CAFC vs Eastbourne Borough – Preview
Following Saturday’s Isthmian League clash at Ramsgate, the Robins are back at Colston Avenue on Monday evening, hosting Eastbourne Borough.
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic return to Colston Avenue on Monday evening to face Eastbourne Borough, with the Robins looking to continue what has been an eventful opening to the Isthmian League Premier Division campaign.
Steven Bates’ side made an excellent start to the season, winning each of their opening five league matches. AFC Whyteleafe and Wingate & Finchley were both beaten 2–0, while a 2–1 success against Cray Wanderers was followed by further victories over Stanway Rovers and Brentwood Town.
That perfect start placed Carshalton among the early pace-setters, but their unbeaten run came to an end at Three Bridges on Bank Holiday Monday. The hosts edged a five-goal contest 3–2, despite goals from Tope Fadahunsi and Nathan Young-Coombes.
Attention then turned to the FA Cup, where the Robins were held to a 1–1 draw away at Chertsey Town. Young-Coombes opened the scoring before Luke Robertson levelled from the penalty spot, setting up a replay at Colston Avenue. Chertsey ultimately progressed with a 2–1 victory, despite Ada Okorogheye pulling a goal back after Lachlan Byrd and Robertson had put the visitors in front.
League defeats to Dartford and Lewes followed, with the latter particularly disappointing as Carshalton suffered a 3–0 loss at the Dripping Pan. The Robins responded in impressive fashion, however, producing two memorable comebacks in the space of a few weeks.
At Maldon & Tiptree, Carshalton found themselves 2–0 behind inside the opening five minutes. Rob Howard began the recovery before new signing Will Bratvedt took centre stage, scoring twice and completing the turnaround with an 87th-minute winner.
There was more drama in the FA Trophy against Southall. Two goals down at the break, the Robins once again showed their resilience as Young-Coombes converted from the penalty spot before Fikayo Atewologun headed home in stoppage time to force a shootout.
Ben Dudzinski then became the hero, making two saves during the shootout as Carshalton kept their composure from 12 yards. Masampu, Kandolo, Douglas and Young-Coombes all found the net to secure a 4–3 victory and send the Robins into the first round proper.
With another challenging fixture awaiting at Colston Avenue, Bates’ side will be hoping to put in another strong performance on home soil as they look to continue their push towards the top end of the table.
Eastbourne Borough
Eastbourne Borough arrive at Colston Avenue with plenty of experience and ambition behind them. The club’s rise from local parks football to the National League Premier was one of the most remarkable stories in non-league football, with the side reaching the Conference Premier after winning promotion from Conference South via the play-offs in 2007/08.
Their first season at the top level brought a number of memorable results, including victories over Forest Green Rovers, York City and Wrexham, as well as a 4–0 win at Woking. Borough ultimately secured a mid-table finish, establishing themselves among the division’s established non-league sides.
The club also enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run in 2006/07, reaching the first round proper for the first time before earning a 1–1 draw with Oxford United in front of a record crowd at Priory Lane. The replay ended in defeat, but the occasion represented another significant milestone in the club’s history.
More recently, Borough enjoyed an excellent 2024/25 campaign in the National League South. They finished third, having been just one point off the title on the final day, before suffering a 2–1 defeat to Maidstone United in the play-off semi-final. Their unbeaten home run had stretched for more than 400 days before that defeat.
The following season proved considerably more difficult, however, and Borough were eventually relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division. Steve King was appointed manager in March 2026, with the club now looking to rebuild and challenge near the top of the Isthmian Premier Division.
Head To Head
The last meeting between the sides came during the 2017/18 season in the FA Cup. The second qualifying round clash proved to be a thriller, with Eastbourne Borough eventually edging out the Robins 4–3.
Carshalton found the net through Raheem Sterling-Parker and Bobby Price, while an own goal from Ian Simpemba also contributed to the scoring. Despite their three goals, it was Borough who progressed from an entertaining encounter.
Monday’s meeting will therefore be the first time the two clubs have faced each other in league action for several years, adding another interesting chapter to the history between the sides.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
With the Robins facing a quick turnaround between Saturday’s trip to Ramsgate and Monday evening’s home fixture, Steven Bates could be forced to consider rotating his squad.
The demanding schedule means that managing minutes will be important, particularly for players who feature heavily at Southwood. The strength of the squad could therefore prove valuable, with Bates potentially making changes while still looking to maintain the momentum generated by the recent comeback victories.
