CAFC vs Hendon FC – Preview
Carshalton Athletic take on Hendon FC in the Isthmian Premier Division on Saturday afternoon at Colston Avenue following a 4-0 defeat to National League South side Boreham Wood in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round.
Robins Review
After consecutive weeks of cup football, a return to league action is much welcomed. Last time out, the Robins travelled to Parkside to take on Hashtag United and ran out 1-0 winners in unusually convincing fashion for such a slender victory on the face of it. Currently, Carshalton languish in 10th place on 12 points; however, Peter Adeniyi’s side have played two fewer games than some teams, such as Chichester City in eighth. There will be hopes that the Reds can carry the momentum from pleasing league performances against Lewes, Dover, and the Tags and turn them into three points!
Hendon FC
Hendon FC were held to a goalless draw with Dartford at the weekend, meaning they sit seventh in the Premier Division on 15 points. A side growing in confidence, Hendon have enjoyed a turn in fortunes of late. The Dons experienced a difficult start to the 2024/25 season despite a favourable run of fixtures that saw Ian Allinson’s team face off against clubs now languishing in the bottom half of the table. Victory in their Isthmian Premier Division curtain-raiser against Battersea and Pitsea was quickly tempered by a 2-1 loss to Dulwich Hamlet. A five-match unbeaten run then ensued, winning 3-1 vs Cray Wanderers, Cheshunt, and Whitehawk, the latter in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, while drawing with Bognor Regis and Chatham.
However, the Greens poor run of form began following a 3-0 FA Cup Second Qualifying Round defeat to Herne Bay, which Allinson labelled as simply “not good enough”. To make matters worse, they travelled to Folkestone Invicta and were dispatched 2-0 with a whimper – not even creating any chances. Hendon failed to bounce back in the London Cup on Wednesday and, the former competition finalists, were knocked out 5-3 on penalties by Step Five Woodford Town in a cup upset.
Cray Valley, who sit in the play-off places and beat our lads 3-1 on August bank holiday, were their next opponents and would be their toughest test to date. That said, the Dons platformed an extremely impressive battling display and ran out narrow 1-0 winners thanks to a single Dave Diedhiou goal being the difference maker. After a disappointing few weeks, the result proved much-needed and put to bed a tough four game winless streak. Keen to capitalise on the momentum garnered from the Valley display, a trip away to lower-tier Combined Counties Division One outfit Bedfont Sports FC for the FA Trophy provided the perfect opportunity to maintain the positive feeling. Allinson’s side thumped Bedfont 5-1 to progress through and more importantly pick up their first away victory of the campaign.
As part of the 2024/25 Step 3 allocations, the Greens were the only team to be moved laterally from the Southern League Premier South to the Isthmian League Premier Division, rather than being promoted or relegated. Interestingly enough, the Dons are back in the Isthmian League after six years.
Last season saw the Middlesex-based side finish a comfortable 10th place and consolidate themselves in the division. However, in 2022-23 they avoided relegation, albeit by the barest of margins, after mustering just 38 points, which was one above relegated Harrow Borough. The Greens had flirted with the drop zone the year before that too, having occupied 16th. During the COVID disrupted campaigns, there were improved finishes of ninth and 14th respectively, although 2018-19, the fairer reflection, was a similar story of languishing bottom half (16th). The last six years have been far a cry from the success of the 2017-18 team that almost got promoted to the National League South but fell at the last hurdle after a dramatic 4-3 loss to Dulwich Hamlet in the Play-Off Final.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Foley, Sankoh, Atewologun, Hamstead, Read, Saraiva, Vose, Bradford, Ifeanyi, Saunders-Henry, Goather-Braithwaite
Hendon FC
Campbell, Gidaree, Adenola, Riley-Snow, Light, Diediou ©, Muir, Cumberbatch, Busari, Sole, Brosnan
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
Going forward, there could be a few selection headaches for Manager Peter Adeniyi. Even though Fikayo Atewologun has been a common fixture alongside Ollie Hamstead, club captain Paris Hamilton-Downes seized his opportunity during Atewologun’s injury absence, so either one could partner Hamstead. At the weekend, the trio actually started alongside each other because Adeniyi had set them up in a more compact 5-3-2 formation.
Charlie Kennett’s impressive second-half performance against Hadley in the FA Trophy had Adeniyi admit the full-back has put himself in contention to play a more prominent role. As well as that, there is competition between Tom Stagg and Mason Saunders-Henry to lead the line for the Robins, while Kwaku Frimpong, who was a second half substitute Saturday, will put Darnell Goather-Braithewaite under pressure to start on the right flank.BBB
Hendon FC
Hendon signed Youssef Chantouf last week following his release from Wigan Athletic, Chantouf was named among the substitutes for the 5-1 thumping of Bedfont and took to the pitch in the 83rd minute, before an improved 25-minute cameo Saturday against Dartford. Hamza Semakula has returned to Aveley having rejoined the Dons in mid-August on a dual registration and is therefore unavailable, the hardworking Niko Muir will replace him in the starting XI.
Pre-Match Analysis
The Cray Valley victory revealed the Dons preference to attack via the aerial root. Valley were forced to subdue a barrage of crosses into the penalty area with Brosnan’s deliciously whipped in delivery met by the head of Diediou from close range. What’s more, there were a couple of times that cute combination play ended with a well-cushioned chipped ball in behind down the right channel and into the box. No. 9 Busari also spearheads a highly aggressive press, which forced the Valley shot-stopper into a sloppy stray pass that was cut out by Brosnan, who eventually squandered the opportunity. Even though the Greens backline wins lots of headers and puts in the necessary blocks, a slight criticism would be their inability to react to the second ball. However, ending their unwanted away losing streak and bolstering it with six goals in three is not to be underestimated by the Robins.
Key Player
Kai Omoko Brosnan is Hendon’s current top goal scorer, boasting eight goals so far this season. A welcomed hattrick against Bedfont in the FA Trophy put to bed a goal draught that saw the forward fail to find the back of the net in September following an August where he could not stop scoring with five in five.
The Gaffer
Lee Allinson is the son of former Arsenal, Colchester United and Stoke player Ian Allinson. Allinson junior spent his youth at Watford until the age of 16, but he would make his senior debut in the FA Trophy at Harlow under the stewardship of his Dad. After a few seasons at a whole host of different clubs, Lee joined his Dad at Boreham Wood aged 23. Three successful seasons ensued, which included winning promotion to the Conference South. Arlesey Town was up next where he won the league before a move to Biggleswade Town to win yet another promotion. Allinson became a centurion at Stotfold in terms of goals scored; however, a serious knee injury would force an early retirement. Coaching called, and Allinson’s first job was as an assistant coach alongside Chris Nunn at Biggleswade. Following that, he would spend two and a half years with his Dad at St Albans City in the same role. A return to the Waders beckoned and Lee proceeded Nunn as Manager, enjoying a very successful spell in the Southern Central Premier. In November 2019, Allinson would leave them in sixth to join Hendon, believing he had taken them as far as he could.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kickoff: 03:00 PM
Admission: Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) and on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: Buy Online Tickets Here
