CAFC Women vs Farnham Town

CAFC Women vs Farnham Town – Match Report

A stunning brace from Maria Andrade sealed a dominant 4-0 victory over Farnham Town, propelling Carshalton into the Surrey Divisional Cup Final at the Memorial Ground on Saturday.

The match began evenly, with neither team able to carve out any clear-cut opportunities in the opening stages. Both sides showed attacking intent but struggled to find the decisive final pass that could unlock the defence. Carshalton looked to build momentum midway through the first half. Georgie Edwards delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Josie Alderman, who raced down the right, only to be thwarted by a strong defensive challenge from the hosts. Kanita Throp’s resulting corner was flicked on at the front post but narrowly missed an unmarked red shirt, who was inches away from heading it into an open net.

As the half progressed, Carshalton started to find their rhythm. Some slick play by the midfield saw a deft volleyed-through ball from new addition Maria Andrade, which found Alderman on the opposite side. However, her first-time side-footed strike went just wide of the post. Edwards came close shortly after, with a powerful drive that was destined for the keeper’s bottom corner before the Farnham goalkeeper made a crucial save. A few moments later, the high press from Lamont’s side almost paid off when Chapman nearly intercepted a poor back pass to the goalkeeper, and Alderman’s attempt to block the clearance came agonisingly close.

With five minutes until halftime, Chapman’s persistence paid off as she forced the goalkeeper into a fine save after holding onto the ball in the penalty area. The breakthrough finally came in the 42nd minute when Andrade opened the scoring. After Alderman’s goal-bound volley was blocked in the box, Throp delivered a superb cross from the right, which Andrade powered home at the back post, sending the travelling fans into raptures.

The Robins almost doubled their lead shortly after when a misplaced back pass presented Heather Eade with an opportunity to poke the ball past the keeper, but she was unable to finish. Lamont’s team also had strong claims for a handball in the area after a Thorp corner, but the referee waved the appeals away. The final action of the half saw Edwards try her luck from distance with a dipping strike that narrowly missed the far post.

The second half started with both teams looking to get in behind, but it was Carshalton who posed the greater threat. Lamont’s side quickly broke at pace, with Eade attacking down the left and squaring the ball to Chapman, but her side-footed effort went just inches wide. Moments later, Edwards thought she had scored a stunning volley, but it rattled the crossbar, and Eade was denied with a follow-up strike owing to offside.

Carshalton continued to press, and in the 57th minute, they doubled their lead through Andrade’s second goal.

Throp swung in another dangerous corner, and Andrade rose highest to glance the ball beyond the goalkeeper and into the net. Farnham responded immediately, launching an attack that saw their striker skew a close-range shot wide of the target. Andrade came close to her hat trick shortly after, but her strike from a well-worked short corner was palmed away by the goalkeeper.

With Farnham chasing the game, Carshalton continued to dominate, and their defence remained resolute, with goalkeeper Solley making crucial saves to maintain their two-goal cushion. On the counter, Andrade almost scored her third when her header from a Throp corner sailed just over the bar. The Robins pressed for a third goal, and in the 75th minute, their persistence paid off. Throp intercepted a pass in midfield and released Kenza Gueriani, who carried the ball into the penalty area before seeing her shot deflect for Chapman to slide home on the goal line.

With the game seemingly wrapped up, Carshalton kept their foot on the gas, with Throp testing the Farnham goalkeeper with a dipping shot that rattled the crossbar. Andrade was denied once more in a one-on-one situation, but the Robins were far from finished. In the 87th minute, Throp capped off a brilliant individual performance by scoring the fourth goal of the game. Receiving the ball in space on the left, she cut inside and lashed a powerful shot into the roof of the net, sealing a dominant 4-0 victory.

The final whistle blew, and Carshalton erupted in celebration, having secured a dominant victory and a well-earned spot in the Surrey Divisional Cup Final. With the team in dazzling form, they are now just one win away from claiming their first trophy under manager Aaron Lamont. However, the Robins will have to bide their time, as the final is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, at Meadowbank—just under two months away.