CAFC vs Chertsey Town – Preview
Carshalton Athletic and Chertsey Town meet for the second time in just three days on Monday night, with a place in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup at stake.
Saturday’s first-round qualifying tie at Alwyns Lane finished 1–1, with Nathan Young-Coombes putting the Robins ahead before Luke Robertson equalised from the penalty spot. Both sides were reduced to 10 men during the second half, but neither could find the decisive goal, meaning the two teams must go again at Colston Avenue.
This time, there will be a winner. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the tie will go to extra time and, should neither side find a breakthrough after 120 minutes, penalties will decide which club progresses.
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic head into Monday’s replay with plenty of confidence after an excellent opening to their 2026/27 Isthmian League Premier Division campaign. The Robins have collected 15 points from their opening six league matches, with five victories putting Steven Bates’ side second in the early table. They have also found the net 12 times while conceding just five goals.
The Robins began the season with back-to-back 2–0 victories, defeating AFC Whyteleafe away from home before overcoming Wingate & Finchley at Colston Avenue. The winning run continued against Cray Wanderers, with Carshalton recovering from Alex Hernandez’s equaliser to claim a 2–1 victory through Matt Yates.
Another comeback followed at Stanway Rovers. Stephen Toussaint gave the hosts an early lead inside three minutes, but Jack Jebb levelled from the penalty spot after Nathan Young-Coombes was brought down in the area. Prince Kandolo then completed the turnaround after the break, heading home from a corner as the Robins secured another 2–1 victory.
Saturday’s 2–0 win over Brentwood Town made it five victories from six, with Young-Coombes scoring both goals. The only setback so far came on Bank Holiday Monday at Three Bridges, where Carshalton fell to a 3–2 defeat despite goals from Tope Fadahunsi and Young-Coombes.
Despite that result, the opening weeks of the season have provided plenty of encouragement for Bates and his squad. Carshalton have shown that they can score goals from different areas of the team while also maintaining a strong defensive record, and they will now look to take that confidence into the decisive FA Cup replay.
The first meeting with Chertsey provided another test of their character. Young-Coombes gave Carshalton the lead at Alwyns Lane, but Robertson’s penalty restored parity before Jebb was dismissed for the Robins and Ridgley saw red for the hosts. Neither team could find a winner with 10 men, setting up Monday’s return to Colston Avenue.
Chertsey Town
Chertsey Town arrive at Colston Avenue having also made a strong start to the new campaign. The Curfews currently sit seventh in the Southern League Premier Division South, having collected 10 points from their opening six league fixtures, with three victories and a draw providing plenty of encouragement for Toby Little’s side.
Founded in 1890, Chertsey have a long history within the non-league game and have experienced several spells across the Isthmian and Combined Counties Leagues. One of the club’s most memorable recent campaigns came in 2018/19, when Chertsey won the Combined Counties Premier Division title by 13 points and also enjoyed a remarkable FA Vase run.
The Curfews defeated Cray Valley Paper Mills 3–1 after extra time in the final at Wembley, lifting the trophy in front of more than 42,000 supporters. The club subsequently established itself back in the Isthmian League before winning the Isthmian League South Central Division title in 2023/24 and earning promotion to Step 3.
Chertsey finished 16th during their first season back in the Southern League Premier Division South in 2024/25 before improving to seventh last term. There were plenty of highlights during that campaign, including a memorable FA Trophy victory over National League side Dagenham & Redbridge, while striker Jack Mazzone finished with 30 goals in all competitions.
Under Little, the Curfews have continued to build momentum and have once again made a positive start this season. Saturday’s performance also demonstrated that they are more than capable of competing with a Carshalton side that has been among the early pace-setters in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Head To Head
Competitive meetings between Carshalton Athletic and Chertsey Town have been relatively rare in recent seasons, with the two clubs currently competing in different divisions. Their previous competitive encounter before Saturday came in the 2019/20 Surrey Senior Cup, when Chertsey produced a convincing display to win 4–0 in the Preliminary Round.
Saturday’s FA Cup meeting provided a very different contest, with Young-Coombes giving Carshalton the lead before Robertson’s penalty brought Chertsey level. Both sides were then reduced to 10 men, but neither could produce the winning moment.
The 1–1 draw means everything is now to play for at Colston Avenue, where the Robins will have the benefit of home advantage.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
Monday’s replay comes just 48 hours after Saturday’s physically demanding encounter, meaning squad management could play an important role for both managers. The original tie featured plenty of intensity and both teams spent a significant period playing with 10 men, while the possibility of another 120-minute contest means fatigue could become an important factor.
Bates may therefore have to consider making changes to his starting XI, particularly if any players have picked up knocks during Saturday’s game. The short turnaround gives the Carshalton manager very little time to assess injuries and prepare his players, while those who featured for the majority of the original tie will have had limited time to recover.
The FA Cup does, however, provide Bates with a little more flexibility from the bench. Seven substitutes can be named compared with five for league fixtures, giving him additional options to freshen things up or change the game as it develops.
