CAFC Women 5-0 Three Bridges

Demi Allen’s screamer seals an emphatic win for the Robins

A Demi Allen stunner sealed a magnificent 5-0 thumping of Three Bridges to register back-to-back pre-season wins for the Robins this evening.
In truth, the game was done and dusted at the break with the Reds 3-0 up after another impressive first-half attacking display.

Following a superb save at the death against Farnborough on Sunday, Shakara Brown was preferred to Mia Patton between the sticks. Evie Nebbett made way for Lily Davies, who formed a back three with Tanya Dady and Demi Allen. While Anna Tilly replaced Eloise Williams in the number eight role, and Daisy Olley came in for Heather Eade. It was a switch in formation for Aaron Lamont, moving to a slightly more defensive five-back to keep it tight. For Courtney Bartlett, Three Bridges announced many signings in the lead-up to the fixture with many coming from her old club, Sutton United Reserves.
In similar fashion to Sunday, it was another fast start to the half from our girls. The effectiveness of the high press demanded from Lamont was immediately apparent as it forced Bridges goalkeeper Emma Marlow into an early mistake, which enabled Ella Bond, on the swivel, to strike neatly on the half volley and narrowly miss the far top corner. Bartlett’s new signing Anais Ercalura presented herself as the main threat for the visitors, giving chase to a ball in behind and driving a cross low and hard into the gloves of Brown, well positioned. There was a brief spell where the Bridges probed the Robins backline, yet the girls stood firm, and it was not long until Carshalton affirmed that it was them, not their counterparts, on the ascendancy.

Captain Georgie Edwards’s free-kick just inside the opposition’s half was deep to the back post, but eluded everyone in Red, struggling to latch onto it. The Bridges continued to be unable to play through the host’s high press and Carshalton, not for the first time, brought about the turnover high up the pitch. An attacking move from right to left found Sarah Chapman in space inside the penalty area; however, she fired over on the half volley. So close.
Moments later, Bond delivered an inch-perfect cross from a set piece on the left, Edwards timed her jump well, but it grazed her head. The visitors momentarily caught the Robins out of shape on the break yet failed to threaten. Back up the other end, Bond set Rose-Dulley clear away to attack right, she crossed back post with Chapman desperately trying to get on the end of it.

The first real chance for Bartlett’s side came from a corner on the 20-minute mark with Ercalura’s back post header scrambled clear off the line, looking to capitalise while the Bridges had lots of bodies forward, Carshalton countered, and Bond gave chase to a long ball in behind. Still, Marlow was quick off her line and got rid.
Bond carried on dazzling with a delicious, cushioned pass on the touchline to slip through Rose-Dulley down the right flank, she found McCarthy lurking on the edge of the penalty area, who shot agonisingly wide. Not long after, Brown’s goal kick split open the Bridges defence and alert Chapman manufactured a one vs one opportunity and from a tight angle, she aimed her shot low and hard, with Marlow a match for it, spreading herself well to deny the No.10.

Eventually, Carshalton deservingly took the lead thanks to Rose-Dulley. Lamont’s high press meant Chapman found herself drifting in from the left and striking from close range, Marlow pushed it away before pinball ensued and Rose-Dulley bundled it over the line. As the half progressed the Robins had the momentum behind them and were making the most of it, Chapman’s fantastic footwork enabled her to beat her defender and lay it off to McCarthy, who dragged her first-time effort wide. The forward was at it again, forcing a good diving stop from Marlow at full stretch.

Following wave after wave of attack, Carshalton managed to bag two goals in quick succession to extend their advantage. First of all, a short inswinging corner was allowed to bounce into the danger area by the visitors. Despite being cleared, Daisy Olley was there to calmly side-foot the ball into the net. A few minutes later, it was Groundhog Day, another well-worked set piece to the front post was flicked on by midfielder McCarthy across the goalkeeper after some great movement to lose her marker.
On the stroke of half time, Brown, who was enjoying her first full start, dealt extremely well with a set piece, which was uncomfortably right on top of her.
Heading into the break, it had been an excellent 45 from our ladies both defensively and offensively.

Even though the second half was welcomed by the rain, it failed to dampen the spirit of the Robins, who demonstrated the same attacking intent from before. Chapman’s tenacity nearly paid off when Marlow panicked and passed it into the attacker, rebounding back into her grasp, much to her delight.
Except for a McCarthy half volley that was tame and watched comfortably over the bar by Marlow, the intensity of the match gradually dipped for the next ten to 15 minutes.
On the hour, a quintessential Carshalton inswinger produced an audacious attempt at an overhead kick from Chapman unsuccessfully converted, the Robins were having fun at this stage.

With a few legs tiring, Lamont made a trio of subs, injecting the energy of India Cox and Kenza Gueriani to the front three, while Imogen bolstered the middle of the park. Mid-way through proceedings, there was a bit of a scare for the hosts, trying to play out Brown’s complacency got the better and her pass was cut out by Ercalura, creating a rare opportunity to attack the Carshalton goal in the box, thankfully it ended in nothing.
A speculative long-range effort from Chapman that did not trouble Marlow and a twenty-five- yard Edwards set piece, which whistled over the crossbar summoned the final third of the match. Once again, Chapman’s hard work won the ball back for Carshalton and made wayfor a cross that caused a goal line scramble and a brilliant reflect save from Marlow diving to her left.

Now for the standout moment of the evening and the cherry on top of another fantastic display at Colston. Of course, it has to be Demi Allen popping up from nowhere with an absolute screamer, and undoubtedly the best goal of her career. Entering the final ten minutes, Allen, following up her corner that was cleared almost back to her, ran onto the ball and unleashed a vicious first-time half-volley that lashed goalwards, smacked the underside of the bar and bounced over the line. It was jubilation for the crowd and Carshalton staff. Despite leading by a four-goal deficit, our ladies were hungry for more and carried on pushing and putting the Bridges under extreme pressure. To cap off a wonderful evening, in fitting fashion Edwards, often the unsung hero, finished off a lovely one-touch move from the Robins, which had the opponents chasing shadows.
As the end of August beckons, the season for our girls is fast approaching, September 8th. That is two wins on the bounce for Lamont’s side, where they have scored seven goals and kept back-to-back clean sheets. The Robins host Croydon FC on Sunday and will have hopes of carrying the momentum of today into that tie.

Goals: Rose-Dulley, Olley, McCarthy, Williams, Edwards
Team: Brown, Davies, Dady, Allen, Edwards, Olley, McCarthy, Tilly, Bale, Chapman, Rose-Dudley