CAFC vs Dover Athletic – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic suffered late heartbreak following Dover Athletic’s last-gasp equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 draw between the two sides at Colston Avenue.
After captain Tommy Bradford gave the Robins the lead early in the second half, it was cancelled out by a Luke Baptiste’s 90th-minute overhead kick, which came very much against the run of play. Peter Adeniyi named an unchanged team from the side that beat South Park Reigate 1-0 to progress into the Second qualifying round of the FA Cup. Paris Hamilton-Downes was left out of the squad owing to the birth of his child, and of course it goes without saying congratulations to the long-serving robin. Also, defender Charlie Kennett returned and was named among the substitutes, while there was no place for Andy Somo.
It was a fast start from the visitors with the Robins being forced to subdue a couple of crosses into the box inside the first minute. A brief pause to the match following an injury to Dover Athletic’s Alfie Matthews enabled the game to open up. A few minutes later Aziz Sankoh controlled centrally in acres of space, driving and letting fly from distance straight down the goalkeeper’s throat. Some Bryan Ifeanyi trickery down the left flank saw the winger carry the ball inside, angling goal-bound and whip an effort just past the post. However, approaching the first third of the half, the Whites issued Carshalton a warning when the league’s top scorer George Nikaj came narrowly close to latching onto a mean Fuad Sesay cross to the back post, ultimately heading over from close range.
The Robins came very close to taking the lead on the 20-minute mark after Ifeanyi, one on one with the defender, used his quick feet to drift inside from the left and lash a powerful effort towards the far corner, which was pushed away by Dover keeper Mitch Walker. An alert Luke Read was there for the follow up, but the full-back could only graze the bar. Adeniyi’s side carried on pushing for the opener, and mid-way through Ifeanyi did very well to hold onto the ball to manufacture a chance for Dom Vose to come onto and strike on the edge of the penalty area through a pile of bodies; however, Walker got down well to gather.
Entering the final third of the first 45, it was the Robins who were in the ascendancy and looking the more likely to score. Ifeanyi was causing them lots of problems when attacking left, while Sankoh constantly found himself in lots of space in the middle of the park and free to carry the ball up the pitch unchallenged. After Luke Baptiste received a caution for a strong challenge on Read, Nikaj’s well struck left-sided free kick took a deflection off the wall on its way through and produced a wonderful diving save from a full stretch Mackenzie Foley. With one minute left until the break, some Vose brilliance nearly gave our lads the advantage heading into half-time following a sweetly hit half volley that skimmed the crossbar. As Carshalton departed down the tunnel and into the dressing room for the break, they had ended proceedings the side in the ascendancy and looking the more likely to score following an excellent 45. The Whites, meanwhile, had been limited to few notable sights at goal, which included the deadly Nikaj.
Two minutes into the second half and Carshalton already had their first half-chance when a quick throw found Fabio Saraiva, who manoeuvred into the penalty area and drove against the defender claiming handball, the referee waived it away. Moments later, Goather-Braithwaite took it upon himself to get Carshalton up the pitch and was rewarded for his efforts with a free kick just outside the box. Saraiva stepped up and flashed the set piece well wide of the post. It was apparent from the get-go that the Robins were desperate to maintain the same attacking intent they had platformed in the first half and eventually the hosts got their just deserts. In the 55th minute, Read attacked right and delivered into the penalty area, picking out our skipper Tommy Bradford in space, who controlled and smacked a well-timed half volley in off the crossbar, which was still rattling as he went to celebrate.
Even though the Reds had gained the advantage, they showed no signs of letting up and were growing in confidence on the hour mark. Ifeanyi and Bradford combined well as the former’s long-range effort failed to trouble Walker between the sticks. Also, the hosts had a golden opportunity to forge a two-goal cushion when Goather-Braithwaite’s pull back was put on a plate for Ifeanyi to run onto and shoot first time from a couple of yards out, but he found the keeper instead of the corners. For the next 5-10 minutes, the match entered a bit of a lull as the Whites became frustrated and struggled to break down a resilient Robins backline; however, Eniye Amgbaduba’s glancing header, which was comfortably taken by Foley, acted as a reminder that Dover were not out of this just yet. Roman Charles-Cook’s searching effort then forced a good save out of Foley, who tipped it behind for a corner.
After Bradford had made way for Mason Saunders-Henry, centre-back Harrison Pont headed high over the bar from a Dover corner as the 80-minute mark approached. Going forward, the Whites looked short of ideas, while Carshalton continued to probe. Drifting inside from the left, Ifeanyi won Vose a free kick with three minutes until time, but the experienced midfielder did not get the whip he intended, and it sailed the wrong side of the post. In a bid to shore things up, Vose was replaced by the youth of Tom Jackson as Dover removed both centre-backs from proceedings to try and snatch a late equaliser. Unfortunately for the Robins, it was late heartbreak. Carshalton failed to clear a long throw, and the ball evaded the heads of everyone in red with Luke Baptiste applying the overhead kick to level the match. The referee blew his whistle for full time and for many the result felt more like a loss following an impressive attacking display.
Post Match interviews
Up Next
Adeniyi’s side have another break from league action next Saturday when they take on Melksham Town in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Date: Saturday 28th September
Opponents: Melksham Town
Competition: FA Cup 3Qu Round
Ko: 3.00pm
Venue: Colston Avenue
Admissions: Get Tickets Here
