CAFC 3-2 Wingate & Finchley – Report
A Dom Vose brace claims the Robins a first victory of 24/25
Vose opened the scoring following a calm finish into the far corner inside the box before an expert volley completed the brace and took his tally to three goals for the season so far. Carshalton made amends for last season when they fell to defeat to the Blues on both occasions.
Mason Saunders-Henry returned to the starting XI after recovering from an injury sustained in the final pre-season fixture against AFC Wimbledon, Tom Stagg made way for Mason. Meanwhile, it was a first start for central midfielder Tom Jackson with winger Darnell Goather-Braithwaite dropping to the bench. In similar fashion to Peter Adeniyi, Rahat Ahmet also brought in two new faces from the team that were victorious in North London. Following his 89th-minute winner at the weekend, Ryan Lowe was rewarded with a first start for the Blues in favour of Arthur Iontton, with a switch at No. 10 – Brian Garzon for Andronicos Georgiou.
The Robins were in charge of the first half from the get-go with Adeniyi’s side moving the ball nicely and probing the Wingate backline.
Alright, there were a couple of early scares for the Robins. Centre-back Ollie Hamstead miscued a pass, which fell into the path of attacker Luke Deslandes, who failed to capitalise on the opportunity, and Blues dangerman Ogo Obi headed well wide for the visitors from a couple of yards out; however, chances were few and far between from then on for Rifat’s team.
The lively start from Carshalton continued as the 20-minute mark approached, applying a considerable amount of pressure, but struggling to break down a resilient Wingate defence. Fresh from his first goal for the Robins at the weekend, Dom Vose threatened Prince Adegoke’s goal. Driving one vs one, the 30-year-old fashioned the ball onto his right foot and searched for the far corner, but his effort evaded the post. This followed a long-range strike that Adegoke gathered with ease moments earlier.
Eventually, the Robins wave after wave of attacks were rewarded when the home side capitalised on a quick Luke Read throw to tee up Vose, who cooly guided the ball away from the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper just inside the right of the box. It was very much of a chance of their own making following several successful bouts of high pressing from the Carshalton front three that forced Adegoke into sloppy mistakes between the sticks, one of which was the failed clearance for the throw.
Soon afterwards, it was dreamland for Vose securing a brace for his evening endeavours. The tenacity of Tommy Bradford to latch onto the second ball meant the captain could lay it off to Mason Saunders-Henry for a right flank delivery, despite hitting the first man and being cleared, it only went as far as Vose, who expertly cut across the ball on the half volley to stroke it into the net on the bounce.
On the stroke of half time, the Reds forced the turnover on top of the opposition box, the lively Saunders-Henry slipped it inside for Bradford to poke a toe at it, but it was too far in front of him, and the homegrown Robin watched it roll wide.
Like Saturday, it was the perfect opening 45 minutes with the majority of the chances falling to Adeniyi’s side.
Wingate, however, returned from the break a different team with more attacking intent. Ayo Tanimowo was causing a few problems down the left for Carshalton, while Obi and Deslandes were growing into the game. It became apparent that Tanimowo would look to get the ball onto his right foot, and when he did Read pounced but was penalised for being a bit too eager. The resulting set piece was swung in from Tella next to the touchline and met by the head of Ben Frempah, yet it flashed across goal. The defender should have done better, and it was a let-off for the Robins.
Paris Hamilton-Downes replaced Dominic Vose, who received a hero’s reception as he departed proceedings. Seemingly, Adeniyi had switched to a five-back following the substitution in hopes of nullifying the visitors.
Just after the hour, No. 10 and summer arrival Deslandes justified the hype from Blues fans as he demonstrated supreme confidence to let fly from distance and fire the ball into the roof of the net, it was a brilliant finish and Foley had no chance.
Almost from nowhere, the Blues secured the leveller, and it was a case of second-time lucky for Tella and Frempah. The physical presence of the 29-year-old proved too much for the Robins defence as the Wingate centre-back rose to connect with Tella’s corner and nod it in off the ground beyond a diving Foley.
The hosts nearly had an immediate reply when it was Carshalton’s turn to pose a threat from set pieces. Bradford’s corner to the far post was forced back to Saraiva in the centre, yet his first-time volley was the wrong side of the bar. So close.
However, the Reds extended their advantage midway through, and it was substitute Paris Hamilton-Downes, pegging the Blues back once again. Tom Jackson’s free-kick from the left of the penalty area was brilliantly tipped to the bar by Adegoke, redeeming himself for a difficult evening, before it was bundled over the line by an alert Hamilton-Downes.
Taking matters into his own hands, Saraiva tried his luck from a free kick 25 yards out. Cutely caressing the ball in an attempt to whip it inside the post, it was dipping but it did not dip enough, and the effort grazed the bar.
Entering the final third, Adeniyi made a couple of changes in a bid to freshen things up with Wingate getting braver as the clock ticked down.
The Blues did well to beat the Robins press thanks largely to Arthur Iontton, and Tanimowo drifted inside to set up Garzon, who struck straight into the hands of Foley. Following that, Captain Billy Cracknell drove into the box and his unusually tricky footwork nutmegged Hamstead allowing Obi to steal it off him, but his heavy touch gave Foley an avenue to claim.
Gradually, Wingate were getting closer to an equaliser.
Tella’s inswingers remained the main threat for Rifat’s side as Frempah came agonisingly close to turning in the cross for a third time before he fumbled his volley, and the assistant raised his flag.
The board indicated five additional minutes, and despite riding out four of them without a hitch, Wingate broke on the attack and caught the Robins out of shape, forcing Hamilton-Downes to bring the forward down outside the penalty area. Tella and his set pieces had been a thorn in Carshalton’s side for the majority of the half, and when his twenty-yard free kick was spilt by Foley, there was a gasp from the home support before he rapidly smothered the ball to a sigh of relief.
The Robins had done enough to make sure of a first victory of 24/25 thanks to a brace from Vose to cap off another very impressive first-half performance. However, Adeniyi will enter Saturday’s fixture against Chichester wanting a more complete display in both halves from the lads after two matches where the second 45 has seen a less convincing Carshalton Athletic.
Up Next
Sat 17th August KO 3.00pm
Chichester City
Away
Oaklands Park, Oaklands Way, Chichester, West Sussex. PO19 6AR
Tickets available on the day at the turnstiles: £10, £5, £3
