CAFC vs Chichester City FC – Preview
Carshalton Athletic take on Chichester City on Saturday at Colston Avenue in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Robins Review
Peter Adeniyi’s side are high in confidence at the moment following a statement 2-0 victory over high flying free-scoring Chatham Town to end their 16-match unbeaten streak. It was a quintessential game of two halves, the first was a masterclass in defensive resolve, while the second displayed the Robins ruthless ability going forward. Striker David Smith netted his seventh of the 2024-25 campaign while Mason Saunders-Henry’s 90th-minute goal was much welcomed after the midfielder had endured a sustained period on the sidelines owing to injury.
The Reds last faced off against Saturday’s opponents Chichester City back in mid-August when a Tom Stagg brace ensured a 3-1 victory over the Isthmian newcomers. Steve Gody, starting his first-ever competitive game for the Robins, netted his first Carshalton goal inside 30 minutes before Stagg made sure of the points late on in the second half.
Chichester City
Chichester City secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Hendon on Saturday in the Isthmian Premier Division.
The Chi currently languish middle of the road in the league, occupying 10th place on 29 points after the maximum of 22 games. The West-Sussex-based side have registered a record of eight wins, five draws, and nine losses.
Chichester won their 2024-25 curtain raiser 2-1 over Canvey Island; however, a three-match winless run ensued suffering a 10-4 aggregate defeat to Horsham, Carshalton, and Dover Athletic. They managed to get back to winning ways over August Bank Holiday Weekend with a comfortable 2-1 win against Bognor Regis Town and hammering Kingstonian 4-1. A 3-2 victory over Cheshunt followed before a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Slough Town in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Chi were now four unbeaten. That said, Miles Rutherford’s side would exit the FA Cup when Slough inflicted a shock 2-1 defeat in the replay.
The Lillywhites responded well, putting together another strong run of form to go four undefeated. Chi ground out a 1-1 stalemate with Wingate & Finchley, overcame Folkestone Invicta by the barest of margins 2-1, earned a goalless draw with Dulwich, and progressed through the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round following a 2-0 win over Herne Bay. Despite being high in confidence, Chichester lost their next three matches against Horsham (in the Sussex Cup), Canvey Island, and Bowers & Pitsea respectively.
Beating Plymouth Parkway in the FA Trophy First Round Proper sparked some momentum once more, dispatching Canvey 3-2 and battling to a 1-1 draw with Horsham. It would be a difficult start to November, losing 4-0 to a then struggling Hashtag United before being knocked out of the FA Trophy in the Second Round Proper albeit to National League South 2023-24 play-off finalists Worthing. Following that, Rutherford’s side took four points off promotion hopefuls and former NLS teams Billericay and Dartford, but there were three defeats in a row against clubs in and around them in the table: Potters Bar, Hastings, and Cray Wanders at the beginning of December.
However, heading into Saturday Chichester are currently on a three-match unbeaten streak which started with a shock 2-1 win over Lewes in mid-December. A 1-1 stalemate with a newly inspired Whitehawk side after their managerial change was a good result, while edging Hendon 1-0 was invaluable given the likes of Canvey, Potters Bar, and Hastings – the teams below them in the league table – have multiple games in hand over Chi.
The Lilywhites finished fifth in the Isthmian South East Division last season and were promoted via the play-offs. They beat second place and much fancied Ramsgate in the semi-final to advance to the final where they emphatically won 5-0 against Three Bridges. Except for their debut season in the South East Division, Chichester had always registered middle of the road finishes; however, a strong second half of the campaign, which included a 13-match unbeaten streak between late January and mid-April, helped Chi clinch the last remaining play-off spot.
It is the first time in their relatively short history as a club, after the merger between Chichester City and Portfield in 2000, that the West Sussex side will compete in a step-three league.
At the backend of the campaign, City announced that their much-loved assistant manager, Graeme Gee, had sadly passed away. Gee had been part of the management team since 2015 and was massively influential in the club’s ascendancy through the football pyramid. Following their playoff success, the players gathered on the pitch and shouted: “That was for you Gee!”. He will undoubtedly occupy the hearts and minds of Chichester players, staff, and fans as they bid to shock the rest of the Division.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Henry, Sankoh, Atewologun, Read, Ming, Saraiva, Dada, Bradford ©, Ifeanyi, Smith, Goather-Braithewaite
Chichester City FC
Magee, Davidson, Hutchings ©, Dunn, Da Costa, Pashley, Bello, Clarke, Wild, Rowlatt, Prichard
Team news
Carshalton Athletic
Centre-back Ollie Hamstead has departed the club for Hemel Hempstead. Captain Paris Hamilton-Downes is currently injured but hopes to return to the grass soon. Mason Saunders-Henry, meanwhile, is now fully recovered and ready for selection.
Chichester City FC
Ryan Davidson returned to right-back for Chi in the 1-0 victory over Hendon following a one match suspension and Joe Moore dropped to the bench with Emmett Dunn moving up into the holding role.
Pre-Match Analysis
The 1-0 win against Hendon was Rutherford’s sides seventh point in three games. While Chichester have netted 35 times this season, Saturday’s visitors have conceded the fourth most goals in the Division with 41.
Key Player
At the weekend, it was a Jimmy Wild penalty deep into stoppage time that separated the two teams at Oaklands Park. The converted spot-kick was Wild’s 21st goal of the 2024-25 Isthmian Premier campaign.
The Gaffer
Miles Rutherford arrived at Oaklands Park after 12 years at Moneyfields FC. In Portsmouth, Rutherford lifted the Senior Cup in 2012-13, and four years later oversaw their promotion to Division One East of the Southern League after they finished runners-up and champions Portland United declined to go up.
When he made the move to the Lilywhites, it was straight into their unforgettable FA Cup journey, but after that whirlwind, Rutherford stabilised City in the Isthmian South East Division before achieving promotion last year.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-off: 03:00 pm
Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: Buy online tickets here
For our full matchday guide please click here
