CAFC vs Canvey Island – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of a defensively resolute Canvey Island Tuesday evening.
There were three changes for Peter Adeniyi’s side, the most notable being Florian Kastrati, returning from injury to make his first start of the 2024-25 season. Charlie Kennett and Mason Saunders-Henry, meanwhile, came in for Ollie Hamstead and Tommy Bradford, the former not included in the matchday squad.
It was an end-to-end start to proceedings; the Gulls had an early penalty shout waved away when No. 10 Jaxon Brown was bundled over in the box, while Kennett’s lofted pass in behind set through Luke Cook to chip the onrushing Bobby Mason, but it evaded the far post. Carshalton continued their attacking intent, Kastrati sent Darnell Goather-Braithwaite down the right channel and one-on-one with the defender to cut in and produce a tame effort easily gathered by Mason. A few minutes later, Finlay Dorrell issued a warning sign to the Robins after he lashed a well-struck effort narrowly past the post from an extremely tight angle on the right-hand side of the penalty area.
Following a succession of stoppages for injuries to Foley and then Kennett that lasted from the 10th to the 15th minute, the Robins found their rhythm disrupted and were forced to subdue a spell of Canvey pressure. On the 20 mark, the Reds enjoyed more possession, albeit in our own third, failing to create anything of note – Cook was desperately trying to latch onto aerial passes in behind
and Ifeanyi was dribbling down blind alleys. Mid-way through, Bradley Sach flicked on a searching long ball to Brown who was attacking left, the midfielder controlled and flashed it inches wide. The match soon materialised into a cagey affair, extremely physical with a plethora of strong challenges flying in from each side. A four-minute break ensued for a head injury to Dorrell, the attacker suffering a concussion and subsequently having no choice but to exit the pitch.
So far, the game had been very stop-start. That being said, following Dorrell’s departure, Carshalton gradually carried more attacking threat towards the latter stages of the half. Read drove unchallenged down the right channel and let fly from range to graze the crossbar,
while Ifeanyi, twisting and turning, whipped a delivery near post which was comfortably gathered. Two on one with Atewologun in the dying embers, Chris Harris attacked right and upon entrance to the penalty area squared the ball to Sach; however, when all hope seemed to be lost, Foley spread himself to make an excellent close-range diving save. Unsurprisingly, the official indicated 11 minutes of additional time and with that Luke Cook made way for Azez Sankoh seemingly suffering from a hamstring issue. The Gulls probed the Robins backline, Elliot Ronto’s front post low-driven cross was slid the wrong side of the post by Harris, and there were also claims for handball on Kastrati after a floated Yates delivery.  Despite going in goalless at the break, Canvey were very much in the ascendancy.
A strong but fair Atewologun sliding challenge ushered in the second half, the first chance fell the way of the hosts as a diving Foley got down extremely quick to deny Emmanuel Abediyi. Moments later, the shot-stopper’s goal kick was flicked on by Saunders-Henry into the path of Sankoh, Mason spilt the left-flank cross for a pinball-like scramble to ensue before the danger was averted. Unfortunately, up the other end, the Gulls took the lead after Jamie Salmon’s inswinging set-piece dipped to nestle just inside the roof of the far post. Canvey’s opener spurred the Robins into life, Kennett’s defence splitting pass threaded through Ifeanyi down the right channel, the winger carried the ball into the penalty area and lashed it across the face of goal, nobody in red was there to turn it into the empty net. Not long after, Kwaku Frimpong, who had been substituted for Goather-Braithewaite, saw his deep delivery to the far post clip the crossbar.
The Reds were pushing for the leveller, putting the Gulls under a lot of pressure and Mason was forced into a good stop following an audacious effort from distance. The Essex-based side continued to subdue wave after wave of Carshalton attack, surviving a barrage of crosses as the match ticked over into the final third of proceedings. Ten minutes from time, Adeniyi introduced the experience of Dominic Vose for Kennett with hopes of inspiring another late equaliser.
Ifeanyi’s infield pass was left to run through to Frimpong; however, the first-time strike sailed well over the bar – symbolic of the Robins growing frustrations.
In the final few minutes, Carshalton were giving it everything to get a result, opportunities for the Gulls were few and far between and failed to cause any real trouble, except for a Connor Hubble half-volley straight at Foley and a stray close-range header from a corner. Canvey’s defensive resolve had to be applauded, and it was making the magnitude of the task increasingly difficult to overcome. During injury time, Saraiva fizzed the ball into the feet of Saunders-Henry who cut inside but could only guide it into Mason’s grasp,
while Ifeanyi was sent clear away to attack right and his near post shot was parried for a corner.
The defeat puts an end to Carshalton’s unbeaten run that spanned four league games, Adeniyi’s side languish 12th on 13 points, level with Canvey Island, although the Robins do have a game in hand.
Up Next
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 vs Epsom & Ewell (Surrey Senior Cup)
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kickoff: 07:45 PM
Admission: Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) and on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: Online Tickets here
