CAFC vs Folkestone Invicta

CAFC vs Folkestone Invicta – Match Report

A debut goal from David Smith secured the Robins a comeback victory over Folkestone Invicta on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts ran out 2-1 winners following two second-half goals from Mason Saunders-Henry and Smith.

Following Monday’s 3-1 Surrey Senior Cup Preliminary Round victory, Manager Peter Adeniyi made five changes, most notably gifting debuts to the Robins latest additions Samuel Roberts and Bernard Tanner. Roberts arrives from Sutton United on a temporary basis and replaces Mackenzie Foley between the sticks while our No. 1 undergoes his recovery. Tanner, meanwhile, is a versatile left-sided defender who applied his trade for Enfield Town last season.

It was a very direct start from Carshalton, with lots of searching balls in behind looking to tee up new addition David Smith. Folkestone enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession and were piling the pressure on the Robins. The Seasider’s big centre-back Joel Odeniran welcomed Roberts to the Isthmian Premier after bundling over the 18-year-old who platformed a good take from a threatening corner.

Unfortunately, Invicta took the lead inside ten minutes after Daniel Smith netted his tenth goal of the 2024-25 campaign. Jack Jebb delivered a 35-40 yard right-sided set piece into the penalty area, Smith rose and turned the ball into the net with his head, Roberts got a hand on but could not divert it around the post. Trailing, there was an immediate response from the Reds, Smith robbed Ayadok Kassarate and sent Frimpong clear away to attack right and drive a dangerous low-driven cross that was angling towards Smith until it was well cleared for a corner. Up the other end, the visitors almost made it two goals for the better when Kassarate’s swivelled snapshot just inside the box clipped the bar and left Roberts rooted to the spot.

After being pegged back, it was very patient and disciplined from Carshalton as they probed the Seasiders in search of a leveller. An inverted Azez Sankoh received the ball centrally and slipped through Ifeanyi to cut inside and flash it into the defender.

A few moments later, Bradford had an effort blocked from 20 yards out before Saraiva followed it up, lashing it over the bar with his laces. A succession of shots and crosses followed as Ifeanyi caused lots of problems – the Robins were in the ascendancy. Mid-way through, Bradford’s out-swinging cross came agonisingly close to finding Read in acres of space at the back post for the free header. On the 30-minute mark, Carshalton manufactured their best chance of the afternoon up to this stage and it was thanks to our main attacking threat Ifeanyi. The winger one-on-one performed some of his trickery, squared it across to Sankoh who was completely free in the penalty area, and on the turn the full-back sent it curling to bounce off the inside of the post. So close.

Several nearly moments followed for Carshalton, our lads were just missing that final killer pass as the clock ticked down to half-time. We were pushing hard for the equaliser. Patient build-up play ensued, Bradford and Ifeanyi combined well for the latter to send the shot sailing over the bar from a tight angle.

On the stroke of the break, the Robins almost caught Invicta out with a corner routine straight from the training ground. Bradford’s corner was left by Saraiva to run through to Saunders-Henry and his defence-splitting pass fell kindly into the path of the onrushing Bradford, who had a side-footed effort denied at the near post. Despite being behind at half-time, we went into the dressing room in the ascendancy having been on top since conceding the opener. The one clear-cut chance of the match had been a goal …

It was a strong start to the second half from Carshalton, Adeniyi’s team were moving the ball well and probing the Folkestone backline. Ifeanyi played through Sankoh to drive left and deliver towards Smith making a darting run to the near post, who stabbed it wide. Moments later, Sankoh took the responsibility on himself to inspire hopes of a comeback, he carried the ball down the left channel and into the penalty area unchallenged, failing to trouble Henley with the resulting strike. In the opening stages of the half, it had been all Carshalton.

The Visitors had the ball in the back of the net in the 56th minute but thankfully it was ruled out for offside. It was another quality set piece from Jebb that was whipped in and met by the head of a Seasider who guided it into the far corner. On the hour, an alert Roberts was extremely quick off his line to punch and prevent Marvel Ekpiteta from latching onto the ball close range for a goalscoring opportunity.

A few minutes later, there was a let-off for the Robins following a period of sustained attacking pressure from the hosts, Da Costa’s right flank delivery aiming for Derry languishing at the back post, found its target, but fortunately, the forward miscued the header. Eventually, the Reds got their just deserts and sealed a much-deserved leveller. Bradford’s out-swinging corner fell kindly for Saunders-Henry, whose side-footed first-time effort made its way through a pile of bodies and deflected into the roof of the net.

Carshalton came again through Ifeanyi, the winger lashed it across the face of goal and it was almost turned in by a sliding Folkestone defender. Not long after, Frimpong took it down 25 yards from goal and ball rolled the opponent to finess narrowly wide, albeit in cute fashion. Entering the final third of the match, Roberts impressed judging the flight of a dipping effort that looked to be angling awkwardly under the bar by pushing it away from danger.

With nine minutes until time, the Robins pegged back the Seasiders thanks to a first goal in Red by new signing Smith. Substitute Darnell Goather-Braithwaite attacked right to deliver, Saraiva helped the ball on its way and Smith was there to tap it into the empty net. Invicta shot-stopper Henley was particularly irate, completely bewildered as to how the forward had not been adjudged offside, that said everyone associated with Carshalton won’t care.

It was a tense final few minutes as Adeniyi’s side sat back and soaked up the persistent pressure. The departure of Smith for full-back Charlie Kennett indicated the manager’s desire to maintain their lead. Four minutes of additional time was indicated and a Paris Hamilton-Downes free kick kept the ball in Folkestone’s own third. However, it was nearly late heartbreak when Folkestone rattled the bar in the dying embers.

Carshalton held on and took all three points, the Robins move up to 10th place on 16 points still with a couple of games in hand. The Reds will have hopes of carrying the momentum into Tuesday’s away trip to Wingate & Finchley FC.