CAFC vs Melksham Town – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic secured passage to the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round following a dramatic 3-2 win over Melksham Town.
Veteran midfielder Dominic Vose demonstrated nerves of steel when he converted a 95th-minute spot-kick in front of the Robins faithful to confirm our place in Monday’s draw.
Following the birth of his child last weekend, long-serving Robin Paris Hamilton-Downes enjoyed a first start of the 2024-25 season on return, filling in at left-back for Azez Sankoh. The only other change for Peter Adeniyi’s side came in the forward areas with Darnell Goather-Braithwaite making way for Mason Saunders Henry on the right flank. A strong Carshalton starting XI was bolstered by a stacked bench featuring Tom Jackson, Steve Gody, Charlie Kennett, Soloman Baugh, and Sanchez Ming.
It was almost the perfect start to proceedings for the Robins when Vose rattled the far post directly from an inswinging corner inside two minutes. The early chance was a wake-up call for Melksham, and they responded well, putting together some nice passing patterns as they forced the game to open up. Vose, the main attacking threat for the Reds in the early stages, found himself in acres of space on the edge of the penalty area and let fly; however, he did not get the intended whip. A few minutes later, Town had their first chance of the tie when striker Kyle Witt successfully latched onto a lofted pass in behind, beat the onrushing Mackenzie Foley, but stabbed it the wrong side of the post. Ten minutes in, it is fair to say that the Black and Yellows had made it difficult for Carshalton to settle into the occasion. So far, Town had limited the Robins to speculative shots from distance, which was a testament to their defensive resolve. It was apparent that the key to breaking down this well-marshalled defence was to move the ball well and to be patient. The first semblance of this came in the 15th minute following some lovely combination play between the likes of Tommy Bradford, Saunders Henry, and Saraiva, it culminated with the latter being laid off to send a dipping effort straight down Kelsey’s throat.
Even though the Robins controlled proceedings, out of possession Melksham had all ten bodies behind the ball with only Witt forward, frustrating the hosts. Approaching the 20-minute mark, the tables turned momentarily as Adeniyi’s side had to defend, surviving a succession of shots, crosses, and the occasional long throw, but our lads made sure they matched the physicality of the visitors. Mid-way through, the visitor’s discipline was waning perhaps owing to fatigue and Carshalton looked to exploit the gaps through forward Tom Stagg. An outside-of-the-boot Vose pass slipped through Stagg who drove his shot at the defender before being denied one-on-one with Kelsey not long after. Eventually, the Robins received their just deserts thanks to our No. 10 Tommy Bradford in the 33rd minute. Bryan Ifeanyi drifted in from the left and produced a powerful goal-bound shot which was spilled by Kelsey before Stagg’s post-rattling follow-up was netted close range by an alert Bradford.
Keen to capitalise on the momentum garnered, Hamilton-Downes then lashed an audacious 30-yard effort onto the bar. Eight minutes from time, Saunders Henry gave the Robins a well-deserved two-goal cushion after a superb long-range strike that nestled into the roof of the net.
That being said, it was a nervy end to the first 45 as complacency crept in. Sloppy mistakes playing out from the back came narrowly close to punishing the Reds a couple of times, thankfully the Melksham attackers failed to make the most of them. Unfortunately for the Robins, on the stroke of half time Town halved the deficit following a Jake Andrews inswinging corner that was glanced in by Robbie James. Despite being the better team for much of the first half, the Black and Yellows were in the ascendancy heading into the break and had been spurred on to search for a leveller.
The second half began in an end-to-end fashion, Ifeanyi threatened immediately driving on the outside of the defender into the penalty area to manufacture a one-on-one with Kelsey, whose outstretched leg denied the winger from a tight angle. Up the other end of the pitch, the Robins scrambled away a dangerous Nathan Davis long throw. Aware that Melksham were platforming more attacking intent this half, Adeniyi’s side were under no illusion as to the importance of extending their advantage. Bradford controlled with his back to goal and slipped through Saunders Henry to attack right and force Kelsey into a routine save; however, the Black and Yellows countered effectively to win a corner. Mark Collier’s outfit had proved particularly dangerous from set pieces all game and they put Carshalton to the sword once again in the 54th minute through the resulting corner. Mark Cooper, who scored a brace against Banbury in the Second Qualifying Round as a result of two Davis long throws, met and converted the Andrews inswinger to equalise for Melksham. For the next ten to 15 minutes, the Robins pushed to peg back the visitors, but their end product left much to be desired. With each overhit cross, poor pass, and ineffective set piece delivery, it made the room for error slimmer and slimmer, as substitute Azez Sankoh found out following a brief lapse in concentration that saw him dispossessed but quickly rescued by Bradford to prevent Henry Sady being through on goal.
After a long period of sustained pressure from the Robins that came to no avail, Melksham were testing the Carshalton backline as the 70th minute beckoned. Entering the final third, new arrival to the pitch Sankoh arguably had the Reds best opportunity of the half. After Town had deployed lots of bodies forward, Adeniyi’s side countered through Saunders Henry who carried the ball unchallenged upfield and sent Sankoh clear away thanks to a well cushioned lofted pass in behind. However, the young full-back’s heavy touch let him down and allowed Kelsey time to come out and clear.
As the clock ticked down, Carshalton were probing the visitor’s defence and getting closer to what would likely be the winner. Saraiva, displaying his football intelligence for all to see, cutely slipped through Ifeanyi to attack left, who pulled it back but nobody in red was there to turn it into the net, instead Bradford, Saunders Henry, and Read all looked at one another in astonishment that none of them had got something on it. Ifeanyi, involved again, used his trickery to make room for the cross to the front post, which was glanced onto the crossbar by Read from close range, the defender knowing full well that he should have done better.
It looked as though a replay at the Oakfield Stadium was on the horizon until the referee awarded a penalty in the 95th minute. Ifeanyi was brought down on the left-hand side of the penalty area and Vose stepped up to the spot-kick and sent a diving Kelsey the wrong way – ice-cold veins from the veteran.
Vose ensured that Carshalton will be in the hat for Monday’s Fourth Qualifying Round draw, which will take place at 3 PM, be sure to keep an eye out as National League clubs now enter.
Up Next
The Robins travel to Hashtag United on Tuesday evening for their rearranged Isthmian Premier Division clash. Kick-off is at 7:45 PM at the Parkside Stadium, Essex.
