CAFC vs Whitehawk FC – Report
Carshalton Athletic suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Whitehawk FC in the Isthmian Premier Division on Saturday following a Jordan Maguire-Drew brace.
It was a tame opening few minutes to Non-League Day. The first chance of the match fell the way of the Robins when Fabio Saraiva floated the ball into the penalty area and David Smith’s dipping header was an awkward one for Joseph Osaghae between the sticks, who had to pat it down to gather. Moments later, Smith had the ball in the back of the net, capitalising on some complacency from Osaghae; however, the referee then decided to enforce the offside indicated for the previous header. Moving the ball well, Adeniyi’s side continued to pursue going more direct. A lofted delivery into the penalty area saw Smith attempt to chest the ball down into the path of Nabeel Ghannam a few yards out from Whitehawk’s goal, but it was cleared before the former Lewes midfielder was able to reach it.
The Robins carried on exerting attacking pressure through aerial deliveries into the penalty area. Luke Read fired a cross into Ghannam, but the No. 4 miscued the volley before Saraiva drove the follow-up into the defender. There was some excellent defending on display from the Reds too, Fikayo Atewologun and Joshua Shonibare both nullifying the Hawks attempts to catch Carshalton out of shape and break at pace. As the quarter of an hour mark beckoned, Ghannam forced Osaghae into a routine stop down to his right following a low-driven effort on the slide just outside the penalty area.
On the 20-minute mark, Smith was brandished a yellow card for an apparent elbow in the face on Jamie Watson. There was a brief pause to proceedings while Watson received treatment.
A few minutes later, Maguire-Drew’s whipped free kick to the right of the penalty area was comfortably claimed by Aaron Watkins. The Reds proceeded to break at pace through Shonibare down the right flank; however, the resulting cross was miscued over the stands. Mid-way through, Shonibare demonstrated some fantastic last-ditch defending to ensure Callum Barlow was not sent clear away on goal. Having enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, the Hawks came close to taking the lead 30 minutes in. Emmanuel Mensah attacked right and delivered, Wakins, under pressure, spilt the ball, before pinball ensued and fortunately Carshalton were able to scramble it away from danger. Watkins was issued a yellow card by the referee for his protests.
In the 35th minute, the Hawks won a penalty after the stray leg of Robins defender Atewologun caught Harry Bridle. Maguire-Drew made no mistake from the spot, sending Wakins the wrong way. Searching for an immediate reply, Saraiva lifted the ball towards the onrushing Bryan Ifeanyi on the opposite side of the penalty area, but the first-time side-footed volley was the wrong side of the bar. With five minutes until the break, Saraiva arrowed the corner into the path of Ghannam whose volleyed strike was high over the bar. On the stroke of halftime, Smith won the Robins a free kick in a threatening position 25 yards out. Dada delivered, it was cleared only as far as Bradford, the midfielder attacked right and crossed to the back post, and Read, in acres of space, headed inches over the bar.
So close to the leveller. However, there was a huge let-off during injury time. Maguire-Drew’s outside-the-boot lofted pass sent Bridle in behind, and the attacker carried the ball down the touchline, before finding Maguire-Drew with the pullback, but the No. 11’s resulting first-time effort was over the bar.
The first chance of the half fell the way of Carshalton four minutes in. Dada laid off Shonibare to the right of the penalty area and the full-back did really well to battle his way through a couple of Hawks defenders, but he could only power straight down the goalkeeper’s throat. The defensive resolve of the Hawks was paying dividends and frustrating Adeniyi’s side as wave after wave of attack was repelled. Against the run of play, the Hawks forged a two-goal cushion in the 56th minute following some impressive one-touch football that saw Josh Nandra arrow the ball across the face of goal for Maguire-Drew to stab home into an empty net and complete his brace. As the midpoint beckoned, the Reds were putting the hosts under considerable pressure through a series of shots and crosses.
Approaching the final third of the match, Saraiva attempted to manufacture the shooting chance, but he was brought down in the process.
Despite the appeals from both the players and travelling support behind the goal, the referee indicated no penalty.
After yet another pause to the game so a Hawks player could receive some treatment, Sankoh fizzed the touchline set piece into the penalty area and Atewologun’s flicked header was acrobatically cleared. Moments later, Saraiva’s inswinger was headed just over by Hamilton-Downes at the back post. With five minutes until time, the corner was swung into the penalty area, pinball ensued, Read drilled the ball goalbound, and the travelling support was appealing that it had crossed the line before Osaghae emerged ball in hand. In the dying embers, Shonibare’s tenacity forced the turnover of possession in the final third
and saw the full-back drive into the penalty area and lay it off to Saraiva who dragged the effort wide of the far post.
Unfortunately, the Reds could not break down the Hawks and concluded the game with a whimper. The results means Carshalton drop to seventh on 58 points, with Chichester going above us having sealed a 2-0 victory over Hastings United. There will be hopes that Peter Adeniyi’s side can return to winning ways against Bowers & Pitsea next week.
Up Next
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-off: 03:00 PM
Admission: Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: https://form.123formbuilder.com/566
