CAFC vs Whitehawk FC – Postponed
This fixture was called off for safety reasons due to high winds, all tickets have been refunded. The match will now be played on Monday 13th January
Carshalton Athletic welcome a Whitehawk FC side high in confidence to Colston Avenue on Saturday in the Isthmian Premier following a 2-0 Surrey Senior Cup victory over Raynes Park Vale earlier in the week.
Robins Review
A Michael Dada brace secured the Robins passage in the Surrey Senior Cup following a 2-0 victory over Raynes Park Vale on Monday. The win extended the club’s unbeaten streak to eight games and ended a three-match winless run. We return to league action at the weekend, welcoming Whitehawk FC to Colston Avenue.
Last time out, the Reds suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Hawks back in April. That said, Peter Adeniyi’s side had got the better of them in December, beating the Sussex outfit 2-1.
Whitehawk FC
Whitehawk FC secured a shock 1-0 victory over Folkestone Invicta on Saturday in the Isthmian Premier Division after substitute Andrew Briggs rifled a free kick from 25 yards out into the top corner. It also put to bed a five-game clean sheet draught. The result moves the Hawks closer to safety, currently, they languish in 20th place in the league on 15 points. The Brighton-based side had a difficult start to the 2024-25 campaign, falling to defeat in their opening two fixtures against Billericay and Hastings respectively without scoring a goal. A hard-fought 3-3 draw with Dulwich produced a 2-1 win the following week over Bowers & Pitsea, before Lewes disrupted the Hawks momentum, inflicting a 2-1 defeat. That said, consecutive 2-0 victories versus Cray Valley and Potters Bar meant Whitehawk went unbeaten in September and did not concede.
Unfortunately, October was a month to forget for Hawks faithful and is the main reason why the club find themselves nestled in and around the drop zone. For six matches, the Sussex outfit failed to find the net and lost 9-0 on aggregate, successive goalless draws at the backend of the month and into November sparred their blushes. Canvey Island would finally see the Hawks net in the Isthmian Premier for the first time since September 21 (vs Potters Bar Town 2-1). Things would get even tougher as Wingate & Finchley, Chatham Town, and Hendon dispatched off Whitehawk with ease, the latter two thumping them 5-0 and 3-0 respectively. However, as alluded to above, they returned to winning ways at the weekend, edging Folkestone Invicta 2-1.
In terms of cup competitions, the Hawks were knocked out at their first time of asking in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round, suffering a 3-0 hammering to Hendon, and in the FA Trophy Third Round, losing 2-1 to Potters Bar Town. However, they remain in the hat for the Sussex Cup, having overcome Broadbridge Heath in the second round before beating Haywards Heath Town 1-0.
Whitehawk were promoted to the Isthmian Premier after finishing third in the South East Division and achieving promotion via the play-offs. The Hawks got the better of Beckenham Town in the semi-finals before a 1-0 final win against Hythe Town in front of over 1400 spectators at The Enclosed Ground. Charlie Harris scored the winner to help put right the club’s back-to-back relegations that saw them drop from the National League South all the way to the fourth tier of non-league.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Foley, Sankoh, Atewologun, Hamstead, Read, Saraiva, Hamilton-Downes ©, Bradford, Ifeanyi, Smith, Salami
Whitehawk FC
Sheik, Seager, Borg, Hawkins, Williams, Asike, Mensah, Jennings, Barlow, Walker ©, Shubbar
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
The Robins welcomed back Mackenzie Foley and Luke Cook on Monday who have both endured lengthy spells on the sidelines owing to injuries sustained in October’s Canvey Island defeat.
Whitehawk FC
Seeing as Andrew Briggs began the match against Folkestone on the bench and made an instant impact when coming home, rifling home a stunning 25-yard set piece to leave the keeper rooted to the spot, Manager Shaun Saunders will likely reward him with a place in the starting XI. Expect Walker to make way for the midfielder.
In his recent post-match interview, Saunders said: “We know next week away at Carshalton is a massively hard game and again if we can get a couple in to help the group before next week then we need to try and build on that.”
Pre-Match Analysis
Whitehawk are very dangerous from set pieces. In the game versus Folkestone, Borg’s free kicks were causing all kinds of problems in the first half with Henry Hawkins’ header being denied by Henly between the sticks, while Barlow’s connection in the penalty area sailed over the bar moments later. On the hour, the Hawks were firmly rooted in the Seasiders box as corner after corner was being swung in. Briggs then whipped a delivery into the penalty area, Barlow won the header, and the net bulged, but it was Barlow himself who ended up a twisted heap within the goal. Therefore, the Robins must be aware of the Sussex side’s aerial threat from set pieces as well as their physicality. Impressively, they limited Folkestone to one chance at the weekend, which came in the 78th minute. Under Saunders, the Hawks are high in confidence.
Key Player
Even though Andrew Briggs scored Saturday’s scintillating free kick, it is Oscar Borg’s set pieces that form the Hawks main attacking threat with the likes of Barlow providing the aerial threat in the penalty area. Interestingly enough, Borg is a local lad, he grew up in Carshalton, applying his trade in the West Ham and Aston Villa academy systems before a move to Braintree Town and stints abroad at Arenas Club (Spain), Stjarnan (Iceland), Hauler (Iceland), Haverfordwest County (Wales), and Welling United. The 27-year-old joined the Sussex side in October 2024.
The Gaffer
After Dave Altendorff stepped down as manager following the 5-0 drumming at the hands of Chatham, Shaun Saunders, one of the most successful managers in the Hawks history, returned to the club (on November 27). Saunders had requested to be released from his contract in May this year to take a break from football owing to personal reasons. Whitehawk respected the decision and agreed to his request. Shaun’s successor was Ross McNeilly; however, he departed earlier in the campaign following a poor run of results. Altendorff, McNeilly’s assistant, stepped up to take stewardship but only temporarily until Saunders was ready to step back into the role.
Shaun could not contain his excitement about returning to the club:
“I’m delighted to be back at the club. Working together with Adam Simpson, we aim to get the club back on track as soon as possible.
We would ask our supporters to be patient and get behind the team. It’s been a tough start to the season, but rest assured we will be giving everything to get the club higher up the league.
We will be working hard with the current squad and endeavour to get them the help they need. The hard work has already started, and we aim to add to the group with some experience. We ask everyone to pull together as a collective to get us out of the situation we find ourselves in.
Saturday, we call on everyone to get behind us as we start the difficult task ahead.”
Match Details
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-off: 03:00 PM
Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: Buy online tickets here
