CAFC Women vs Sutton United Reserves

CAFC Women vs Sutton United Reserves – Match Report

Carshalton Athletic sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory over local rivals Sutton United Reserves in the Surrey Premier Division on Sunday at Colston Avenue.

There was one change for Aaron Lamont’s side following the 3-1 Capital Intermediate Cup victory over Croydon FC, with Georgina Solly returning between the sticks in place of Mia Patton.

Carshalton were the team in the ascendancy in the early stages, enjoying the lion’s share of possession, moving the ball well in the final third, and winning free kicks. After forward Heather Eade was brought down, giving chase down the touchline, captain Georgie Edwards floated the left-flank set piece into the penalty area, and it was glanced in off the head of Sarah Chapman to put the Robins in the lead inside seven minutes.

Moments later, a sluggish loose pass from Abbey Measures presented the visitors with a goalscoring opportunity; however, the defensive duo of Lara Rodriguez and Tanya Dady sparred the wingback her blushes, battling it clear.

On the 20-minute mark, the Reds forged a two-goal cushion thanks to Eade. The striker was sent clear away one-on-one and had the composure to sidefoot the ball beyond a diving Ambers goalkeeper. A string of chances then ensued as Carshalton continued to pile on the pressure, Honey Dulley struck wide from a swivelled half-volley, and Dady was denied at the back post, heading across the shot-stopper, who produced an excellent full-stretch save to tip the ball away. Up the other end, Dady was dispossessed on the edge of the penalty area, but Sutton’s forward squandered the opportunity as she stabbed it straight down Solly’s throat close range, failing to test the Robins No. 1.

All the action carried on being in the Ambers’ own half; that said, there was an awareness that they were a constant threat on the counterattack. Sutton then survived a succession of shots and crosses from the Reds, who were looking to extend their advantage. With five minutes until the break, Evie Nebbitt did well to calmly head back to an onrushing Solly following a dangerous lofted pass in behind. A diving Solly came to Lamont’s side rescue not long after.

The Robins picked up as they left off in the second half, demonstrating a similar attacking intent to the first 45. Chappers latched onto an Eade long throw into the penalty area and called the goalkeeper into action one-on-one to win a corner; Dulley, meanwhile, came narrowly close to whipping a first-time diagonal pass into the path of the onrushing Measures on the opposite side. Carshalton gradually began to create better chances; an alert Gueriani intercepted a stray pass from the goalkeeper, drove into the penalty area unchallenged, but frustratingly powered it straight down the shot-stopper’s throat. Dulley proceeded to then carry the ball down the right channel and into the box but sent the effort sailing over the bar on the slide.

With their first meaningful attack of the half, the Sutton forward was adjudged to be offside, a testament to the Robins impressive defensive display up to this stage. Dulley and Eade were also combining well to cause all kinds of problems for the visitors. On the hour, Lamont introduced new signing Josie Aldermen to proceedings, and the young winger almost made an instant impact when she drifted inside and lashed it low and hard in search of the far corner, but instead found the goalkeeper’s clutches. Pushing for a third, Eade threaded through Dulley, who flashed a dipping half-volley at goal, which was parried and gathered before Chappers received the ball down the left channel, cut inside, and tried to nestle it into the near post, yet she did not get the intended power. Seventy minutes in, Edwards rattled the bar from 25 yards out, and Eade’s follow-up was saved; it should have been at least three or four by now.

As the match entered its final third, the Sutton left winger successfully latched onto a defence-splitting pass in behind for the first time in the game, drove on the outside of Rodriguez, and into the penalty area; however, Solly was quick off her line to disrupt the attacker’s progress and give the Robins defenders the chance to scramble the danger clear. The Ambers enjoyed a brief spell of attacking pressure towards the latter stages; that said, Carshalton showed no signs of letting up with Edwards’ central 30-yard set piece worrying the goalkeeper momentarily five minutes from time. One of the final chances of the game actually fell the way of the U’s, the winger drifting in off the right to finesse into the hands of Solly. To cap off proceedings, Edwards got her just deserts, flashing a scintillating long-range strike into the roof of the net beyond the GK for the Reds third of the afternoon.