CAFC vs Horsham FC – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic fell to a 3-0 defeat away at Horsham’s Fusion Aviation Community Stadium on Saturday in the Isthmian Premier Division.
There was one change for Peter Adeniyi’s side following the 2-1 defeat to Cray Valley PM on New Year’s Day. Our latest addition, Udoka Chima, made way for Sanchez Ming, who started proceedings at full-back, and subsequently, Luke Read partnered with Fikayo Atewologun at the heart of the backline.
The match’s first chance fell the way of the hosts; Ola Ogunwamide dispossessed Bryan Ifeanyi and drove towards Carshalton’s goal before threading through No. 9 Shamir Fenelon, who failed to test Foley. Moments later, Lee Harding battled through a couple of Reds defenders and into the penalty area, striking low and hard across Foley, who managed to push the ball to the bar for Read to scramble clear. Charlie Hester-Cook heading wide from a Hornets corner concluded the early attacking pressure. A few minutes later, up the other end, David Smith’s whipped effort on the swivel took a deflection and almost wrong-footed Lewis Carey between the sticks, who recovered to parry around the post.
The home side were enjoying the lion’s share of possession, moving the ball well. Sixteen minutes in, Hester Cook cutely slipped through Ogunwamide down the right channel; however, the shot was fortunately very tame, and Foley gathered with ease. Following that, the tables turned temporarily, and Carshalton probed Horsham for a sustained period; that said, they could not fashion any chances of note. Leighton’s Mitchell’s outfit would then break at pace and come agonisingly close to issuing an immediate punishment when Ogunwamide powered the first-time strike narrowly wide of the top far corner on the edge of the area. Midway through the half, it became apparent how important it was for the Robins not to give possession away cheaply because of the Hornet’s threat on the counterattack.
On the 30-minute mark, Ming won a set piece down the touchline, and Saraiva whipped it towards the far post for the onrushing Read to smash into the side netting at close range. So close.
Things continued to improve for Adeniyi’s side; Saraiva rather brilliantly managed to split the defence at full stretch so Sankoh could get in behind down the left channel and drive into the defender. With eight minutes until the break, the game had opened up; Carshalton were being much more efficient in possession, and their defensive shape made the lads difficult to break down. However, the hosts took the lead inside 39 minutes through Reece Myles-Meekums. A loose pass saw Meekums intercept the ball on the halfway line, and carry it upfield to be one-on-one with Read, before cutting inside on the edge of the area and nestling it into the far corner. On the stroke of halftime, Ifeanyi laid it off to Saunders-Henry on the edge of the penalty area, but the left-footed curling effort was comfortably gathered.Â
It was a strong start to the second 45, particularly from our centre-back, Atewologun. Ogunwamide burst forward down the touchline and into the penalty area, but the former Leatherhead defender’s well-timed challenge saw the ball run for a goal kick. Moments later, another successful challenge made sure Hester-Cook lost possession, and the Reds won a throw-in. However, a few minutes later, the Hornets doubled their lead. After Foley denied Fenelon with his outstretched right leg, Hester-Cook snatched the ball off Saunders-Henry on the edge of the box before slaloming in and out and lashing it into the roof of the net.
Pushing to halve the deficit, Saraiva’s inswinging corner was cleared only as far as Ifeanyi, who took a touch to set himself and produced a strike that grazed the crossbar. On the hour mark, Adeniyi introduced Kola Salami and Udoka Chima to proceedings, the latter ensuing a defensive shake-up that saw Read move back to full-back owing to Ming’s departure. Not long after, Tommy Bradford’s 30-yard central set piece teed up Saunders-Henry, who drifted towards the right of the penalty area and watched his speculative effort sail well over the bar. In the 65th minute, Smith used his strength once again to hold off the Hornets defenders, lay the ball off for Saraiva to come onto just outside the area, and finesse towards the far corner, rattling the post.
A few minutes later, Saunders-Henry whipped the left channel set piece into the penalty area; pinball ensued, and Bradford’s low-driven follow-up was ultimately blocked. The Reds continued to push back Horsham even deeper into their final third, and Saraiva flashed a free kick in shooting distance into the wall before sending a dipping volley goalbound, which was grasped by Carey. It was a strong start to the second 45, particularly from our centre-back, Atewologun. Ogunwamide burst forward down the touchline and into the penalty area, but the former Leatherhead defender’s well-timed challenge saw the ball run for a goal kick. Moments later, another successful challenge made sure Hester-Cook lost possession, and the Reds won a throw-in. However, a few minutes later, the Hornets doubled their lead. After Foley denied Fenelon with his outstretched right leg, Hester-Cook snatched the ball off Saunders-Henry on the edge of the box before slaloming in and out and lashing it into the roof of the net.
In the dying embers of the game, Atewologun’s pass teed up Ifeanyi to attack left and unleash a venomous strike across Carey, which the shot-stopper parried. Moments later, Salami pulled the ball across for Saraiva to then hit over the bar. Four minutes were added on and in the 92nd minute, the hosts made it three from the spot through James Hammond.
The 3-0 defeat to the Hornets sees the Reds drop to 11th in the Isthmian Premier Division on 32 points. There will be hopes that Adeniyi’s side can bounce back to winning ways next weekend at home against Hastings United.
Up Next
Date: Monday, January 11, 2025 (vs Hastings United)
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-off: 03:00PM
Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: Buy online tickets here