Eastbourne will face the same challenge, meaning both managers could use the opportunity to freshen up their starting XIs and make use of the options available on the bench.
Pre-Match Analysis
Monday’s meeting promises to be an intriguing contest between two sides expected to be competing towards the top end of the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Eastbourne Borough have made their ambitions clear following relegation from the National League South, with Steve King overseeing a major rebuilding job during the summer. The club recruited extensively ahead of the new campaign, adding players with experience at higher levels of the non-league pyramid.
Carshalton, meanwhile, have already shown that they are capable of competing with the division’s leading sides. Their six victories from the opening nine league games have given Bates’ side an excellent platform.
Home advantage could also play a part. The Robins will be hoping that a strong crowd at Colston Avenue can help provide an extra boost, particularly with the quick turnaround between fixtures.
With both clubs likely to have ambitions of being involved at the business end of the table come April, Monday’s fixture could provide an early indication of how the two sides compare.
Key Player
One of Eastbourne Borough’s key attacking additions this summer has been Liam Nash, an experienced forward who has already made an impact since arriving at Priory Lane.
Nash, 30, is best known for his four-year spell with Hornchurch, where he became a prolific goalscorer and played a major role in the club’s FA Trophy success. His winning goal against Hereford in the 2021 final at Wembley secured the trophy for the Urchins and remains one of the standout moments of his career.
His record at Hornchurch was particularly impressive. Nash made 132 appearances for the club, scoring 75 goals and providing 32 assists, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous forwards at that level.
His goalscoring form had already attracted attention earlier in his career. During his time with Maldon & Tiptree, Nash scored 33 goals in 41 appearances, earning a move to Sky Bet League Two side Gillingham ahead of the 2017/18 campaign. He subsequently gained experience with a number of clubs, including Leatherhead, Dulwich Hamlet, Concord Rangers, Cork City, Hemel Hempstead Town and Dartford.
Nash later joined Worthing, helping them finish fourth in the 2024/25 campaign before their play-off exit against Maidstone United.
His arrival gives Borough a forward with considerable experience and a proven ability to find the net. That threat has already been evident this season, with Nash among the scorers in Borough’s recent 2–1 victory over Chatham Town.
Carshalton’s defence will therefore have to be alert to his movement and finishing ability when the sides meet on Monday night.
The Gaffer
Eastbourne Borough manager Steve King brings a wealth of non-league experience to Colston Avenue, having built an impressive managerial career across several divisions.
King first made his name at Lewes, where he oversaw a remarkable period of success.
During a five-year spell, he guided the club from Isthmian League Division One South to the National League, winning three league titles along the way. He also reached the top five on two other occasions when Lewes were unable to enter the play-offs because of ground-grading issues.
His success continued at Farnborough, where he won the Southern Premier League title in his first season before guiding the club to second place in the Conference South the following campaign. He later enjoyed notable spells at Macclesfield Town, Whitehawk, Welling United and Dartford.
At Macclesfield, King guided the club to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, while his time at Whitehawk brought further cup success and an FA Cup second-round appearance. At Welling, he led the club to a third-place finish in the Conference South and the London Cup, before taking over at Dartford in 2019.
King made an immediate impact at Dartford, taking the club from the bottom three to the play-off final during his first season. Dartford then finished second in the following campaign, while the manager also helped secure back-to-back Kent Cup titles during his time at the club.
More recently, King has managed Gloucester City, Havant & Waterlooville and Hednesford Town before returning to the south coast with Eastbourne Borough. He was appointed Borough manager in March 2026 and is now tasked with rebuilding the club following their relegation from the National League South.
With three league titles at Lewes, numerous cup successes and several play-off campaigns on his CV, King arrives at Eastbourne with extensive experience of building competitive non-league sides. Monday’s meeting will provide another test of his latest project as Borough look to establish themselves among the division’s leading contenders.
Match Details
Date: Monday 5th October 2026
Opponents: Eastbourne Borough
Venue: Colston Avenue, SM5 2PW
Competition: Isthmian League
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Admission: Ticket Prices on the gate: Adult £14, Concession £10, U18 £7
Advance online bookings: Adult £13, Concession £9, U18 £6
Women & Girls FREE
Online booking closes 3 hours before KO
Tickets: Purchase Here or at the turnstiles
