CAFC vs Bowers & Pitsea – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday following an impressive second-half attacking display.
Manager Peter Adeniyi made five changes from the Surrey Senior Cup 2-0 victory over Raynes Park Vale. Dion Henry was preferred to Mackenzie Foley between the sticks, while midfielder Fabio Saraiva was suspended, having amassed too many yellow cards, with Bradford his replacement. Mason Saunders-Henry returned to first-team proceedings; however, he was only fit enough to start on the bench.
It was a strong start from the hosts, probing the Robins backline. Adeniyi’s side survived a couple of early inswinging corners thanks to headed clearances from centre-backs Fikayo Atewologun and Ollie Hamstead. That said, a momentum shift ensued after five minutes, and it was Carshalton’s turn to apply the pressure. Bryan Ifeanyi was causing lots of problems; first, he drifted inside and drove an effort into the defender to cries of handball. Then the winger combined well with full-back Azez Sankoh down the left flank for the latter to deliver across the face of goal towards the head of striker David Smith, but the ball was crucially diverted away from danger. A few minutes later, the Bowers counter-attacked the Reds so that Liam Jones could touch down well in the box and pull back to the onrushing Alfie Evans; fortunately, he side-footed wide of the post. On the 20-minute mark, an end-to-end affair had developed; the Essex-based side broke at pace once again, and Nick Dembele used his strength to hold the ball up and send Jones clear away down the left channel, forcing a routine save out of Henry at his near post.
Midway through the half, Michael Dada had a curling effort blocked on the edge of the area, and Ifeanyi’s trickery enabled him to work it into the box and strike, but it was straight down the goalkeeper’s throat. The majority of chances were now falling the way of Carshalton as Luke Read whipped in a low right flank cross that a Bowers defender almost turned in. In the ascendancy, Bradford was laid off on the edge of the penalty area, and his first-time curling effort was well held by Daniel Hughes. With ten minutes until the break, it was James Collins’ side’s turn to enjoy a spell of sustained attacking pressure. Evans Kouassi’s touch allowed him to manoeuvre around Sankoh before lashing the shot high over the bar, and Jones was teed up to attack left as the resulting delivery came very close to falling kindly to Kouassi at the far post if it were not for an important interception from Sankoh. Towards the latter stages, Sankoh contributed offensively, floating the ball onto the head of Bradford; however, the diving No. 10 did not get the intended connection. Our vice-captain would soon make amends, putting the Reds in the lead on the stroke of halftime after latching onto a ball over the top and staying composed one-on-one with Hughes to guide the ball into the far corner.
Keen to capitalise on the momentum garnered at the back end of the first 45, the Reds carried forward their attacking intent into the second. Adeniyi’s side moved the ball well in the Bowers final third before Ifeanyi drove into the penalty area and finessed an effort fractionally over the bar. Moments later, pinball ensued in the box until it was cleared only as far as Read who powered the strike towards the houses backing onto the stadium. Midfielder Michael Dada then tried his luck from range; however, his shot was miscued. The Reds were nearly made to pay for their missed chances when a teasing ball from Kouassi just evaded Addy and Jones at the back post with the follow-up straight at Henry. That said, in the 64th minute, Carshalton extended their advantage after Ifeanyi threaded through Goather-Braithwaite for him to come onto and flash into the top corner. Excellent finish.
There was almost an immediate response from the hosts as an inswinging corner was cushioned into the side netting by Johnson.
With a quarter of an hour left of the match, the Robins continued to push for more. Ifeanyi, the Reds main attacking threat, cut inside and lashed the wrong side of the post before Sankoh managed to reach the ball at the byline and saw his cross skim the face of the crossbar. Eventually, it was three, Read’s close-range effort was denied; however, David Smith’s swivelled follow-up on the edge of the penalty area squeezed just inside the post. What a finish!
In the dying embers of the game, Goather-Braithwaite departed proceedings for a much-welcomed Mason Saunders-Henry return after a prolonged period on the sidelines owing to injury.
The result not only means that there is a point between Adeniyi’s side and Dartford in the play-off places, but crucially it is back-to-back clean sheets. There will be hopes that Carshalton can carry forward the momentum into Leatherhead on Monday night in the Velocity Cup.
Up Next
Date: Monday, December 16, 2024
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-off: 07:45 PM
Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: Buy online tickets here
