CAFC vs Sutton United Reserves – Preview
Carshalton Athletic travel to take on Sutton United Reserves at Collingwood Recreation Ground in the Surrey Premier Division on Sunday afternoon.
Robins Review
The Robins were knocked out of the Capital Intermediate Cup on Sunday following a 5-2 drumming at the hands of South London First. It ended a six-match unbeaten run for Lamont’s side in all competitions. Lamont has agreed to a friendly fixture with Leatherhead Women on Friday because it is the league the club are “aspiring to be in next season”. Friendlies are a good way for the league to compare when we apply via the FA Women’s Football Pyramid Promotion Pool to go up at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. There will only be one day’s rest between the Reds taking on the Tanners at Colston and travelling to Collingwood Recreation Ground to face off against the U’s.
Sutton United Reserves
Sutton United Reserves are currently fifth in the Surrey Premier Division on 14 points after nine matches. Despite just one win separating the U’s and fourth-place Dorking the Wanderers have a game in hand. Sutton have not been in action in well over a month, the club’s last official fixture came on December 8th when the U’s were thumped 7-0 by Leatherhead Youth, given the fact that last weekend’s Capital Intermediate Cup tie with Ashford Town was declared an “Away Walkover” and therefore was not played, it doesn’t seem as though that is changing anytime soon.
The 2024-25 campaign started in relatively positive fashion for the U’s, the club ground out a 2-2 draw with Dorking and overcame Old Tiffinians 3-1 with ease. However, back-to-back league defeats would ensue at the hands of promotion hopefuls Leatherhead Youth (3-0) and leaders Farnham Town (4-0) respectively. Sutton returned to winning ways the following week, beating Epsom & Ewell 2-1 which would see the U’s put together a four-match unbeaten run. It included a 7-0 hammering of Old Tiffinians, another 2-2 draw with Dorking, a slender 3-2 Croydon victory, and progression in the Capitol Intermediate Cup (CIC) first round after dispatching Whyteleafe 2-0.
The Robins ended the streak at the end of November when Lamont’s side ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Sarah Chapman, Heather Eade, and Honey Dulley. As alluded to above, the U’s have not been in action since the 7-0 Tanners drumming just before Christmas, which knocked them out of the Surrey Divisional Cup, while the club’s latest fixture, a CIC tie with Ashford Town has been declared an “Away Walkover”.
Last season in the seventh tier of the Women’s Football Pyramid, the U’s consolidated themselves mid-table level on points with Beecholme Belles (21). However, 2022-23 saw Sutton finish runners-up and come narrowly close to beating out Ashmount Leigh for promotion to the sixth tier.
At the end of the last campaign, the U’s said goodbye to reserve team manager, Courtney Bartlett, and ushered in joint managers, Ian Bowerman and Ben White. As well as that, after discussions, it was felt the junior girls section would benefit from moving directly into the reserve team set up and instead they have now entered a team into the Junior Premier League.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Solly, Nebbitt, Rodriguez, Davis, Throp, Alderman, Dulley, Chapman, Eade, Gueriani, Measures
Sutton United Reserves
Clark, Dalrymple, De Ascensao, Duncan-Pond, Lindsay, Malone, Martinez, Palmer-Lockhart, Quaintance, Walsh, Wright
Team news
Carshalton Athletic
Georgina Edwards was absent from Sunday’s defeat owing to injury, she is expected to return to action on Friday. Defender Lara Rodriguez was forced to depart proceedings after she picked up a knock during the second half; that said, it is unlikely to keep her out of the Leatherhead fixture. Tanya Dady and Demi-Lee Allen, meanwhile, could be out for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, the former following injury, and the latter work-related reasons.
Sutton United Reserves
Sutton United Reserves made three changes following the 3-0 defeat to the Robins, Boult, Byfield-Arscott, and Barry made way for Claire Malone, Chelsea Lindsay, and Clark. Expect the U’s to field a much-changed starting XI on Sunday.
Pre-Match Analysis
Sutton United Reserves have netted 21 times in the Surrey Premier Division which is the fifth most in the league behind Farnham Town (57), the Reds (48), Leatherhead Youth (29), and Dorking (26). Defensively, meanwhile, the U’s have conceded 28 goals, which is thanks in large part to the Tanner’s 7-0 drumming of the south-London-based outfit. The club have only managed to keep two clean sheets, and they came against rock-bottom Old Tiffinians and lower-tier opponents Whyteleafe.
Key Player
Forward Amy Wright is the U’s key player. Wright top the goalscoring charts for Sutton with six goals to her name in the 2024-25 campaign so far.
The Gaffer
Last May’s League Cup final saw the U’s bid farewell to long-serving Reserve Team Manager Courtney Bartlett as joint managers Ben White and Ian Bowerman took the reins. White was previously a London Development Coach for Chelsea FC Foundation as well as a youth coach at Balham FC and FC Morden.
Match Details
Date: Sunday, January 26, 2025
Venue: Collingwood Recreation Ground
Kick-Off: 14:00
Admission: Free
