CAFC vs Three Bridges- Preview
Carshalton take on Three Bridges in their penultimate pre-season match before it all counts and the 2024/25 campaign gets underway in late August.
The Robins cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Farnborough FC on Sunday afternoon, and while there was a lot to be happy about from an attacking perspective, the hosts kept their first clean sheet of the friendly programme, a huge step forward for this new-look side.
The unpredictability of Three Bridges means they will pose a different kind of test to Boro.
Like Carshalton, Three Bridges Women are newly established following a merger between the Bridges and Crawley AFC Women and Girls (formerly AFC Acorns) in February.
Last season was very tough for Crawley, they were relegated after finishing rock bottom of the London and South East Regional fifth tier.
The campaign was extremely difficult given it was a very young side with an average age of just 18 years old, and for many of the players, it was their first year in adult football.
After a poor start, Dave Connor decided to step down from his position as first team manager in November. Tom Clingo succeeded Connor and their fortunes gradually changed with progression in the League Cup and a first point on the board against Saltdean United FC.
Clingo took the role until the end of the season and towards the latter stages of 23-24 they picked up a couple of wins. Of course, it was not enough to save their season; however, Clingo and assistant Jordan Bennet spoke throughout about how much they admired the spirit of the girls.
Captain Beth Humphrey, who is the tender age of 19 and recently completed a transfer to Sutton United, signed off by thanking everyone for sticking with the team.
Summer was busy for the Bridges, as it has been for many clubs. Courtney Bartlett was appointed as the new manager, Rachel Palmer and Ellie Russell, previously of Chelsea and Brighton, were brought in behind the scenes as Head of Women’s Football, and there’s been an influx of new players.
Despite having three pre-season fixtures arranged, so far only one has been fulfilled, which was a 4-0 defeat to Leatherhead Women.
It was confirmed last month that Bartlett’s new-look side would be competing in the London and South East Regional Football League Division One South.
With their opener against Bexhill next Sunday, Carshalton will be a good test for the Bridges.
Likely lineups
Carshalton
Formation: 4-3-3
Shahara (Trialist goalkeeper); Dady, Allen, Nebbett, Eade; Edwards, Williams, McCarthy; Gueriani, Chapman, Cox
Three Bridges
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Monlar; Morley, Walker, Neil, Lazenby; Horton, McDonnell; Martin, Chapman, Hall; O. Humphrey
Team News
Carshalton
For Aaron Lamont, the biggest selection headache will be his front three, Chapman will be a mainstay; however, Ella Bale and Honey Rose-Dulley really impressed when they replaced Kenza Gueriani and India Cox, it is likely that there will be a shake-up to the attackers.
Three Bridges
The departure of centre-backs Beth Humprey and Katie Macfarlane makes way for perhaps Lucy Neil who made her first team debut against Dulwich on the final day and one other
Trials and promotions from under-18 to senior level mean that it is difficult to predict the team news for the Bridges.
Pre-match analysis
In her first interview with the club ahead of the 2023/24 season, Bartlett shed some light on her philosophy.
“So, our style of play is quite common. We just like playing fast football, two touches. I want to be the most aggressive, well-organized and fittest team in the league. That’s our goal for this year. So, it’s down to us to prepare the girls well enough for them to do that.
Every coach has their style of play. It’s football at the end of the day. Everyone’s going to have their preferred sort of way they play and formations. But for us, I think it’s more, yes, we have that but because it’s something completely new, we’re not going to come over and go ‘Ok, well, you don’t fit our style of play,’ it’s more for us looking at what we’ve got.”
Bartlett preferred a 4-2-3-1 formation during her time at Sutton, expect to see the Bridges line up in this shape in what will be only their second pre-season fixture.
Key player
Crawley were a team that often found themselves on the backfoot last season and therefore conceded a lot of chances. Amidst the doom and gloom, their spirit was never deterred, and in particular young goalkeeper Naomi Monlar, who will likely take the permanent step up to Women’s senior team this year, emerged for the Bridges.
Formerly number one for the under-18s, she helped the Reserve team out throughout the season before her stellar performances were rewarded with a debut on the final day in the 3-0 defeat to Dulwich Hamlet.
Despite the scoreline, Monlar was the standout. She made a great save from an early corner, denied Dulwich striker Roberts 1v1, demonstrated quick reactions following a close-range header and a deflected Humphrey tackle, and capped it off with another superb stop at the near post.
There is no doubt Monlar will play an important role going forward in Bartlett’s new-look starting 11, and it will take something special from Carshalton to beat her on Wednesday.
The Gaffer
Courtney Bartlett joined the Bridges from Sutton United FC where she was Women’s Reserves manager and Head of Women’s Football.
On her appointment, she said: “I’m over the moon to be at the front of Three Bridges Women’s. I’d like to thank Paul for offering me such an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to get started. Myself and the staff are extremely excited to be at the Bridges, it’s a great club and we want to be a part of the culture. It’s going to be huge and we’re looking to hit the ground running.”
Bartlett spent seven years at the U’s, arriving as a 17-year-old and taking over the under-14’s youth team.
Speaking about Sutton, the 24-year-old explained: “I think that really fuelled my passion even more, it grew me more as a coach and as a person as well, changed a few things, I learned a lot along the way.”
Match Details
Trials and promotions from under-18 to senior level mean that it is difficult to predict the team news for the Bridges.
The match will be played at Colston Avenue.
Kick-off is at 2:00 pm, August 14, 2024.
Admission is free to all
