CAFC vs Cheshunt – Preview
Following a 3–1 win over Canvey Island at Colston Avenue on Saturday, the Robins are back on the road next weekend as they travel to Hertfordshire to take on Cheshunt.
Carshalton Athletic
Following a 16-game winless run that stretched back to 11th November, when the Robins secured a 3–2 victory at The Dripping Pan against Lewes, Carshalton finally got over the line on Saturday with a 3–1 win against bottom side Canvey Island.
The Robins went behind early on when Mike Finneran headed home from a free kick, but Carshalton levelled on 26 minutes when Bryan Ifeanyi converted a penalty following a handball in the area. The visitors were reduced to 10 men on 51 minutes when Luke O’Neill brought down debutant Nathan Young-Coombes as the last man. The numerical advantage allowed Carshalton to control the remainder of the game, and goals from substitutes Tolu Ladapo and Charlie George secured a vital three points for the Robins.
The win saw Carshalton climb back out of the relegation zone, although their position remains precarious, with Cray Valley PM just one point behind in the final relegation spot.
Carshalton have just eight games left, with a trip to 14th-place Cheshunt next on Saturday, before hosting 16th-place Wingate & Finchley the following weekend. The final six games look tricky on paper, with trips to Folkestone (1st), Aveley (2nd) and Dulwich (11th), alongside home fixtures against Brentwood (3rd), Dartford (7th) and St Albans (10th). There are no easy games in the Isthmian Premier Division, and Steven Bates will be looking to pick up as many points as possible in the final eight matches to ensure his side are not in the bottom four at the end of April.
Cheshunt FC
Cheshunt Football Club, known as The Ambers, has a long heritage rooted in Hertfordshire football. The original club dates back to around 1880 and competed in local amateur competitions before folding in 1931 due to financial difficulties. The present incarnation was formed in July 1946, when local businessmen revived football in the town. The club initially played in the London League before settling at Theobalds Lane Stadium in 1949.
In the decades that followed, Cheshunt navigated the non-league pyramid with mixed fortunes. They enjoyed cup success and league honours between the 1950s and 1970s, including London League titles and an Athenian League championship, before sliding down the divisions during the 1980s. A resurgence in the early 2000s under manager Andy Leese brought successive promotions and raised expectations, although subsequent league restructures saw the club move between the Isthmian and Southern Leagues.
More recent seasons represent one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. The appointment of Craig Edwards in January 2018 stabilised the side and culminated in promotion to the Isthmian Premier via the play-offs in the 2018–19 season. After two campaigns disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cheshunt enjoyed a remarkable 2021–22 season. They reached the FA Trophy fifth round for the first time, won the Herts FA Senior Cup for the first time, and secured promotion to the National League South by defeating Hornchurch 2–1 in the Isthmian Premier play-off final.
Life at Step 2 proved challenging. A difficult run of results saw Cheshunt relegated back to the Isthmian Premier at the end of the 2022–23 season. The club has since focused on consolidation, finishing mid-table in 2023–24 and showing signs of improvement in 2024–25 under new management, while continuing to develop the squad and grow the fan base.
This season has been up and down for Cheshunt, but they currently sit 14th with 40 points from their first 32 games. The Ambers are nine points clear of Cray Valley PM, who occupy the final relegation spot. They also enjoyed a solid FA Trophy run, beating Carshalton, Wingate & Finchley and Bishop’s Stortford to set up an away tie at National League side Wealdstone. Despite a strong performance, the Ambers exited the competition following a 2–1 defeat.
Head to Head
Carshalton and Cheshunt met twice in the Isthmian Premier League last season.
In the home fixture at Colston Avenue in November, played in wet and windy conditions, Cheshunt took an early lead through Tobias Braney. Carshalton responded after the break, with David Smith equalising in the 52nd minute to secure a 1–1 draw.
The return fixture at Theobalds Lane in March saw Luke Read score the only goal of the game from a corner after 14 minutes. The Robins held on to claim a vital three points that kept them in the play-off hunt.
This season, the sides met in the FA Trophy in October. The visitors opened the scoring after 21 minutes through Sam Granville before Aziz Sankoh levelled matters with a free kick nine minutes later. Cheshunt regained the lead midway through the second half, with Lordon Akolbire’s volley making it 2–1. Carshalton had a golden opportunity to equalise when Bryan Ifeanyi was brought down in the box, but Bradford’s penalty struck the post and went wide, allowing Cheshunt to hold on for victory.
