CAFC Women vs Croydon FC

CAFC Women vs Croydon FC – Report

A Sarah Chapman brace secured the Robins a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Croydon FC in the Surrey Premier Division on Sunday at the Croydon Sports Arena.

The result sees Aaron Lamont’s side move to the top of the Surrey Premier with 31 points, overtaking Leatherhead Youth (30) and Dorking Wanderers Development (29). Carshalton may have a game in hand over Dorking, but fourth-place Farnham Town (27) hold a huge four-game advantage.

Croydon FC survived wave after wave of attack in the opening stages of the game. The first chance saw the Andrade twins combine for Maria to lift the ball goalbound, but it was comfortably gathered. Moments later, Georgie Edwards dipping half-volley from range was straight down the keeper’s throat. After forward Heather Eade struck high over the bar from 25 yards out, she came agonisingly close to giving the Robins the lead inside six minutes, flicking her header the wrong side of the post off an inswinging Edu Andrade corner.

The Reds carried on probing the Trams backline, moving the ball well and enjoying the lion’s share of possession. Ten minutes in, the majority of the ball had been in Croydon’s half, with Aaron Lamont’s quintessential high press forcing the turnover. Approaching the 20-minute mark, there was a flurry of golden opportunities. Maria Andrade’s effort dipped just in front of the Trams shot-stopper, who denied it with her legs before managing to smother. Sarah Chapman then received the ball to the right of the penalty area, maintaining her composure to drift inside but whipping the proceeding shot inches wide of the far post.

Eventually, Carshalton got their just deserts. In the 18th minute, Josie Alderman attacked left and delivered into the penalty area for Chapman to rifle the ball first time into the top left corner,

piercing the attempted parry by the keeper. A few minutes later, Eade manufactured the shooting opportunity, shifting the ball onto her stronger right foot before dragging the resulting strike across the face of goal for the onrushing Alderman to stab wide. Carshalton forged a two-goal cushion midway through the half, having squandered several chances to score. Edu played the corner short to Demi-Lee Allen languishing on the edge of the penalty area; the defender fizzed it low and hard into the path of Lara Rodriguez, who fired into the roof of the net on the swivel.

The Trams continued to survive a succession of shots and crosses as the final third of the half beckoned. Croydon improved defensively towards the latter stages, and the Reds struggled to break them down. With ten minutes until the break, Chaps was alert at the drop ball, stealing it and setting herself before lashing a shot goalbound that was flicked wide on the way through by Eade. Growing frustrated, the Trams started to create some opportunities and threaten Carshalton’s goal. Allen bundled over the host’s attacker, and the referee indicated a free kick. The No. 10 proceeded to strike into the wall before the forward sent the follow-up sailing over the bar. Moments later, Georgina Solly was called into action for the first time in the afternoon, making a routine diving save to her right. On the stroke of halftime, Eade had a couple of chances to make it three, winning possession, driving into the box, and miscuing over, as well as shooting low and hard straight down the keeper’s throat.

In a bid to inject some more attacking intent into the Reds, Lamont introduced Honey Dulley and the returning India Cox to proceedings in place of Edwards and Alderman. Cox almost made an instant impact when Eade did well to hold the ball up and send the substitute clear away on goal; however, her effort one-on-one deflected off the sliding GK for a corner. That said, 55 minutes in, the Trams halved the deficit, albeit controversially. The referee penalised Chapman for a handball just inside Croydon’s half; the Trams took the free kick quickly, switching it diagonally. The right winger touched down to the right of the penalty area and flashed it across a diving Solly to nestle the ball into the bottom left corner.

On the hour, the game had opened up. The Reds were still moving the ball well in the final third, but the ladies were lacking that killer pass. What’s more, Carshalton had a couple of efforts at Croydon’s goal, but they were from distance and failed to cause the keeper any trouble. Midway through, Carshalton had their best chance of the half up to this stage, with Cox driving into the keeper close range. It was followed by appeals from the Reds bench for a high foot, but the referee waved them away. Entering the final third, Lamont’s side extended their advantage. Chapman’s right flank delivery ricocheted onto the arm of the Croydon defender, and the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Chaps took responsibility, powering the ball into the top left corner.

Despite that, the Trams were still posing a threat and searching for an immediate response. The winger carried the ball down the touchline and arrowed it across into the penalty area; pinball ensued before the No. 10 drove a tame effort straight down Solly’s throat. With ten minutes until time, Solly was called into action once more, but she made the stop low to her right. In the dying embers, Carshalton’s intense high press forced the turnover just outside the penalty area for Dulley to hook the ball to rattle the bar. However, the Trams broke at pace and attacked right, the winger pulled it back towards the substitute who converted from a few yards out. It was a tense final few moments as Croydon came close to a leveller if it were not for some heroic last-ditch defending.

The win sees Lamont’s side top the Surrey Premier on 31 points and extend their winning streak to five games. There will be hopes that the Reds can carry forward the momentum into next weekend’s Surrey Premier Division tie against rock-bottom Old Old Tiffinians, who currently have zero points.