CAFC Women vs Farnham Town FC

CAFC Women vs Farnham Town FC -Match Report

Despite a spirited defensive display, Carshalton Athletic suffered a 2-0 defeat to an impressive Farnham Town FC side away at the Memorial Ground on Sunday.

The match started in fast fashion, extremely end to end. Farnham’s quality was apparent from the get-go with Kaitlin Howard striking wide from the edge of the penalty area. Carshalton were quick to counter-attack and a blistering right flank run from Honey Dulley was crucially cut out. The ladies did very well to nullify a couple of early crosses into their box, making sure to clear them from danger. The game was teeing up as expected, Town would control proceedings, dominating the lion’s share of possession, while the Reds soaked up the pressure, tried to win the second ball and looked to break at pace. Chances were going to be few and far between for the Robins in this fixture, so we needed to make the most of our opportunities in the final third.
Fifteen minutes in, our backline survived a barrage of attacks, which had presented themselves as lofted passes in behind. Having said that, the spirited defending that had repelled these threats was just as commendable, a great Abbey Measures sliding challenge prevented Varney from getting her cross into the box down the left, Tanya Dady made an excellent header, and Evie Nebbitt’s well-timed tackle denied a certain goalscoring opportunity.

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC WOMENS vs FARNHAM 06/102024 AT The Memorial Ground, The Club House Mead La, Farnham GU9 7DY, Photography by Linval Bartley @linbartley Photography

However, from the resulting corner, the home side took a deserved lead following an inswinging corner that ensued a pinball-like scramble and was turned in on the follow-up by Anya Kinnane.

On the 20-minute mark, Kenza Gueriani came agonisingly close to beating the onrushing keeper to a lofted pass in behind that had sent her clean through. Football is a game of fine margins and Aaron Lamont’s side were under no illusion to the fact that just one chance was all they needed for the leveller. A real positive up to this stage for the Robins had been their defensive resolve, best surmised by a duo of well-executed offside traps that saw the assistant raise his flag for Emma Mutch, who was trying to attack left and had her progress halted. Town then had a few more half chances, Francesca Thornton’s speculative long-range effort sailed over and Emma Mutch’s dipping half-volley thankfully fell into the side netting. A few minutes later, a calamity of errors occurred involving Nebbitt and Georgina Solley. The pair collided as they attempted to clear the ball, which allowed Mutch to round them but somehow miss the open target. That said, not long after she was sparred her blushes thanks to Howard’s composed finish that found the far corner. Towards the latter stages of the half, the ladies were beginning to have more joy going forward, particularly down the flanks. Dulley’s driving run right was stopped by a strong but fair challenge by the Farnham defender, while Gueriani carried the ball left largely unchallenged to then scuff the delivery. One minute from the break there was a huge let-off for the Robins as the ball ricocheted into the path of Howard whose flicked close range strike went wide. Our ladies went into half-time behind, the performance had resembled that of Jose Mourinho as opposed to the attacking Thomas Frank display supporters of Lamont’s side are accustomed to witnessing. Town had been relentless, and despite some resolute defending from the Reds, they had forged a two-goal cushion.

The second half beckoned, Gueriani drove towards goal and checked back to lay it off to Sarah Chapman to come onto; however, the forward miscued her audacious 25–30-yard effort. Central midfielder Emily McCarthy had begun the half brightly, throwing her body about to match the physicality of her opponents, successfully winning a free kick in the process after dispossessing her counterpart.

As well as McCarthy, Solley was also up for the fight back. Her alertness enabled her to smother a stray header in behind and quash a good early chance, additionally, the shot-stopper saved a Kinnane free kick.
In the 53rd minute, Georgina Edwards finally got the opportunity to deliver one of her signature free kicks. The right-sided set piece just inside the Farnham half was sent deep into the penalty area and steered goal-bound by the head of Measures. The hour mark signalled an entirely fresh front three for Lamont, Heather Eade, Ella Bale, and Kanita Throp were responsible for inspiring hopes of a comeback. Up the other end of the pitch, Town continued to apply lots of pressure on the Robins, Howard had a strike bravely blocked before a deliciously dangerous cross was diverted over the top of Solley’s goal for a corner.

Wave after wave of shots and crosses carried on being well defended and mid-way through, the Robins were gradually causing a few problems in the offensive third as Bale came narrowly close to threading through Throp. Nebbitt was booked in the 67th minute for bringing down Farnham’s attacker, who was perceived to be clear away. The resulting Kinnane free kick failed to get the intended whip and whistled past the post. Entering the final third of the match, Edwards let fly a sweetly struck shot from distance which was unfortunately safely held. Moments later, her central free kick alluded everyone in green.

Heading into the final ten minutes, the Robins were in the ascendancy and pushing to at least halve the deficit. Giving chase in behind, Bale managed to reach the pass, taking a moment to set and compose herself before whipping it comfortably into the arms of the goalkeeper. Following that, Throp drifted inside and floated the ball towards Measures, who cushioned it across goal to Bale, but the assistant’s flag denied them. Despite the clock ticking down, the belief of our ladies did not falter, and Bale latched onto a chipped ball which sent her one on one; however, her stabbed effort was tame.
Carshalton survived consecutive late scares in quick succession to preserve a second-half clean sheet and a much-improved display from the first. Despite falling to a 2-0 defeat, Farnham are an extremely good side, and the spirited defensive performance was a huge positive.