CAFC vs South Park Reigate – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic progressed into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup thanks to a first-half goal from Tommy Bradford.
Our captain was alert to bundle home from close range following a pinball like scramble in the penalty area. There was one change for Peter Adeniyi’s side following last week’s goalless draw with league toppers Lewes, Steve Gody made way for Bryan Ifeanyi out wide. The first chance of the match fell the way of Carshalton inside five minutes, a switch from Fabio Saraiva was prevented from reaching Azez Sankho making an attacking run left, but it was cleared only as far as Tommy Bradford, who was bundled over for a free kick on the edge of the box. Saraiva stepped up, finessing the ball with the side of his foot around the wall and towards the far corner; however, Danny Bracken was alert and pushed it away at full stretch.
Not long after, Sankho sent a dipping cross into the danger area which was comfortably gathered by Bracken before a well-worked short corner ended with Bradford striking wide from close range and the assistant’s flag being raised for offside. Our captain continued to provide our main attacking threat in the early stages, receiving the ball centrally 20 yards out and taking time to compose himself, Bradford fashioned it onto his left and shot straight down Bracken’s throat. It had been a lively start from Darnell Goather-Braithwaite and he eventually got the fruits of his labour when the referee awarded a free kick in the right channel following some good work from the right winger. With the set piece positioned just outside the right-hand side of the box, Saraiva chose to take it quick, flashing the ball into Bradford, who laid it off for him to come onto and strike centrally, but the effort was tame. In the 17th minute, Carshalton finally got their just deserts. Goather-Braithewaite floated in a cross from the right, which made its way through to Ifeanyi on the opposite side, whose low-driven effort ensued a pinball-like scramble before Bradford won the battle against the sea of Sparks defenders and bundled it over the line. It was no less than what he deserved after an excellent start to the match.
On the 20-minute mark, the visitors had their first real attack when Craig McGee’s curling left sided delivery looking for Finlay Johnson was crucially cut out at the front post by our centre-back Ollie Hamstead. The resulting McElligott corner was swung into Ryan Healy languishing free at the back post, but he got the ball trapped under his right boot and subsequently scuffed what should have been a simple tap in from close range.
Mid-way through the half, cute combination play initiated by the driving run of Ifeanyi teed up Tom Stagg to test the goalkeeper from close range, that being said the 22-year-old was contesting with an extremely tight angle and the fact that he was at full extension, so it was no surprise the effort sailed well over the bar. Entering the final third, chances may have been few and far between for the step four outfit but there was another warning sign from the Sparks for the Robins. Despite Ifeanyi and Luke Read doubling up on Sam Tutt on the left, the full-back did well to get a cross in, however it was just too high for Conan Torpey. Let off for the Reds. A couple of other half-chances came the way of Carshalton as the clock ticked down to the break, Goather-Braithwaite continued to cause problems down the right and his low driven delivery evaded everyone in red. Dominic Vose, who had been a little bit quiet, dragged a shot wide from the right-hand side of the box.
Constantly occupying dangerous positions in and around the penalty area, the Sparks found it difficult to nullify the threat of Bradford and he was involved again when he played the ball inside to Ifeanyi, who drifted in from left to right and cut it back goal-bound, failing to generate the necessary power to challenge Bracken. The Sparks shot-stopper presented Carshalton with a gift of an opportunity after his loose pass was intercepted by Goather-Braithewaite and Stagg, peeling off his defender towards the right, showed for the right winger, who obliged, yet the striker’s cross was blocked for a corner. Goather-Braithewaite had been deserving of registering an attacking return through the first 45 and he came narrowly close when his drilled-in delivery grazed Stagg’s head. The referee’s board indicated three minutes additional time and Stagg did well to bring the ball down in the box and fashion it onto his stronger left foot. Attempting to angle it into the far corner, the young man did not get the intended whip on his shot, and he was left rueing the missed opportunity. Heading into the break, the lads took a deserved 1-0 victory into the dressing room to maintain for the second half; although, there were still concerns surrounding the clinical edge of the team.
It was a bit of a sluggish start from Carshalton and South Park had an early sight at goal. McElliogott’s set piece just inside the robins half was met by the head of Healy, however, he did not connect, and it trickled the wrong side of the post. After a brief stoppage for a head injury which cut out a promising Robins attack led by Sankho, the referee restarted proceedings in the initial position and Vose, Bradford, and Stagg combined to win a free-kick on top of the 18-yard box. Bradford laid it off for Vose to run onto and drive for the first time against the alert onrushing Sparks defenders.
Pushing to extend their advantage, the Red’s pressure paid dividends when they won the ball in the final third and lovely skill from Bradford played through Stagg, who had his effort blocked for a corner. On the hour, Adeniyi decided to switch things up in the forward areas and Stagg departed for Mason Saunders-Henry. It had been a frustrating afternoon for Stagg, who had squandered a couple of good chances to score. Saunders-Henry was involved immediately, curling a cross towards the front post, with the Bradford flick on watched safely over the bar by Bracken.
A few minutes later, some Ifeanyi trickery on the left side of the penalty area produced a wonderful cross that was begging to be converted, instead, it flashed across the face of goal. 63 minutes in and the Carshalton defence had largely been observing, however all of a sudden a Sparks counterattack called them into action and centre-back Hamstead used his outstretched leg to prevent Johnson from sending South Park clean through.
Approaching the 70 mark, Bradford was keen to add a second to his tally for the day. Having carried the ball into the box unchallenged, he performed a couple of stepovers, a sign of his growing confidence, and cut inside to let fly, however, the effort was blocked. The captain tried to latch onto the rebound, but the ball was scrambled away. Ifeanyi, desperate to get himself on the scoresheet, took the responsibility of creating something from nothing and made a blistering run on the outside of the defender and struck wide.
As the game opened up to a degree, Carshalton regained the ascendancy and attacked up the other end. Ifeanyi and Sankho combined well on the left flank, the latter’s pulled-back lofted cross just behind Saunders-Henry, who guided his header on target but failed to trouble Bracken. With ten minutes until time and only one goal separating the two sides, Adeniyi made a trio of substitutes, which included Tom Jackson and Paris Hamilton-Downes, freshening up the middle of the park.
In the dying embers of the game, Carshalton managed to survive a barrage of shots and crosses from a South Park side pushing for the leveller with nothing to lose. Following the wave after wave of attack from the Sparks, Ifeanyi’s quick feet reminded the visitors that Carshalton were still looking for a second. A tense five minutes of additional time ensued for Carshalton as yells of “blow your whistle ref” could be heard from staff and fans alike, and eventually, he obliged. The robins progress into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after securing a 1-0 victory over South Park Reigate.
Up Next
Up next for the Reds is a league fixture at home to Dover Athletic next Saturday, with kick-off at 3:00 PM. Adeniyi’s side will have hopes of a first league win since Chichester.