The first league meeting this season took place in January at Colston Avenue. Connor Kurran-Browne put the visitors ahead on 17 minutes, but the Robins fought back, with Bryan Ifeanyi scoring either side of half-time to make it 2–1 to Carshalton. The Robins looked to be in control but could not capitalise and conceded twice through Raul Fernandes Da Silva and Tommy Wood to trail 3–2. However, the Robins were not finished, and equalised on 84 minutes when Joshua Shonibare scored a screamer from outside the box to make it 3–3, with both sides ultimately settling for a point.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
On Friday, Carshalton announced three new signings. Ryan Huke, a midfielder, was brought in on loan from National League South side Farnborough, where the 21-year-old has made 20 league appearances and scored twice this season.
Twenty-three-year-old striker Nathan Young-Coombes was next through the door, signing after a spell at Bates’ former club Wealdstone earlier in the season. Young-Coombes appears to be a significant coup for the Robins, having previously appeared in the Premier League for Brentford in 2022, as well as spending time on loan at then-League Two side AFC Wimbledon.
The final player to sign on the dotted line was Eddie Allsopp. The 24-year-old has considerable experience at this level, most recently turning out for Wingate & Finchley, while also featuring for National League South side Hampton & Richmond earlier this season. In previous campaigns, Allsopp has played for the likes of Folkestone Invicta, Lewes and Chatham Town, and recently featured in Season 2 of Baller League for Clutch FC.
Pre-Match Analysis
With Carshalton picking up their first win after a 16-game winless run with the 3–1 victory against Canvey Island, spirits are high within the camp. The result was enough to lift the Robins out of the relegation zone by one point, and Steven Bates will be looking to make it back-to-back wins against Cheshunt.
Cheshunt, on the other hand, have had an up-and-down season and currently sit nine points clear of the relegation zone. The Ambers know that a few more victories will likely be enough to secure their status in the division and will want to achieve that as soon as possible so they can focus on climbing the table.
Carshalton are without a midweek game prior to the Cheshunt clash, but the Ambers face Dartford on Tuesday, meaning the Robins could be the fresher of the two sides. A full week of preparation will be particularly valuable for Carshalton, who have had several new arrivals since Bates took over a few weeks ago.
Steven Bates will also be familiar with Cheshunt, as Wealdstone – where Bates previously worked as a first-team coach prior to joining the Robins – met the Ambers in the FA Trophy back in December. Wealdstone won that encounter 2–1, and Bates will be well aware of Cheshunt’s strengths, given that they ran a side two divisions above them close on that occasion.
Key Player
Sam Granville is Cheshunt’s leading scorer this season, with eight league goals as well as another against Carshalton in the FA Trophy. The midfielder began his career at Barnet, making 12 National League appearances and scoring once. A loan spell at Bedford Town followed before he joined Cheshunt at the start of the 2024–25 season.
The 22-year-old has featured in all but one of Cheshunt’s league matches this season, and Gwinnett – having previously worked with Granville at Barnet – clearly views him as a key figure in his plans for the 2025–26 campaign.
The Gaffer
Appointed on 25th October 2024 following the departure of long-serving manager Craig Edwards, Mel Gwinnett has brought stability to Cheshunt. He guided the club to a 15th-place finish last season, ending 10 points clear of the relegation zone, and made a strong start to the 2025–26 campaign with 15 points from his first nine games.
However, his side then collected just nine points from the following 13 matches, leaving them in the bottom four at the beginning of January.
Gwinnett was able to turn his side’s fortunes around in 2026 with an eight-game unbeaten run (four wins, four draws), starting with the 3–3 draw at Carshalton, which lifted his side to 40 points with 10 games remaining.
Gwinnett brings over two decades of experience in football management, having held senior roles at Exeter City, MK Dons, Stevenage and Barnet. He also enjoyed a successful spell at Hampton & Richmond, where he led the club to a record unbeaten run, reached the FA Trophy quarter-finals, and narrowly missed out on the play-offs during the 2023–24 season.
Match Details
Date: Saturday 14th March 2026
Opponents: Cheshunt FC
Venue: Theobalds Lane, EN8 8RU
Competition: Isthmian League
Kick-off: 3pm
Admission: Online Price Adults £12, Conc £8, 13-17 £4, U12 £2
On the Day Prices Adults £15, Conc £10, 13-17 £6, U12 £2
Tickets: Here or purchase at the turnstiles
