CAFC vs Billericay Town FC – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic stunned Billericay Town as the Robins inflicted the Blues first defeat of the 2024-25 campaign thanks to a last-gasp screamer from Fabio Saraiva.
The Reds headed into halftime 3-1 down; however, an impressive second-half attacking display saw the hosts come back from behind to edge their opponents in dramatic fashion.
Peter Adeniyi made a couple of changes to the side that fell to a 2-1 defeat away at Wingate & Finchley on Tuesday, which included two new additions to the squad. Former Hornchurch shot-stopper Dion-Curtis Henry replaced Sam Roberts between the sticks, while attacker Kola Salami, who joins us from Erith Town, started wide. Fabian Whitter also returned to proceedings but was not featured in the match-day squad.
There was an early chance for the Robins straight from kick-off. Saraiva clipped the ball over the top for David Smith to chase and latch onto down the right channel, but the in-form striker dragged the effort wide.
However, disaster struck when the visitors attacked up the other end and won a penalty, Luke Read shoving over Cair Keller. The responsibility fell to Moses Emmanuel and the forward stepped up, dispatching the spot-kick despite Henry guessing the correct way.
Having been pegged back, the Robins searched for an immediate response, new signing Salami firing the cross into the near post for Donkin to claim.
The Blues almost doubled their lead inside ten minutes after Emmanuel whipped a delivery across the face of goal and into the path of Keller whose attempted squared ball was denied. That said, Adeniyi’s side issued a warning sign when Tommy Bradford’s right-sided set piece was glanced narrowly over the bar by David Smith under pressure from the Billericay defender. With the Robins in the ascendancy, the tables turned abruptly, Emmanuel dispossessed Ifeanyi in the Reds final third, and a quick give-and-go sent him clear away into the host’s penalty area, letting fly from a tight angle and thankfully failing to test Henry.
In the 15th minute, Carshalton levelled through Read netting his first of the campaign after a prolific 2023-24 where he scored eight. Saraiva and Mason Saunders-Henry combined from the corner to tee up the former to produce the low-driven strike that was turned in at the back post by the onrushing Read.
It carried on being an excellent spectacle for the neutral, Ashley Nzala rattling the outside of the post from close range. A period of sustained attacking pressure proceeded for Carshalton as they probed the Billericay defence. With the majority of the action in the visitor’s final third, Saraiva had a powerfully hit right flank free kick cleared at the front post, and Donkin pushed away an Ifeanyi strike angling towards the far corner which ensued a pinball-like scramble that was eventually cleared.
Mid-way through, Saunders-Henry drifted inside and battled his way past several Billericay bodies to the opposite side of the pitch before laying it off to Ifeanyi who returned the favour and teed up Saraiva to lash it straight down Donkin’s throat. A few moments later, Ifeanyi dragged an effort wide on the swivel. Carshalton enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and were platforming a structured and disciplined performance. Against the run of play, the Blues pegged back the Robins for the second time in the game. Saunders-Henry was penalised for what must be said was a soft foul on the edge of the penalty area, and the left foot of Aranjit Krasniqi finessed the ball to nestle into the far corner. While Henry had absolutely no chance, questions may be asked over the positioning of the wall.
Unfortunately, the Blues extended their advantage on the stroke of halftime. A ball over the top played through Jay Porter to attack left and cross to Emmanuel who powered the ball into the roof of the net with his head from close range. The visitors were fortunate to be leading by such a margin at the break, the scoreline flattered Billericay. The Robins had been in the ascendancy up until the second goal. Three minutes into the second half Billericay came agonisingly close to putting the game out of sight. Emmanuel, the Blues main attacking threat, nicked it off a complacent Bernie Tanner. Clear away on goal, Fikayo Atewologun sparred his fellow centre-back’s blushes by demonstrating a good turn of pace to get in front of the shot.
Saunders-Henry searched to inspire hopes of a comeback when he controlled, turned, and cut inside but did not quite get the intended whip to beat the diving Donkin. After Saraiva crucially intercepted a dangerous defence-splitting pass in behind, Tanner’s audacious effort from just outside the right of the penalty area was sweetly struck and grazed the bar. Billericay broke at pace and Henry was quick off his line to spread himself and deny Nzala one on one.
Eventually, the Robins received their just deserts, Smith grabbed a third goal in as many games in the 55th minute. A magnificent acrobatic Saunders-Henry dipping volley from some distance bounced off the inside of the post for an alert Smith to stab into the empty net, Donkin was rooted to the spot.
On the hour mark, a short corner laid off Ifeanyi to let fly, the shot was diverted off the line. Ifeanyi was then bundled over to draw a central set piece 20 yards out after drifting inside from the left flank. Saraiva stepped up, searching for the far corner, he drove it low to the wrong side of the post. Wave after wave attack ensued, the best of which, Ifeanyi attacking left and delivering a ball begging to be put away; however, it narrowly evaded Bradford’s outstretched leg.
Approaching the final third of the match, the Robins levelled the tie. It was a fantastic ball in from Tanner, left-footed arrowed across the six-yard box and Read was well positioned like a No. 9 to apply the calm and collected finish like a No. 9 to complete the brace. Superb all round from the Carshalton defenders.
Hungry for the winner, desperation kicked in as Smith went to ground claiming a spot kick, the appeals were waved away in a heartbeat by the referee.
Nine minutes until time, late substitute Paris Hamilton-Downes latched onto a loose pass and carried the ball unchallenged to attack left, the skipper played through the overlapping Frimpong, whose resulting cross had to be scrambled away. Six minutes of additional time were indicated; if any team was going to score, it was shaping up to be Carshalton. Bradford’s lofted pass into the penalty area was cleared only as far as Saraiva, who came onto a volley that a diving Donkin safely gathered. Billericay went up the other end and forced the Reds into some defending.
With one minute to go, Saraiva picked the ball up down the left channel and composed himself before flashing the audacious long-range strike beyond Donkin. It ensued jubilation among the Robins faithful as the midfielder turned to the stand and produced the infamous Jude Bellingham arms-out celebration, and justifiably so. He was the man of the moment.
For Carshalton, the victory means that we move to ninth place on 19 points in the Isthmian Premier Division, four short of the play-off places with a game in hand. The Robins return to Colston Avenue on Monday to take on AFC Croydon Athletic in the Velocity Cup.
Up Next
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2024 (vs AFC Croydon Athletic in the Velocity Cup)
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-off: 07:45 PM
Admission: Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: https://form.123formbuilder.com/566