Carshalton’s goals have also been shared around the squad during the opening weeks of the season. Young-Coombes leads the way with four league goals, while Kandolo and Jebb have both scored twice. Kaiser, captain Fabio Saraiva, Yates and Fadahunsi have also contributed, demonstrating that the Robins have a number of players capable of making an impact in the final third.
Pre-Match Analysis
The circumstances surrounding Monday’s fixture make this a very different contest from Saturday’s original tie. The first meeting took place at Alwyns Lane, but this time Carshalton have the benefit of playing at Colston Avenue in front of their home supporters and on their familiar 3G surface.
That change could be significant. The Robins are accustomed to playing on the artificial pitch at Colston Avenue, which is their preferred surface, and should therefore feel more comfortable with the conditions. Chertsey will have to adapt to a different playing environment while also dealing with the challenge of playing away from home.
Carshalton will also be hoping their supporters can make a difference. The relatively short distance between the two clubs should ensure Chertsey have travelling support of their own, but the home crowd could provide Bates’ side with an extra lift, particularly if the game remains tight during the later stages.
There is very little to separate the two clubs based on their respective starts to the season. Carshalton have taken 15 points from six Isthmian Premier Division fixtures, winning five of their opening six, while Chertsey have collected 10 points from six Southern Premier South matches and currently sit among the early pace-setters.
The quick turnaround introduces another factor. Both Bates and Little have had only a short period in which to assess their squads, prepare tactically and allow their players to recover. Any knocks sustained on Saturday could influence selection, while fatigue could become increasingly noticeable as Monday’s match progresses.
That could make the substitutes particularly important. A fresh player introduced during the second half could have a major impact against tiring opponents, while the possibility of extra time means both managers will need to think beyond simply getting through the opening 90 minutes.
For Carshalton, the combination of home advantage, a familiar 3G surface and strong early-season form provides plenty of reasons for optimism. Chertsey, however, have already shown that they can match the Robins and will take confidence from Saturday’s performance.
Key Player
One of Chertsey Town’s notable additions this season is experienced winger Seb Bowerman, who joined the Curfews following his departure from Farnham Town. The 31-year-old brings plenty of experience at Step 3 and above, having spent six seasons with Bracknell Town before moving on to Dorking Wanderers and Farnham.
Bowerman played an important role in Bracknell’s promotion to the Southern League Premier Division South in 2021/22, contributing 29 goals during that campaign. His versatility is another useful asset, with the winger capable of operating on either flank as well as playing further forward.
His time at Farnham Town was relatively short, with Bowerman arriving in March 2026 to help the club through the latter stages of the season. Despite joining during a period of fixture congestion and injuries, he featured in all but one of Farnham’s final 17 matches.
He also played a role in Farnham’s Surrey Senior Cup success. Introduced from the bench in the final, Bowerman delivered the corner which allowed Jack Dean to equalise before Farnham eventually lifted the trophy on penalties.
That experience of important cup matches could prove valuable again on Monday. Saturday’s game was decided by fine margins and, with the replay potentially heading into extra time and penalties, players capable of producing a moment of quality could make the difference.
Bowerman will therefore be one of the Chertsey players Carshalton will need to keep a close eye on as they look to secure their place in the next round.
The Gaffer
Toby Little has taken an interesting route into management, moving from an experienced player and player-coach into the Chertsey Town hot seat. Little joined Chertsey in 2023 after a playing career that included spells with Hayes & Yeading United, Chesham United and Beaconsfield Town.
His experience across the non-league game made him a valuable member of the Chertsey squad, before he gradually took on greater coaching responsibilities. That eventually led to Little being appointed manager during the 2025/26 campaign, stepping up from his player-coach role in October 2025 following a change in the dugout.
The response was encouraging, with Chertsey putting together a nine-game unbeaten run during early 2026, winning six and drawing three. Little helped guide the Curfews through the remainder of the campaign as they ultimately finished seventh in the Southern Premier South.
That was an encouraging result following their return to Step 3 two seasons earlier, and Little has now overseen preparations for the 2026/27 campaign. Chertsey have once again made a positive start, taking 10 points from their opening six league matches and establishing themselves among the early pace-setters.
Saturday’s draw at Alwyns Lane provided another example of the progress made under Little. Chertsey were able to respond after falling behind and showed the resilience required to take the game to a replay, despite both sides eventually finishing with 10 men.
The replay will provide another test of Little’s management. He must now prepare his players for an away game on a different surface and the possibility of 120 minutes of football, all just two days after the original tie.
With the contest so finely balanced, Little’s tactical decisions and use of his substitutes could prove just as important as the performances on the pitch.
Match Details
Date: Monday 7th September 2026
Opponents: Chertsey Town
Competition: FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replay
KO: 7:45pm
Venue: Colston Avenue, SM5 2PW
Admissions: Ticket Prices on the gate: Adult £14, Concession £10, U18 £7
Advance online bookings: Adult £13, Concession £9, U18 £6
Online booking closes 3 hours before KO
Tickets: Purchase Here or at the turnstiles
