CAFC vs Hanworth Villa – Report
Carshalton Athletic let a one-goal lead slip as they fell to a narrow 2–1 defeat at fellow Step 3 side Hanworth Villa.
As he had done in the previous games, manager Steven Bates named a large squad to give himself the opportunity to assess a number of players, as well as integrate some of the new signings. The side that started the game included forwards Nathan Young-Coombes and Tope Fadahunsi, along with academy graduate Josh Koroma and new goalkeeper Ben Dudzinski.
Carshalton got the game underway in West London, and it was the Robins who made the brighter start. On 13 minutes, the Robins moved the ball well down the left-hand side, with Matt Yates dinking a clever pass through to Tope Fadahunsi, but the former Chatham forward fired his shot wide. Two minutes later, Fadahunsi was involved again, this time turning provider as he laid the ball off to Nathan Young-Coombes. The former Brentford man looked to curl his effort into the top corner and came close to breaking the deadlock, but the strike drifted just over, clipping the top of the net.
Carshalton then had the ball in the back of the net on 22 minutes as Nathan Young-Coombes fired home, but the whistle had already been blown for a foul in the build-up. The Robins did take the lead on 31 minutes. A mistake at the back was punished, allowing Nathan Young-Coombes to fire a powerful low effort at goal. Dickinson did well to push the shot away, but only into the path of Tope Fadahunsi, who smashed the rebound home to give Carshalton a 1–0 lead, notching his third goal of pre-season in the process.
Carshalton were in the ascendancy and nearly doubled their lead minutes later after Nathan Young-Coombes struck the upright with a looping header, with Dickinson reacting well to block the follow-up.
Tolu Ladapo was looking dangerous down the left-hand side and cut inside onto his right foot before striking at goal, but his effort was straight at Dickinson.
Carshalton went into the break 1–0 up and looked the better of the two sides in the first half. The Robins would have been hoping to build on that after the restart, but the hosts came out with intent and levelled the scores on 48 minutes. Brandon Curtis did well to beat his man and create space for himself before firing a powerful effort past Dudzinski to make it 1–1.
Hanworth Villa then turned the game on its head, taking a 2–1 lead after 53 minutes. The hosts won a corner on the left-hand side, with Brandon Curtis stepping up to take it. Having scored the equaliser five minutes earlier, Curtis turned provider, delivering a cross towards the back post. Guy Ansah-Palmer found himself unmarked and headed home to put Villa in front.
Villa could have made it three a few minutes later. Brandon Curtis’ whipped cross found Billy Nutbeam, who got a slight touch but could not divert it on target. On 70 minutes, Hanworth went close again when substitute Gio McGregor crossed towards fellow substitute Jack Timberlake at the back post. However, Timberlake could not keep his header down, and it went behind for a goal kick. A minute later, Louis Gates burst through the middle towards goal, but his left-footed shot was straight at Dudzinski.
In the closing stages, the Robins searched for an equaliser. Tope Fadahunsi did brilliantly to get back to his feet and force a shot at goal. The effort was powerful but straight at the Hanworth goalkeeper, who was able to beat it away.
Carshalton’s number nine then went close again, driving into a good shooting position before cutting inside and aiming for the far corner. His effort drifted just wide of the post, with Ryan Huke making a late run and almost getting there at the back post to turn it home.
The referee brought the game to a close, with Hanworth Villa running out 2–1 winners over the Robins in their 50th anniversary fixture.
Up next, the Robins return to Colston Avenue for their fifth pre-season friendly, hosting Combined Counties Premier Division South side Sutton Common Rovers on Monday evening.
Up Next
Date: Monday 20th July 2026
Opponents: Sutton Common Rovers
Competition: Friendly
KO: 7:45pm
Venue: Colston Avenue, SM5 2PW
Admissions: Adults £10, Conc £8, U18 £5, Season Ticket Holders FREE, Women & Girls FREE. Tickets are £1 cheaper if paying by card.
Tickets: purchase at the turnstiles
