CAFC vs Chatham Town – Preview
Following a spirited second-half comeback from two goals down to draw with Cray Wanderers at Colston Avenue on Saturday, the Robins are back on the road this weekend as they travel to Kent to face Chatham Town.
Carshalton Athletic
After a challenging recent run – including FA Cup elimination in a replay against Wingate & Finchley and a narrow league defeat to current leaders Brentwood Town – Carshalton responded positively with a 2–2 draw against Cray Wanderers. Having gone into half-time 2–0 down, the Robins dominated the second half, creating numerous chances and nearly snatching a late winner, only to be denied by an impressive display from Wanderers’ goalkeeper Harry Seaden.
It was a performance full of energy and attacking intent, and Peter Adeniyi’s side will be hoping to carry that momentum into this weekend’s tough test against a strong Chatham Town outfit.
Chatham Town FC
After finishing second in the 2023/24 campaign – only to fall short in the play-off final at home to Enfield Town – Chatham endured a disappointing follow-up season by their standards, ending 2024/25 in ninth. However, with several players now full-time professionals (a rarity at this level), expectations are high this year, and they’ve started strongly.
So far, the Kent side have recorded four wins, one draw, and one defeat in the league. A standout moment came in a thrilling 4–2 win over rivals Ramsgate, played in front of 1,843 fans – a remarkable turnout for a Tuesday night fixture.
Chatham have also impressed in cup competitions, reaching the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after convincing 4–0 and 3–0 wins over Step 4 sides Marlow and Ashford United, respectively. They also began their Kent Cup campaign with a 4–1 win over Beckenham Town. With just one defeat in their last nine matches in all competitions and 14 goals in their last four, the Chats are proving tough to beat and lethal in front of goal.
They face a tricky midweek league match against Cray Valley PM before hosting Carshalton on Saturday. A win in that fixture would lift them into the top three.
Head to Head
In the pre-Christmas meeting at Colston Avenue, Carshalton earned a 2–0 victory thanks to second-half goals from David Smith and Mason Saunders-Henry. That result lifted the Robins into the playoff places – at Chatham’s expense.
However, Chatham got their revenge in April at the Bauvill Stadium. After a competitive opening half-hour, Carshalton were reduced to ten men when Michael Dada received a second yellow card. Chatham took full advantage and secured a dominant 3–0 win with goals from Jamie Yila, Freddie Sears, and John Ufuah.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
Tolu Ladapo made his long-awaited official debut off the bench against Cray Wanderers. Having featured in pre-season as a trialist, injuries had delayed his competitive start, but he made an immediate impact, scoring the equaliser and looking a real threat in front of goal.
Last season’s top scorer David Smith also returned to action after missing the Brentwood fixture. With Ricky Korboa recently added to the squad, manager Peter Adeniyi now has a wealth of attacking options to choose from – a welcome selection headache heading into Saturday.
Pre-Match Analysis
Chatham have begun the season brightly and are already among the favourites for the Isthmian Premier Division title. While there were early questions about how quickly their new-look squad would gel, they’ve answered those with some impressive performances.
Carshalton, by contrast, have had a slower start, picking up seven points from their first seven games – below expectations for a team with playoff ambitions. However, their recent second-half showing against Cray suggests the Robins are finding their rhythm.
With Chatham in fine scoring form, this promises to be an entertaining clash – and an important litmus test for Carshalton’s playoff credentials.
Key Player
Tope Fadahunsi has made an excellent start to life at Chatham, netting six goals in seven appearances – including five in his last four. Three of those have come in the FA Cup, and he’ll be keen to add more in the upcoming third qualifying round.
Well known for his time at Sutton United – where he scored three times in League Two and once in the EFL Trophy – Fadahunsi was released following their 2024 relegation. He spent part of last season at Hendon, scoring six goals in nine games despite their eventual relegation. His goal in a 3–3 draw against Chatham last season helped catch the eye of manager Kevin Hake, who moved to bring him in over the summer.
The Gaffer
Kevin Hake has managed Chatham Town since 2021, making him the third-longest-serving manager in the Isthmian Premier League, behind Jay Devereux (Hashtag United) and Miles Rutherford (Chichester City).
Now in his fifth season at the club, Hake’s tenure has been nothing short of eventful: two promotions, two Isthmian League Cup finals (winners in 2023/24, runners-up in 2024/25), a Kent Senior Cup final appearance, and a play-off final heartbreak. He guided the team to back-to-back promotions from Step 5 and Step 4, narrowly missing out on a third in succession in 2023/24.
Last season, his side retained strong cup form, reaching the Isthmian League Cup final again, though they lost to Billericay – where former Carshalton midfielder Bradley Williams scored the winner.
Known for his free-flowing, attacking style, Hake will be looking to keep that momentum going as Chatham push for promotion to Step 2.
Match Details
Date: Saturday 20th September 2025
Opponents: Chatham Town FC
Venue: The Bauvill Stadium, ME4 6LR
Competition: Isthmian Premier League
Kick-off: 3pm
Admission: Adults £15, Conc (60+ /Students) £10, U16 £5
Tickets: buy tickets here
