Robins on Top against a youthful Wimbledon side
Aziz Sankoh starred as Carshalton Athletic capped off pre-season with a 2-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon today.
The full-back forced the opener with his driven cross, across the face of goal that was turned in by Wombles centre-back Sam Goma before registering perhaps the best goal of his career when he scored a 25-yard rocket.
Casting an eye to next week’s league opener against Folkestone Invicta, Peter Adeniyi named a strong lineup. Following on from their hard-fought draw with Marlow FC, there were two changes for the home side: No. 9 Andy Somo and full-back Charlie Kennett dropped to the bench and were replaced by Aziz Sankoh and Kwaku Frimpong. Meanwhile, for Wimbledon, there was a heavy emphasis on youth, with the squad brought to Colston Avenue largely made up of under-18s.
The opening stages of the match were a relatively tame affair. There was some good early pressure from the Robins to put the Dons backline under pressure and force the turnover of possession high up the pitch, but neither side posed any real threat. The first chance of the half fell to Carshalton winger Bryan Ifianyi when Kwaku Frimpong’s searching cross eventually found the 20-year-old, and he had his volley blocked. Moments later, Ifianyi was causing problems once again, being unleashed down the left flank and cutting back, but nobody in red was there to challenge the Wombles goal.
The visitors gradually grew into the game, and a mix-up at the back from the Robins gifted midfielder Connor Harris a sight at goal; however, his attempt was blocked. Nearing the 20-minute mark, Harry Hedges laid the ball off first time to Wombles right winger Edward Leach, who drove into the box, cut in to fashion onto his right foot, and guided it into the far corner, but Mackenzie Foley was a match and got down well to make a comfortable save.
Veteran midfielder Dominic Vose then saw an opportunity for a quick free kick, playing it to Ifianyi, who lashed a cross low and hard towards the centre of the box, yet McGrath reacted well to parry as pinball ensued before the ball was scrambled away from danger by the Dons. Midway through the half, Adeniyi was forced into an early change after Frimpong got injured trying to latch onto a lofted pass in behind. Darnell Goather Braithwaite replaced the Wimbledon academy product.
Approaching the final third of the first half, disaster struck for Carshalton as the Wombles penetrated the resolute Robins backline and won a penalty when midfielder Harry Hedges, twisting and turning, was caught on the way through before he could get a shot away. Winger Junior Nkeng stepped up and missed, his penalty rattling the post.
The hosts had been given a lifeline and were aware of it. Adeniyi’s side kicked into gear, and Ifianyi, the brightest spark for Carshalton in the first 45, was unleashed down the left and skipped past Wimbledon right-back Bailey Cotton to find Tommy Bradford at the back post, but the cross was just too high, and the captain could not generate the power to head it back across the keeper. Immediately after, Ifianyi was at it again, teeing up Bradford to test Ethan McGrath between the sticks, although the shot was straight at the 18-year-old.
The Reds closed the half on top, and forward Mason Saunders Henry found himself through on goal; however, he chose to be selfless, and his pass to Vose was sloppy and squandered the opportunity.
Going into the break, there was nothing to separate the two sides. Fatigue set in at the back end of the half for the hosts, with sloppy mistakes and a drop in intensity beginning to give Wimbledon an avenue back into the match. Having said that, the visitors had proven age is just a number and went toe to toe with Step Three non-league players for the majority of the half, matching their physicality.
It was a strong start to the second half by Carshalton, reflecting Adeniyi’s desire to attack with purpose. Ifianyi carried on as he left off, causing the Wombles defence all kinds of problems. Attacking the box from the left side, he delivered a mean cross that was begging to be converted into the empty net, but nobody was there for the Robins. Minutes later, the youngster took a heavy touch and used his pace to get beyond Cotton as if he were not there and then carry the ball into the penalty area before side-footing in an attempt to find the far corner; instead, it went agonisingly wide of the post and Saunders-Henry’s foot, who tried to stab it home.
Not long after, the quick feet of the 20-year-old produced a delicious cross into the six-yard box from out wide that deserved to be headed in, yet McGrath punched clear. Eventually, the Robins broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute thanks to left-back Aziz Sankho. Neat one-touch passing from the trio of substitute Goather-Braithwaite, Ifianyi, and Sankho, released the latter in on goal down the left flank, and trying to pick out one of the attackers, he cut back and watched his delivery turned in by centre-back Sam Goma. It was very unlucky for the 18-year-old.
On the hour mark, Wimbledon were posing more of an attacking threat and had appeals for a penalty waved away when Hedges went down in the box, claiming he had been pushed in the back. Carshalton demonstrated their pace on the counter to catch the Wombles out of shape. Saunders-Henry drifted out towards the right and whipped in a cross, which was headed away and fell to Sankho, who responded to calls of “shoot” by firing the ball into the top left corner to give the home side a two-goal cushion in the 63rd minute.
Carshalton have garnered a reputation for coming alive in the second half during pre-season, and so far that is exactly how the match was panning out. However, Wimbledon reminded the Reds not to get too complacent when Ollie Hamstead’s misplaced pass was latched onto by 40, who drove at the hosts goal and played through Hedges peeling off Atewologun, but his side-footed effort was denied by the outstretched right boot of Foley.
As expected, Adeniyi made several changes with 15 minutes left of the tie. Bradford and right-back Luke Read were replaced by Steve Gody and Charlie Kennett, while Saunders-Henry and the man of the moment, Sankho, departed for Tommy Stagg and Paris Hamiliton-Downes. Despite the changes, it did not deter the Wombles from pushing for a way back into the game, and it seemed 40 was their best shot. He deceived Fabio Saraiva on the edge of the box and delivered towards the back post to win a corner, having Foley worried momentarily. After that, he contributed to a short corner that made its way to Leach lurking outside the area, but his effort was narrowly deflected over the bar.
It was then the turn of Dons substitute Joe Kirby to inspire hopes of a comeback; he had a dangerous cross cleared for a corner by Fikayo Atewologun and then fired high over the bar on the half volley.
Steve Gody impressed in the dying embers of the game, picking up where Sankho had left off. Gody and Ifianyi were enjoying themselves on the left, and in a desperate effort to counter their attacking threat, the visitors doubled up; however, Gody knocked the ball between them before being brought down for the foul.
New signing Tom Jackson tried to mimic Sankho in added time, but his speculative effort sailed a considerable distance over the crossbar. The match fizzled out, and Carshalton saw the game out.
The Robins conclude pre-season in the best possible fashion with a statement win that means Adeniyi’s side not only go unbeaten but also pick up their fourth clean sheet. Carshalton will have hopes of carrying this momentum into next week’s opening Isthmian Premier Division tie against Folkestone Invicta.
