CAFC vs Leatherhead FC – Preview
Carshalton Athletic take on Leatherhead FC in the Velocity Cup Fourth Round on Monday evening at Colston Avenue.
Carshalton Athletic
Saturday saw the Robins run out 3-0 winners over Bowers & Pitsea in the Isthmian Premier Division. The victory extended Carshalton’s unbeaten run to nine games and sealed back-to-back clean sheets. Currently, Peter Adeniyi’s side languish just outside the play-offs in eighth on 29 points.
As a step 3 outfit, Carshalton entered the Velocity Cup in the third round, running out 2-1 winners over AFC Croydon Athletic of the Isthmian South East Division (step 4) thanks to a 94th-minute Tommy Bradford winner.
Leatherhead FC
Leatherhead FC suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sutton Common Rovers on Saturday at Colston Avenue.
The Tanners apply their trade in the Isthmian League South Central Division, which is step 4 of the English Football Pyramid. Currently, the Surrey-based side find themselves in 14th place on 23 points after 17 matches, winning six, drawing five, and losing six. It took them a while to get going at the start of the 2024-25 season, failing to win in any of their first three games. A 3-0 victory over Guernsey in mid-September did not quite garner the anticipated momentum as another three-match winless run would ensue against Hayes and Yeading United, Moneyfields, and Harrow Borough.
October saw their fortunes change for the better; a 4-1 thumping of Rayners Lane meant the high-in-confidence Tanners then went to Farnham Town and Ashford and thrashed them by an aggregate scoreline of 8-1. While a narrow 1-0 defeat to Rayners Lane, a 2-2 stalemate with Ashford, and a 1-0 loss to Moneyfields kick-started the following month in bleak fashion, Leatherhead have since gone undefeated in their last three games versus Hayes and Yeading, Met Police, and South Park Reigate, respectively.
Following their relegation from the Isthmian Premier in the 2021/22 campaign, the Tanners have constantly flirted with a return to the Division. They finished just outside the playoff places in seventh in 22/23 before succeeding and achieving third in 23/24. Leatherhead FC progressed through the playoffs semi-finals after a 1-1 draw with Southall was settled by a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout win; however, Marlow would dispatch them 3-1 in the final.
In terms of the Velocity Cup, the Tanners began their journey in the second round with a 1-0 win against South Park Reigate. Westfields were the Surrey sides next opponents and they edged them 2-1.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Foley, Sankoh, Atewologun, Hamstead, Read, Saraiva, Dada, Bradford, Ifeanyi, Smith, Goather-Braithwaite
Leatherhead FC
Wheeler, Massango, Sessegnon, Butler, Pearce, Fitzgerald, Huckle, Ceesay, Bartlett-Antwi, Murrel Williamson, Franzen-Jones
Team news
Carshalton Athletic
Fabio Saraiva was suspended on Saturday after accumulating too many yellow cards. Mason Saunders-Henry, meanwhile, returned to first-team proceedings and took to the pitch for the last few minutes of the match.
Leatherhead FC
There are no injury updates for the Tanners; however, latest addition winger Jamarie Brissett from Beckenham Town put pen to paper on December 6. Brissett has already netted 13 goals in 23 appearances this campaign.
Pre-Match Analysis
The Tanners lead the goalscoring charts in the bottom half of the Isthmian South Central Division with 33 goals. That said, it is how many they have conceded so far in 2024/25 that is even more impressive. Leatherhead have a Goals Against of 22 which is only bettered by the top three Farnham Town (17), Kingstonian (21), and Hanworth Villa (20). Monday’s visitors have kept six clean sheets in all competitions.
Key Player
Forward Deondre Date is the Tanners top goalscorer in 24/25 having netted 10 times. Date moved to Fetcham Grove on a dual registration deal from National League South side Tonbridge Angels over the summer. Last season, he made 51 appearances for South Park Reigate, scoring 15 goals. Growing up, the attacker applied his trade just down the road from Colston Avenue in the youth set up at Sutton United.
The Gaffer
Ian Selley played in the Premier League for Arsenal, winning the 1994 UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup with them. In the Football League, meanwhile, Selley took to the pitch for Fulham, Wimbledon and Southend United. After being hampered by a number of serious injuries, he spent the remainder of his career in non-league football with clubs such as Woking, Lewes, Grays Athletic, Maidstone United, Croydon Athletic, Dorchester Town and Kingstonian. Appointed Chertsey Town manager in November 2021, he led them to the Isthmian South Central play-off final. Selley was then given stewardship of Hartley Wintney, but he was sacked in January 2023 before taking the reins at Westfield the following month. In May 2024, Selley resigned and became Tanners manager.
Match Details
Date: Monday, December 16, 2024
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-off: 07:45 PM
Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: Buy online tickets here
