CAFC vs Dorking Wanderers Development

CAFC vs Dorking Wanderers Development – Report

Carshalton Athletic Women ran out 5-3 winners over Dorking Wanderers Development to progress through in the Surrey Divisional Cup thanks to an Abbey Measures hattrick.

There were two changes for Aaron Lamont’s side following the 3-0 victory over Sutton United Reserves. Demi-Lee Allen replaced Lara Rodriguez at the back, while Josie Alderman, preferred over Heather Eade, made her first start.

Even though the Robins enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the early stages and moved the ball well in the Wanderers own half, the visitors broke at pace and threaded through forward Jasmine Smith one-on-one with Sully, who kept her composure to guide it into the far corner inside three minutes. However, the Reds were not behind for long, and it was new addition Josie Alderman who brought about the leveller. Having spotted Mia Robinson off her line, Alderman attacked left and audaciously lifted it over the shot-stopper.

Moments later, Sarah Chapman drifted inside and powered an effort from distance goalbound, but it went wide.

The majority of the action continued to be in Dorking’s final third. That said, whenever the Wanderers forced the turnover, Smith was a constant danger in behind the Carshalton defence. Alderman, the main attacking threat for the Robins up until this stage, cut inside off the left flank and drove into the defender. On the 20-minute mark, the Reds pegged back the visitors after Kanita Throp floated the corner into a crowd of bodies in and around the goal line who were trying to bundle it in; instead, it dipped directly into the net from the corner itself.

A few minutes later, Dorking worked the ball from left to right despite the linesman indicating it had gone out for a throw. Solly produced an excellent diving save to her right before Honey Dulley carried the ball upfield but dragged the long-range strike wide.

Midway through, the visitors equalised after Evie Nebbitt failed to clear a left flank 20-yard set piece, and it fell kindly in the path of Smith in the penalty area, who made no mistake and stabbed it home on the half-volley. Thankfully, Lamont’s side issued an instant reply. In the 30th minute, Kenza Gueriani whipped the right flank free kick towards Abbey Measures at the back post, whose cushioned header beat Robinson’s near post.

Not long after, they forged a two-goal cushion once again through free-scoring wingback Measures. Some Dulley trickery down the touchline was capped off with an impressive low-driven cross, which was diverted into the feet of the onrushing Measures on the opposite side, who flashed the first-time shot beyond the goalkeeper. Alderman would then come agonisingly close to a fifth, grazing the bar following a well-hit strike on the edge of the penalty area.

While the Robins’ offensive display had been something to behold in the first 45, Lamont’s side were equally as impressive out of possession, making it extremely difficult for the visitors when they had the ball with an intense high press and compact shape to prevent them playing through the lines.

The visitors controlled the opening stages of the second half. Emerging from halftime with greater attacking intent, they were piling the pressure on the Robins, who survived a couple of deliveries into the penalty area. Seemingly, Carshalton were happy to sit back and allow the Wanderers to have possession in non-threatening positions. After a much more tempered start to a half than Reds faithful are usually accustomed to under Lamont, the ladies forced the turnover 25 yards out from goal, and Chappers squared it across to Alderman, who whipped it off balance the wrong side of the post. That was enough to inspire a momentum shift as a sustained period of wave after wave of attack ensued but was successfully beaten back by a defensively resolute Dorking backline.

Sixty-five minutes into the half, Dulley’s touchline delivery was cleared only as far as Measures, who came onto the ball and unleashed a venomous half-volley inches wide and into the side netting. The effort had Robinson scrambling. As the 70th minute beckoned, there was a lull in the match, the intensity dropped and the ladies were lacking that killer pass in the final third to put the game out of sight for the visitors. Dorking tried to slip the likes of Hannah Kuwertz in behind, but Carshalton’s defensive line, marshalled by Tanya Dady, was very good. Entering the last quarter of an hour, Edwards failed to test Robinson with a tame half-volley outside the area, while Chappers lashed a strike comfortably wide of the post.

Towards the latter stages, Throp received the ball centrally, controlled, and found Gueriani in acres of space to her left. The wingback took a touch to set herself before flashing the shot straight down the keeper’s throat. Not long after, Measures completed her hat trick. Gueriani sent a first-time side-footed dipping cross angling in the direction of Measures, who was languishing on the opposite side of the penalty area, to calmly head beyond Robinson.

In the dying embers, Kuwertz converted from close range to grab the Wanderers a consolation goal. The visitors also dragged an effort wide on the swivel. On the counter-attack, Gueriani won a set-piece and took the responsibility, but finessed it just too high in search of the top corner. That would prove the last action of the game and the Robins progressed through in the Surrey Divisional Cup.