CAFC vs Potters Bar Town – Preview
Carshalton begin November with a home fixture, as Potters Bar Town make the trip to Colston Avenue for another Isthmian League encounter.
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton came into Saturday’s game against Ramsgate on the back of a disappointing 3–0 defeat to Binfield in the Isthmian League Cup. However, the Robins responded well at the Southwood Stadium, taking the lead through Salami and, despite falling behind, showed great fighting spirit to snatch a draw at the death when David Smith headed home Fabio Saraiva’s corner. The Robins will now be hoping to carry the momentum from Saturday’s performance into their next two fixtures against Potters Bar Town and Canvey Island – the sides currently occupying the bottom two places in the table.
Potters Bar Town
After a solid 14th-place finish last season, it’s been a difficult start to the new campaign for Potters Bar, who currently sit in the relegation zone with a record of two wins, two draws, and eight defeats. Despite this, they impressed with a 3–1 away victory at Chichester City in September and recently recorded their first home league win of the season, beating Canvey Island 1–0.
Head to Head
Last season, the Robins completed a league double over the Scholars. In the meeting at Colston Avenue, played on a Monday night in November, Carshalton took an early lead through David Smith’s penalty. Brandon Adams equalised for Potters Bar, but Bryan Ifeanyi netted his first goal for the club to restore the lead and secure all three points for the Robins.
The return fixture was played at Kings Langley FC due to ongoing work on Potters Bar’s artificial pitch at the Lantern Community Stadium. On a cold Friday night in February, it took until the 84th minute to break the deadlock, with Luke Read bundling the ball home to give the Robins a vital three points in their playoff push.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
There have been a few departures from Colston Avenue in recent days.
• Ricky Korboa has ended his second spell at the club, joining National League South side Tonbridge Angels.
• Parish Muirhead has rejoined league rivals Lewes, linking up once again with returning manager Craig Nelson, under whom he played last season.
• Olly Hamstead has also left the club following a brief second stint, during which he made six appearances.
Everyone at the club wishes Ricky, Parish, and Olly all the best for the future.
Fabio Saraiva made his first start of the season against Ramsgate, after making his first appearance of the season from the bench against Hashtag United the previous week. He completed the full 90 minutes, and will hope to retain his place in the side as the Robins look to push up the league table.
Pre-Match Analysis
Both Carshalton and Potters Bar have endured slow starts to the season and will view this match as a winnable one. The return of Fabio Saraiva provided a welcome boost, with the midfielder playing a key role in both goals at Ramsgate. Saraiva, who scored ten goals for the Robins last season and was instrumental in their seventh-place finish and run to the Surrey Cup semi-final, will be looking to help his side secure a crucial three points on Saturday.
Key Player
Striker Brandon Adams joined Potters Bar at the start of the 2023/24 season from Ware FC and made an immediate impact, scoring 19 goals in his debut campaign. He followed that up with 15 goals last season, including the equaliser against the Robins at Colston Avenue. Despite the team’s slow start this year, the 27-year-old has already scored five league goals and one in the FA Cup. A clear fan favourite at Potters Bar, Adams will be eager to add to his tally at Colston Avenue.
The Gaffer
Max Mitchell took charge of Potters Bar Town on 7 April 2023, and just a week later oversaw a 3–1 win against the Robins in one of his first matches as manager, eventually guiding the team to a 13th-place finish.
In his first full season, the Scholars finished 15th on 51 points, before improving slightly last season with a 14th-place finish and 57 points. After spending last season playing home games away from their usual ground, the Scholars have now returned to the Lantern Community Stadium, playing on their newly laid 3G surface.
While Mitchell would have hoped for a stronger start to the campaign, his tenure has brought stability to the club. He’ll be keen to see his side build momentum – and will undoubtedly be aiming to take all three points back to Hertfordshire from Colston Avenue.
Match Details
Date: Saturday 1st November 2025
Opponents: Potters Bar Town
Venue: Colston Avenue, SM5 2PW
Competition: Isthmian Premier League
Kick-off: 3pm
Admission: Adults £12, Conc £9, U18 £6
Tickets: Here or Purchase at the turnstiles
