CAFC Women vs Sutton United Firsts – Preview
Carshalton Athletic Women welcome Sutton United Firsts in their fourth pre-season match of the summer on Tuesday evening at Colston Avenue.
Robins Review
Carshalton Athletic have made a perfect start to pre-season, with back-to-back wins showcasing the team’s growing confidence and cohesion. A commanding victory over Haywards Heath, was followed by another impressive result against higher opposition Farnborough FC on Sunday.
The squad was further boosted this week by the arrival of Tali Rivens, who joined on dual registration from Dorking Wanderers in a statement addition to the Robins’ midfield options.
Up next is another stern test on Tuesday evening, as Carshalton host Sutton United Firsts under the lights at Colston Avenue. The two sides last met in late April in a friendly that ended in a standout 4–1 win for the Robins. Braces from Heather Eade and Evie Nebbitt — the latter an unlikely hero — sealed a dominant display against their Step 5 neighbours and local rivals.
Lamont will be hoping for a repeat performance as pre-season preparations continue to build momentum ahead of the new campaign.
Sutton United Firsts
Carshalton Athletic welcome Sutton United Firsts to the War Memorial Sports Ground on Tuesday evening for their next pre-season fixture — and it promises to be a strong test against higher-league opposition.
While the Robins are used to facing Sutton United Reserves in the Surrey Premier Division, this match sees them take on Sutton’s First Team, who compete two levels above in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division — Step 5 of the women’s football pyramid. The division sits just below the FA Women’s National League Division One South East (Step 4), and with play-offs now introduced at Step 5, there’s a greater opportunity for movement between the tiers than ever before.
Sutton United finished ninth last season with 22 points from 22 games (W7 D2 L13), safely above the relegation zone by a margin of ten points. Their campaign began brightly with opening wins against Newhaven and Haywards Heath Town, but inconsistent form followed, including a penalty shootout exit to Herne Bay in the FA Cup and a tough run through the winter. They found some form in the spring with wins over Sport London E Benfica and Barking, and ended their season with a dominant 4–0 victory over Ashford United.
The U’s have started pre-season positively, claiming an impressive 2–1 win over AFC Wimbledon, and come into Tuesday’s fixture looking sharp and well-prepared. Their progress has also continued off the pitch, having recently moved into a new training facility and home ground, reflecting their ambitions to push on in the women’s game.
For Carshalton, Tuesday is another valuable opportunity to test themselves against tough opposition as they prepare for another season in the Surrey Premier Division (Step 7). The Robins have shown signs of promise already this summer and will be looking to build momentum ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Likely line-up
Trialist A, Tessa Allen, Zoe Walters, Beth Humphrey, Trialist B, Sophie Modak, Millie German, Eden Clark, Amelia Hawali, Emma Spear, Milly Cutler
Team News
Sutton United have strengthened their squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, following an open call in early July for reliable and committed players.
Amy Warren, a natural wing-back, joins after previously spending five seasons with the U’s, progressing through the youth setup from U10 to U15. She went on to feature for Woking at U16 level and gained first-team experience there before returning to Gander Green Lane.
Also rejoining the club is Louise Dunne, a talented right-sided player who came through Sutton’s youth ranks and also spent time with Fulham, AFC Wimbledon, and the University of Leeds, where she captained the first team. Now 22, Dunne brings pace, versatility, and maturity back into the side.
Sutton have also added exciting young midfielder Phoebe Langley, who arrives from Woking. A standout talent, Langley captained the Surrey representative team and, despite only turning 16 last December, is already showing leadership and composure beyond her years.
Pre-Match Analysis
Looking back at the closing stretch of the 2024–25 season, Sutton United ranked sixth in the London & South East Regional Women’s Premier Division over their final six matches, recording three wins and three losses. During that spell, they scored 14 goals and conceded just eight — the best defensive record in the league over that period.
Across the full campaign, Lucy Clark’s side scored 43 goals (eighth-best in the division) while conceding 46, underlining a team that showed both attacking intent and defensive resilience at times, despite inconsistency in results.
Now, with the additions of Amy Warren in defence and Phoebe Langley in midfield — along with the return of right-sided utility player Louise Dunne — Sutton have bolstered key areas of the pitch. These statement signings provide added depth and quality, particularly at the back and in central areas, and could prove crucial in tightening up defensively and converting control into results across the upcoming season.
Early signs have been positive. The U’s opened their pre-season campaign with a 2–1 win over AFC Wimbledon, laying a strong foundation as preparations continue ahead of 2025–26.
Key Player
K’Shaela Burch-Waldron made history this summer by becoming the first woman to represent Bermuda while playing for Sutton United. She featured in the 2025 Island Games, helping her national side to victories over teams including Jersey, Shetland, Gozo, and ultimately the Isle of Man in the final, where Bermuda were crowned champions.
It marks back-to-back gold medals for Bermuda at the Island Games and a proud milestone for both Burch-Waldron and the U’s. Her international experience and winning mentality will be a huge asset as Sutton prepares for the new season.
Another of Sutton’s key players is Gabriella Buddle-Smith, the attacker tops the goalscoring tallies for the U’s with eight goals.
The Gaffer
In late January 2024, Lucy Clark was appointed manager of Sutton United Women’s First Team, taking charge while the club battled to avoid relegation in the London & South East Regional Women’s Premier Division. Her appointment made history; Clark became the first transgender woman to manage in the top five tiers of English women’s football. Having previously played for Crystal Palace and London City Lionesess, she is also a current international for Bermuda with 20 caps and 1 goal, and joined Sutton in June 2024.
Clark had already made headlines as football’s first openly transgender referee, having officiated matches as high as the third tier of the women’s game. But management had always been her first love. Now 52, she coached her first team at just 16 years old and has previously managed in men’s non-league football in Essex.
“The plan was just to do some refereeing to have a look at players before I got back into managing,” she told BBC Sport.
“But obviously the refereeing went well and I had some fabulous times. I think that has helped—I’ve refereed in the women’s game for many years, so I’ve seen many clubs and how they do things. Now, I’m taking this position on at Sutton.”
Clark credited her return to coaching in part to TRUK United FC, the inclusive amateur club she founded, which gave her a route back into the dressing room and reignited her passion for management.
“I set up TRUK, which got me back in the dressing room as a manager, and made me think it was time. I got the bug of being a manager again.
When the Sutton job came up, I took a week to think, but I thought, this is just perfect. I put my application in, and thankfully, I’ve been successful.”
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 29 July, 2025 (Vs Sutton United FC)
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-Off: 7:45 PM
Admission: Free
