CAFC vs Chertsey Town – Preview
Following Monday’s 3–2 defeat at Three Bridges, attention now turns to the FA Cup, with the Robins making the short trip to Alwyns Lane to face fellow Step 3 side Chertsey Town.
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic have made an excellent start to life in the 2026/27 Isthmian League Premier Division, with Steven Bates’ side taking 15 points from their opening six matches. Five victories have been recorded so far, with Monday’s narrow defeat at Three Bridges the only blemish on an otherwise highly impressive opening month.
The Robins began their campaign in perfect fashion with a 2–0 victory away at AFC Whyteleafe. Prince Kandolo and Jack Jebb both found the net to give Carshalton an ideal start, before another clean-sheet success followed against Wingate & Finchley. Ethan Kaiser headed the Robins in front early on, before captain Fabio Saraiva produced a superb second-half free-kick to seal another 2–0 win.
The winning run continued at Colston Avenue against Cray Wanderers. Nathan Young-Coombes put the hosts ahead during the first half, only for Alex Hernandez to restore parity shortly after the interval. Carshalton responded positively to the setback, with Matt Yates restoring their advantage as Bates’ side held on for a 2–1 victory.
Next came a trip to Essex to face fellow promoted side Stanway Rovers. The hosts could hardly have made a quicker start, with Stephen Toussaint putting Stanway ahead inside three minutes. The Robins remained composed, however, and were rewarded when Young-Coombes was brought down inside the area. Jebb stepped up and confidently converted the resulting penalty to level the scores.
Carshalton then completed the turnaround after the break when Kandolo rose highest from a corner to head home and put the visitors in front. Another disciplined defensive display followed, allowing the Robins to protect their advantage and claim a second consecutive 2–1 victory.
Saturday brought another test at Colston Avenue against Brentwood Town. The contest remained finely balanced for much of the opening period, but Carshalton eventually broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, with Young-Coombes converting from the penalty spot. The forward struck again after the interval to give the Robins breathing room and secure a 2–0 victory.
However, the winning run came to an end on Bank Holiday Monday at Three Bridges. The hosts raced into a 2–0 lead through Rivera and Leighton, before Fadahunsi pulled a goal back for Carshalton. Bennett restored Three Bridges’ two-goal advantage from the penalty spot, before both sides were reduced to 10 men. Young-Coombes pulled another goal back in stoppage time, but it proved too late as Three Bridges held on for a 3–2 victory.
Six matches have therefore produced five wins, 15 points, 12 goals scored and just five conceded. It has been an impressive opening to the campaign, with the Robins sitting second in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Attention now switches to the FA Cup, where Carshalton face another difficult Step 3 challenge against a Chertsey Town side that has also made a strong start to the season.
Chertsey Town
Founded in 1890, Chertsey Town have a long history within the non-league game, with the club spending much of its existence competing across the various divisions of the Isthmian and Combined Counties Leagues. The Curfews have experienced plenty of ups and downs over the decades, but the club’s most successful period in recent history arrived in 2018/19.
That season proved to be a landmark campaign. Chertsey secured the Combined Counties Premier Division title, finishing 13 points clear at the top of the table and earning promotion back into the Isthmian League. Their league success was accompanied by an even greater achievement in the FA Vase, as the Curfews completed an extraordinary run to Wembley. They defeated Cray Valley Paper Mills 3–1 after extra time in the final to lift the trophy in front of more than 42,000 supporters.
The club subsequently returned to the Isthmian League and continued to compete at Step 4, eventually securing another major achievement in 2023/24. Chertsey won the Isthmian League South Central Division title and earned promotion to the Southern League Premier Division South.
Their first campaign back at Step 3 proved challenging, with the Curfews finishing 16th in 2024/25. However, there were still plenty of positive moments, including an impressive run in the FA Trophy which saw Chertsey defeat National League side Dagenham & Redbridge 1–0. Striker Jack Mazzone was another standout performer, scoring 30 goals in all competitions.
Chertsey finished seventh in 2025/26 and have now made an excellent start to the new campaign. The Curfews currently sit among the leading sides in the Southern League Premier Division South, with their strong opening run setting up an intriguing FA Cup meeting with the Robins.
Head To Head
With the two clubs playing in different leagues, meetings between Carshalton Athletic and Chertsey Town have been relatively infrequent in recent years.
The last competitive meeting came in the 2019/20 Surrey Senior Cup, when Chertsey produced a convincing performance to run out 4–0 winners in the Preliminary Round tie.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
With the FA Cup now taking centre stage, Steven Bates has plenty of positives to take from the opening six league fixtures, particularly when it comes to the number of players who have already contributed in front of goal.
The Robins have scored 12 times so far this season, with seven different players getting on the scoresheet. Nathan Young-Coombes currently leads the way with four goals, including his latest effort in Monday’s 3–2 defeat away at Three Bridges.
Prince Kandolo and Jack Jebb have both scored twice, with the pair already proving to be important attacking contributors during the opening weeks of the campaign. Ethan Kaiser, captain Fabio Saraiva and Matt Yates have also found the net once each, while Tope Fadahunsi opened his competitive account for the season against Three Bridges.
