CAFC vs Bowers & Pitsea – Preview
Carshalton Athletic travel to the Len Salmon Stadium on Saturday to take on Bowers & Pitsea in the Isthmian Premier Division after our weekend league clash with Whitehawk FC was postponed following Storm Darragh.
Robins Review
Our home fixture with Whitehawk FC was called off over the weekend due to Storm Darragh. The Robins therefore have a game in hand having played 18 of the maximum 19 matches in the 2024-25 campaign. Peter Adeniyi’s side are currently enjoying a six-match unbeaten streak in the Isthmian Premier Division. Last time out, the Reds beat step 4 Raynes Park Vale 2-1 to progress through in the Surrey Senior Cup. The result followed a trio of 1-1 draws to Cheshunt, Hastings, and Cray Wanderers. Carshalton languish ninth in the league on 26 points, Dartford’s 4-0 victory over Bognor Regis Town at the weekend has meant a three-point gap between us and the play-offs.
Bowers & Pitsea
Bowers & Pitsea braved Storm Darragh but suffered a slender 1-0 defeat at home to Cray Wanderers on Saturday.
It has been a difficult 2024-25 Isthmian Premier campaign so far for Bowers who currently languish second from bottom in the league on just 13 points after 18 games. They failed to win any of their first five of the season, falling to a 9-4 aggregate defeat to Hendon, Cheshunt, Chatham, Whitehawk, and Canvey Island respectively. A narrow 1-0 loss to Potters Bar Town followed before a shock 2-1 away victory over Dartford. Even though Lewes would then dispatch of them 2-0, the Essex-based side carried forward the momentum with a 4-1 thumping of Dulwich Hamlet to conclude September. The trend of lose one win one continued as the club were defeated 3-1 by Wingate & Finchley but bounced back with a 2-1 win against Chichester City. High in confidence, Bowers beat Hendon 1-0; however, a five-match winless streak, which included being on the receiving end of a 5-0 hammering by Horsham, has ensued and left them rooted in the drop zone.
The club were relegated from step three in the 2022-23 campaign but bounced straight back up last year following a penalty shoot-out victory over Essex rivals Brentwood Town in the Isthmian North Division play-off final.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Foley, Sankoh, Atewologun, Hamstead, Read, Saraiva, Dada, Bradford, Ifeanyi, Smith, Salami
Bowers & Pitsea
Byrne, Halsey, Johnson, Peter, Gordon, Teniola, Kouassi, Reeve, Okonkwo, Evans, Toussaint
Team news
Carshalton Athletic
Mason Saunders-Henry remains absent. While an impressive performance in the 2-1 Surrey Senior Cup victory over Raynes Park Vale could see Michael Dada seal a starting spot. There is competition to lead the line for the Robins with David Smith and Luke Cook both battling it out.
Bowers & Pitsea
Folkestone Invicta’s Evans Kouassi has joined Bowers on a month’s loan from the Seasiders. He’s had a few spells in Essex previously with Canvey and Billericay and has made 12 appearances so far for the Invicta this season scoring four goals.
Pre-Match Analysis
Scoring goals has been a problem for the club. The Essex-based side have netted just 15 times in the 2024-25 season; only Whitehawk have less with 12. They have also conceded 30 goals for a goal difference of -15. Bowers have won four, drawn one, and lost a staggering 12.
Key Player
Full-back and midfielder Alfie Evans arrived in Essex at the beginning of September following a move from Cray Wanderers, having played in their eight-nil FA Cup win a few days prior. For Wanderers, Evans made 26 appearances and scored two goals. So far in the 2024-25 campaign, he has netted five times, with a brace in the 2-1 victory over Dartford, another in the 4-1 thumping of Dulwich, before opening the scoring in the 2-1 Chichester City win.
The Gaffer
James Collins took over at Bowers in May 2022 after he stood down as Faversham Town’s manager. Collins guided Faversham to a 12th-place finish in the Isthmian League South East Division. He collected 49 points from their 38 league games and was reunited with ex-Faversham, Charlton, and Scunthorpe striker Paul Hayes, the Bowers director of football.
Following securing promotion last season, Collins said:
“Our target next season? Survival has to be our aim. We know we will have one of the smallest budgets in the league, but do I think we can survive? Absolutely.”
Match Details
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Venue: The Len Salmon Stadium
Kick-off: 03:00 PM
Admission: £12 (Adults), £8 (Concessions), £5 (Under 18), £1 (Children under 12)
Tickets: Buy online tickets here
