Bell and Read turn defence into attack
Carshalton Athletic maintained their late season push for a playoff place with a crucial 2-1 win at Horsham on Saturday.
The result, a second successive win against a top three side after the previous week’s victory over Chatham Town, pushed the Robins to within three points of the final playoff spot – now occupied by Horsham after they dropped two places to fifth.
Both Robins goals came from set pieces and the travelling fans among a bumper crowd of 1,242, only had five minutes to wait for the first. Once again it was central defender Joe Bell in the right place at the right time from a Tommy Bradford free kick to claim his second goal in successive weeks and his fourth in the last seven games. With the Robins controlling most of the play in the first half, a second, shortly before half time was little more than they deserved. Bradford’s accurate delivery looped up off a group of players inside the penalty area and Luke Read was the first to react for his sixth goal of the season.
While the home fans potentially took half time solace in the refreshments from Horsham’s annual beer festival, the Robins reemerged for the second half looking to put the game out of sight. Mason Saunders-Henry tested home goalkeeper Lewis Carey with a rasping long range effort.
Eventually though, the Hornets, who came into the game on a run of one defeat in 12 had to come alive. And after substitute Lucas Rodrigues had pulled one back with about 10 minutes to go, the Robins had to repel a sustained period of Horsham pressure, with one goalmouth scramble in particular raising away blood pressures. However, the Robins kept the home side at bay and when they did break out in the closing minutes, Read was unlucky with another effort that almost beat Carey at his near post.
Carshalton Athletic:Â Jones, Read, Beeden, Bell, Kennett, Saunders-Henry, Vose, Marshall, Bradford, Frimpong, Babajide.
Substitutes: Williams (for Vose 56’), Bassett (for Frimpong 70’), Hamilton-Downes (for Bradford 75’), Lucan, Sankoh.
Horsham:Â Carey, Harding, Penn, Strange, Hester-Cook, Philpott, Hammond, Barker, Fenelon, Ajakaiye, Tuck.
Substitutes: Rodrigues (for Hester-Cook 20’), Mazzone (for Fenelon 61’), Richards (for Tuck 61’), Myles-Meekum, El Abd.
Goals: Bell 5’, Read 38’, Rodrigues 81’.
Match highlights courtesy of Horsham FC available at:Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJpSmncPzaQ&pp=ygUKaG9yc2hhbSBmYw%3D%3D
Up Next
Carshalton Athletic return to Colston Avenue when they entertain Margate on Saturday 16th March (3pm kick off).
Tickets available at:Â https://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/tickets
Adults – £11; Over 65s – £8, Under 18s – £5; Under 5s (with accompanying adult) – Free.
