CAFC vs – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Cheshunt on Saturday in the Isthmian Premier Division after David Smith converted a fifth goal for the Reds.
There were no changes for manager Peter Adeniyi following Monday’s narrow 2-1 victory over Potters Bar Town. That being said, there was a place on the bench for the Robins latest addition, central midfielder Michael Dada. Mason Saunders-Henry was absent owing to the injury he sustained last week.
Despite controlling the opening stages, Carshalton were pegged back inside seven minutes out of nowhere. A lofted ball over the top alluded the head of centre-back Fikayo Atewologun, and forward Tobias Braney latched onto it to stroke it beyond Dion Henry one-on-one. It was an extremely sloppy goal to concede. Adeniyi’s side proceeded to carry on probing the visitor’s backline before they were almost punished once again on the break as the Ambers wide man whipped the ball into the penalty area and across the face of goal for Luke Read to scramble away.
The Reds were enjoying the lion’s share of possession, but Cheshunt’s defensive resolve in their own third was paying dividends as the lads could not create any chances of note. On the 20-minute mark, Bryan Ifeanyi, Carshalton’s brightest spark up to this stage, attacked left and delivered a low-driven cross;
pinball ensued before it was cleared only as far as Fabio Saraiva, who drove into the defender on the follow-up. Frustration grew as the Robins tried and failed to break down the well-disciplined, defensively resolute Ambers.Â
Midway through, Carshalton were pushing hard for the leveller, piling the pressure on the visitors. An onrushing Tommy Bradford got in the way of an attempted clearance from the goalkeeper, while Cheshunt soaked up and survived a succession of crosses. Entering the final third of the half, a brilliant slalom run from Kola Salami was almost capped off with an excellent finish into the far corner, but the winger was denied by the outstretched hand of a diving Ravan Constable. Even though the majority of the action had been in the Ambers half, the visitors issued a warning sign with five minutes until the break when Alexander Gibson Hammond drove into the penalty area and lifted it towards the back post on the byline for it to graze Braney’s head.
On the stroke of halftime, Saraiva swung in the corner, and Bradford saw his volleyed follow-up diverted narrowly over the bar. Carshalton then thought they had drawn level when David Smith turned the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle, but it was adjudged offside.
The Robins came agonisingly close at the beginning of the second half. Saraiva’s inswinging corner was begging to be turned in off the head of Atewologun close range, but the central defender miscued it wide, squandering the golden opportunity. Up the other end, the Ambers had Henry worried momentarily when a dipping cross almost nestled under the bar. In the 52nd minute, the Reds received their just deserts through who else but in-form striker David Smith for his fifth goal under the stewardship of Adeniyi. Saraiva delivered the inswinger towards the six-yard box, and in acres of space, Smith headed past Constable from close range.
Keen to capitalise on the momentum garnered from the leveller and extend their advantage, Carshalton came again. A left-flank cross fell into the path of Salami, who could not quite bring it under control, while Saraiva lashed a set piece into the side-netting. Looking to inspire the Reds into taking a well-deserved lead, Kwaku Frimpong and new signing Micahel Dada were introduced to proceedings. Not long after, there was some quick thinking from Hamilton-Downes to unleash Smith clear away on goal through a long throw-in behind; the striker could not prevent it from running for a goal kick in the end. Moments later, Ifeanyi’s trickery down the left enabled him to work the ball to the byline in the penalty area before pulling it back to Smith, who scuffed the effort straight down Constable’s throat. Seventy minutes in, and there was a huge let-off for the Robins as Braney dragged his strike wide of an empty net from a few yards out.
Frimpong then squared the ball into the path of David Smith who controlled but sent it sailing over the bar. A few minutes later, Adeniyi’s side thought they had sealed the winner nine minutes from time when Dom Vose’s inswinging corner was cushioned in at the back post by the head of Saraiva; however, it was ruled out for offside.
The game would conclude 1-1 to leave Carshalton languishing in seventh on 24 points in the Isthmian Premier Division. Adeniyi will have hopes that the Robins can get back to winning ways against Hastings United on Tuesday evening.
Up Next
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Venue: The Pilot Field
Kick-Off: 7:45PM
Admission: £12 Adult and £8 Concession.
Tickets: https://hufc.onlineticketseller.com/fixtures
