CAFC Women vs Leatherhead - Match Report -

CAFC vs Leatherhead – Match Report

A youthful Carshalton Athletic Women edged higher-tier Leatherhead 3-2 following an impressive display at Colston Avenue.

There were a number of changes for Aaron Lamont’s side following the 5-2 defeat to South London First in the Capital Intermediate Cup on Sunday. Former Sutton United goalkeeper Zoe McNulty replaced Georgina Solly between the sticks, Georgie Edwards returned from injury and was deployed as the right centre-back of a back five, while there was also the inclusion of a series of young trialists and academy players in the starting XI and on the bench.

It was a fast start to proceedings from the Robins. Inside 30 seconds, Kanita Throp threaded through Honey Dulley down the right channel, who squared it across, but nobody in red was there to stab home, and it was cleared for a corner. Despite the Tanners looking a threat when they broke at pace, Carshalton were controlling possession and moving the ball well in the opening stages. What’s more, anytime the visitors forced the turnover and attempted to go in behind, McNulty was quick off her line to gather, nullifying the danger.

With Lamont spurring our ladies on after a really positive start against higher-tier opposition, the game opened up as Leatherhead settled and began to probe the Reds. Approaching the first quarter of an hour, it had developed into a bit of a chess match, largely played in and around the centre circle as both sides tried and failed to split the other’s extremely high defensive line and get in behind. Abbey Measures’s miscued clearance ensued a shift in momentum and saw the Tanners forward attack right, arrowing the ball into the palms of McNulty. Moments later, the visitors dragged an effort wide from just inside the penalty area and were inches from taking the lead, squandering a close-range chance.

Midway through, Carshalton put together some excellent passages of play in Leatherhead’s own half, one of which resulted in Heather Eade striking from 25 yards out; despite failing to test the keeper, it showed the Robins were growing in confidence. A few minutes later, Carshalton scored two goals in quick succession. Dulley’s tenacity ensured the ball fell kindly for Kanita Throp to send a dipping half-volley to the right of the penalty area over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net,

giving Lamont’s outfit the lead. Before long, the Robins had extended their advantage; Trailist was slipped clear away on the Tanners goal, and even though she was temporarily cut out by the defender, she managed to steal the ball back and keep her composure to stroke home one-on-one.

That said, the visitors issued an immediate reply and halved the deficit. The ball was pulled back to the attacker, who controlled the ball in the centre of the penalty area and lashed it into the top far corner beyond McNulty. Pushing for the leveller, Leatherhead were piling the pressure on the Reds, coming close once again following a swivelled shot across our shot-stopper and, fortunately, past the post. With eight minutes until the break, Eade let fly a speculative effort from distance straight down the keeper’s throat. On the stroke of halftime, Throp then rattled the bar directly from an inswinging corner.

Lamont demanded intensity from the get-go in the second 45, and the Robins obliged. Eade and Trialist forced the error on the edge of the penalty area for the latter’s side-footed effort to be parried away by a diving Tanners shot-stopper. The attacking intent continued; Dulley won a free kick 25 yards out down the right channel. Edwards stepped up, powered it goalbound, and saw the goalkeeper push it to the bar before denying the headed follow-up at close range. Up the other end, an alert McNulty scrambled clear the counter-attack.

Seven minutes in, and the half had developed into an end-to-end affair; a low-driven Carshalton strike was well held by the visitor’s goalkeeper, while the Tanners attacker broke at pace, striking into the side netting. The tables turned, and suddenly wave after wave of Carshalton attack followed, concluding with Eade appearing to be dragged to the ground; the referee waved away appeals for a spot kick.

Leatherhead sent a warning sign to the hosts when McNulty spilt a right flank delivery, causing pinball to ensue before it was blazed over in the six-yard box, albeit it was from a tight angle. The Tanners squandered another good opportunity, moments later, the winger drove into the penalty area from the left channel, only to send the ball sailing high over the bar. On the hour mark, the Robins pegged back the visitors for the third time in the evening when the out-swinging corner was met by the head of Daisy Olley.

For the next five to ten minutes, Leatherhead survived a succession of shots and crosses. Lamont’s quintessential high press, meanwhile, was causing them a lot of problems. In the 70th minute, a crucial challenge from the trialist dispossessed the Tanners attacker before they could unleash the shot and test McNulty one-on-one. The visitors got in behind once again not long after, Edwards bundling over the forward to allow our No. 1 to claim.

The final third of the match was ushered in with a wonderful display of skill and pass execution from our young No. 10, a product of the Carshalton youth setup. The majority of the action carried on being in the Tanner’s own half; however, the struggle was creating any chances of note. Towards the latter stages, desperation had kicked in for the visitors as speculative shots from range failed to call McNulty into action. In the dying embers, Lamont’s side came agonisingly close to a fourth with Measures unable to guide the header on target from close range. Although, in the last minute, the visitors made it 3-2. Despite, McNulty’s tremendous double save, nobody in red was there to clear the rebound and it was turned into the empty net by the onrushing Tanners attacker.

Carshalton held on to edge the tier 6 outfit 3-2. Lamont had originally organised the friendly because it provides evidence to the Women’s Football Pyramid Promotion Pool that come the end of the season the Robins deserve to be promoted if they fail to secure it automatically out of the Surrey Premier Division. There will be hopes that the ladies can carry forward the momentum into Sunday away at Collingwood Recreation Ground against Sutton United Reserves.