CAFC Women vs Leatherhead – CANCELLED
Carshalton Athletic take on Leatherhead Women on Sunday vying to extend their unbeaten run in pre-season.
As expected, it was another very impressive first-half performance from the Reds; however, they were forced to demonstrate their defensive resolve in the second.
The last three matches have produced 11 goals and seen none conceded from the Robins – Very pleasing for manager Aaron Lamont.
With the 2024-25 campaign on the horizon, kicking off September 8th, Lamont is keen to continue testing our ladies to make sure they go into their maiden season in senior Women’s football as prepared as possible.
For recent singing Tanya Dady, the fixture will be extra special as she gears up to face off against the team she captained through promotion.
Carshalton and Dady will be desperate to maintain their winning form against a tough Leatherhead side.
Leatherhead
Leatherhead Women enjoyed a successful 2023-24 campaign following their Surrey Premier Division triumph.
The team finished with a record 15 wins, one draw, and impressively not a single loss to secure promotion.
The Tanners then did the double, lifting the league cup after edging Sutton United 2-1 at Meadowbank.
If that was not enough for this young side, they also reached the Capital Cup final; however, Brentford performed excellently on the day and ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.
As is the way with Women’s football, Leatherhead had to apply to the promotion pool with the FA Women’s Football Pyramid Project Team considering their request.
Eventually, the Tanners were informed at the end of May that their application had been accepted and therefore they will play in the London & South East Regional Women’s League Division 1 North for the 2024-25 season.
Familiar clubs that you may recognise applying their trade in Division 1 are AFC Whyteleafe, Brentford, and Bromley.
Leatherhead have already got their season underway and head into Sunday’s game off the back of a 5-1 defeat to the Bees after a stunning display of ruthless free-scoring in the opening 20 minutes.
The Tanners had their league fixture for this weekend cancelled, subsequently, they advertised for a friendly on social media, and Lamont obliged, taking the opportunity to test his side against higher-tier opposition.
The club was established in 2021, playing their inaugural season in the South East Counties Women’s League (Division One West), where they finished second.
Earning promotion to the London and South East Regional Women’s League (Division One North) for the 2022-23 season, Leatherhead finished rock bottom in 11th on 14 points, seven from Richmond Park in safety, and they were subsequently relegated from tier six.
Having bounced straight back up from the Surrey Premier Division (tier 7) in 2023-24, the Tanners will be eyeing further progression up the pyramid.
Likely lineups
Carshalton
Brown, Davies, Dady, Allen, Gueriani, Edwards, Olley, Edwards, McCarthy, Chapman, Rose-Dulley
Leatherhead
Albert, Bird, Sheerin, Macfarlane, Alberts, Keen, Ayimbia-Golding, Brown, Harlow, Button, Gibney
Team News
Carshalton
Aaron Lamont is expected to have a fully fit squad at his disposal, depending on availability. There is a lot of competition for places across the pitch; however, Brown seems to be preferred to Patton, the backline is settled, while captain Georgie Edwards and Emily McCarthy will make up part of the midfield, and Sarah Chapman will lead the line.
Who accompanies Chapman on the flanks will be the main headache for Lamont with a variety of combinations to pick from.
Leatherhead
The Tanners added to their ranks this summer, completing the signing of three new players. Ball playing Crawley AFC centre-back Katie Macfarlane, Fulham academy product Emily Bird, and young Chloe Gibney from Wimbledon.
The trio helped the tanners towards a string of dominant displays in pre-season, which included thumpings of Ascot United and Abbey Rangers.
Expect to see them feature on Sunday.
Pre-Match Analysis
Similar to our girls, Leatherhead are extremely free-scoring as demonstrated by their 36 goals last season.
Results such as the 9-0 wins over Beecholme Belles and Crawley AFC Reserves or the 5-1 against Sutton United Reserves emphasise the danger of allowing the Tanners to garner any kind of momentum during the match.
Brentford possessed a high press not too dissimilar to Lamont’s and forced the Surrey-based team into leaking three very quick goals. It is important therefore for our girls to show the same kind of pressing intent as in weeks gone by.
Key Player
Forward Megan Button is the key player for the Tanners, leading the way last season with 23 goals in all competitions to grab the league and cup double winners Golden Boot Award for the 2023-24 campaign.
Button registered an attacking return in each of her opening six matches last year and will have hopes of replicating that fast start in 24/25.
Kacie-May Harlow also contributed to proceedings with a strong 17 goals. Carshalton may have met their match when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net for fun.
The Gaffer
When it was decided that Mole Valley Girls U-18s were to represent Leatherhead FC from the 2021-22 season, Neil Harlow and his team also agreed to take the step up with the girls.
Harlow said: “The overall aim is to create a competitive women’s team playing alongside Leatherhead men’s team where there are great facilities, resources and standing to enable our girls to continue representing Mole Valley as a beacon of women’s football in the south-east of England. Leatherhead FC is a club with a tremendous heritage and a bright future and we are determined to ensure that the women’s football team is a big part of that”.
After such an amazing first season, where they secured promotion to tier 6 at the first time of asking and everything appeared to be on track, it would later show that it came a bit too soon, suffering relegation in 2022-23.
However, it was only temporary, and they made amends the following campaign by sealing promotion once again.
Last Meeting
It will be the first time the two sides have met each other.
Match Details
Date: Sunday, August 25, 2024
Venue: Meadowbank
Kickoff: 2:00 pm
Admission: Free Admission