Having goals coming from across the team will be particularly encouraging for Bates. While Young-Coombes and Fadahunsi provide obvious threats in the final third, the goals from midfield and defence demonstrate that Carshalton have a number of players capable of making a decisive contribution.
The FA Cup also presents Bates with another opportunity to utilise the depth within his squad. The competition allows seven substitutes to be named on the bench, compared with five for league fixtures, giving the Carshalton manager two additional options to change the game as it develops.
That could prove particularly useful in what is expected to be a competitive encounter at Alwyns Lane. Bates is likely to select a strong starting XI as the Robins look to progress in the competition, while the larger bench could also provide an opportunity for some of the club’s younger players to be involved and potentially make an impact.
After the disappointment of Monday’s defeat, Carshalton will be determined to respond positively, and a strong performance in the FA Cup would provide the perfect opportunity to do so.
Pre-Match Analysis
There is little to separate the two sides when it comes to their respective starts to the 2026/27 campaign, with both clubs heading into this FA Cup tie full of confidence.
Carshalton have been particularly impressive in the Isthmian Premier Division, collecting 15 points from their opening six matches. Five wins have put Steven Bates’ side 2nd in the table, with the Robins also scoring 12 goals and conceding just five.
Chertsey have enjoyed a similarly positive beginning to their Southern Premier South campaign. The Curfews have taken 10 points from their first six league matches and currently sit among the early pace-setters.
The FA Cup, however, has a habit of producing surprises, and both sides will know that league form counts for little once the action gets underway. This is a difficult tie for both clubs, and both would perhaps have hoped for a kinder draw at this stage of the competition.
Chertsey will have the benefit of home advantage at Alwyns Lane, but the relatively short distance between the two clubs should ensure that Carshalton are well supported from the stands. A strong travelling following could provide the Robins with an extra boost in what promises to be a competitive cup tie.
There is also plenty at stake beyond simply progressing to the next round. Should the scores be level after 90 minutes, the tie will not be decided on the day, with a replay taking place at Colston Avenue. That possibility could add another layer of intrigue to what already looks like a closely contested encounter.
Key Player
One of the new faces in the Chertsey Town squad this season is experienced winger Seb Bowerman, who joined the Curfews following his departure from Farnham Town.
Bowerman brings considerable experience at this level and above, having spent six seasons with Bracknell Town before moving on to Dorking Wanderers and, more recently, Farnham. During his time with Bracknell, he played an important role in the club’s promotion to the Southern League Premier Division South in 2021/22, contributing 29 goals during that campaign.
His versatility is another important asset. Bowerman is primarily a wide player but has the ability to operate on either flank and further forward, giving his manager different options when setting up the side.
His most recent spell at Farnham Town was relatively short, having joined in March 2026 to help the club through a demanding run-in. Despite arriving during a period of fixture congestion and injuries, he quickly became an important member of the squad, appearing in all but one of Farnham’s final 17 games of the season.
Bowerman also played his part in Farnham’s Surrey Senior Cup triumph. Introduced from the bench in the final, his whipped corner provided the assist for Jack Dean’s equaliser before Farnham went on to lift the trophy on penalties.
Now 31, Bowerman represents a significant addition to Chertsey’s attacking options. He has already featured during the Curfews’ strong start to 2026/27, and his experience of playing in important matches could prove valuable in a cup tie where composure and decision-making may be crucial.
The Gaffer
Toby Little has taken an unconventional route into management, moving from an experienced player and player-coach into the Chertsey Town hot seat.
Little joined Chertsey in 2023 following 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 presence within the Chertsey squad, and he subsequently took on greater coaching responsibilities at Alwyns Lane.
That progression eventually led to Little being appointed manager during the 2025/26 campaign. He stepped up from his player-coach role in October 2025 following a change in the dugout, taking charge at a difficult stage of the season.
The early signs under Little were encouraging. After taking over, Chertsey put together a nine-game unbeaten run in early 2026, winning six and drawing three, demonstrating the improvement the new manager was able to bring to the side.
Chertsey ultimately finished seventh in the Southern Premier South in 2025/26, having secured their Step 3 status following promotion from the Isthmian South Central Division two seasons earlier.
Little has now overseen the Curfews’ preparations for the 2026/27 campaign and has seen his side make an excellent start. Ten points from the opening six league matches has put Chertsey among the early leaders, with the side showing plenty of character during the opening weeks of the season.
The appointment of Little has therefore provided Chertsey with continuity and a manager who already understands the club from the inside. His knowledge of the squad, combined with his extensive experience of non-league football, will be tested again when the Robins arrive at Alwyns Lane for what promises to be an intriguing FA Cup contest.
Match Details
Date: Saturday 5th September 2026
Opponents: Chertsey Town
Competition: FA Cup
KO: 3pm
Venue: Alwyns Ln, Chertsey KT16 9DW
Admissions: Ticket Prices on the gate: Adult £13, Concession £9, U18 £4
Advance online bookings: Adult £12, Concession £8, U18 £3
Tickets: Purchase Here or at the turnstiles
