Sunday.