CAFC vs Three Bridges – Preview
Following Saturday’s 2–0 victory over Brentwood Town, the Robins face a quick turnaround as they make the trip to newly promoted Three Bridges on Bank Holiday Monday.
Carshalton Athletic
The Robins have wasted little time in making their mark on the 2026/27 Isthmian League Premier Division, with Steven Bates’ side sitting proudly at the summit after a perfect opening five matches.
Carshalton began their campaign with a 2–0 success away at AFC Whyteleafe, as Prince Kandolo and Jack Jebb both found the net to secure an ideal start. There was another clean-sheet victory to follow against Wingate & Finchley, with Ethan Kaiser heading the Robins in front early on before captain Fabio Saraiva produced a superb second-half free-kick to wrap up another 2–0 win.
The winning run continued at Colston Avenue against Cray Wanderers. Nathan Young-Coombes gave the hosts the lead during the first half, only for Alex Hernandez to level shortly after the interval. Carshalton responded positively to the setback, with Matt Yates restoring their advantage and Bates’ men seeing out 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, Stephen Toussaint putting Stanway ahead inside three minutes. The Robins remained composed, though, and were rewarded when Young-Coombes was brought down inside the area. Jebb stepped up and confidently converted the resulting penalty to bring the sides level.
Carshalton completed the turnaround after the break when Kandolo rose highest from a corner to head home and put the visitors in front. The Robins then produced another disciplined defensive display to protect their lead 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, Young-Coombes converting from the penalty spot. The forward then struck again after the interval to put daylight between the sides and secure a 2–0 victory.
Five matches have therefore produced five wins, 15 points, ten goals scored and just two conceded. It has been an impressive opening to the campaign, with the Robins already establishing themselves at the top of the Premier Division.
With 15 points from 15 available, confidence will understandably be high within the Carshalton camp as they prepare to make the short turnaround and travel to Three Bridges on Bank Holiday Monday.
Three Bridges
Founded in 1901, Three Bridges have a long history in Sussex football, with the club spending its early years competing in local leagues before becoming founder members of the Sussex County League Division Two in 1952/53. The club enjoyed its first major success in the 1930s, winning the Sussex Junior Cup in 1933/34, while further cup success followed in the 1980s, including two Sussex RUR Charity Cup triumphs.
Three Bridges eventually reached the Isthmian League for the first time after winning the Sussex County League Division One title in 2011/12. Although they were relegated in 2016/17, the club bounced back and returned to the Isthmian League in 2018/19.
The 2025/26 campaign was comfortably the most successful season in the club’s history. Under Jamie Crellin, Three Bridges won the Isthmian League South East Division title, finishing with 96 points and an 11-point advantage over runners-up Croydon Athletic. They also scored an incredible 124 league goals, the highest total in the division.
The success did not stop there. Three Bridges went on to win the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time in their history, defeating Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s on penalties at the Amex Stadium to complete a historic league and cup double. The achievement also secured the club’s first-ever promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division.
Their first season at Step 3 has proved challenging so far, with defeats to Dartford, Eastbourne Borough, Chatham Town and Aveley in their opening four matches. However, they showed plenty of character on Saturday, recovering from 2–0 down to draw 2–2 away at Dulwich Hamlet, with Noel Leighton and Scott Malone scoring late goals.
Head To Head
The sides have not met in a league fixture since the 2016/17 season, when both clubs were competing in the Isthmian League Division One South.
Carshalton won both meetings that season. The first came at Jubilee Field in December, with the Robins recording a 4–1 victory, before Carshalton completed the double with a 5–1 win at Colston Avenue in March.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
Steven Bates will be delighted with the way his squad has contributed during the opening weeks of the campaign, with the Robins finding the net ten times across their five league fixtures.
Perhaps most encouragingly, those goals have been shared between six different players. Nathan Young-Coombes leads the way with three goals following his brace against Brentwood Town, while Prince Kandolo and Jack Jebb have both found the net twice. Ethan Kaiser, captain Fabio Saraiva and Matt Yates have also contributed a goal apiece.
The variety of goalscorers gives Bates plenty of attacking options and means opposition defences cannot simply concentrate on one or two individuals. Young-Coombes and Tope Fadahunsi will remain important attacking outlets as the season develops, but the contributions from midfield and defence will be equally pleasing for the manager.
There has also been plenty of consistency in Bates’ team selection. The manager named an unchanged starting XI for the opening three league fixtures before making a single alteration for the trip to Stanway Rovers. Two changes were then made for Saturday’s victory over Brentwood Town.
That continuity has allowed the players to develop their understanding and build partnerships across the pitch. With the Robins sitting at the top of the table and yet to drop a point, there is little immediate reason for Bates to make wholesale changes, although competition for places is likely to become increasingly strong as the squad reaches full fitness.
One player to benefit from that competition was Renedi Masampu, who was handed his first start of the season against Brentwood Town after appearing from the bench in each of the opening four fixtures.
The left-back impressed on his first league start, helping the Robins to another victory and clean sheet. The former Hampton & Richmond man looks set to be an important member of Bates’ squad as the season progresses and will be hoping his performance earns him another opportunity from the start.
However, the quick turnaround from Saturday’s win to Monday’s trip could see Bates make further adjustments to his side. With only two days between fixtures, managing workloads will be important, particularly at this early stage of the season.
The demanding schedule also provides an opportunity for players who have had fewer minutes so far to make an impact. Bates has already shown that he is willing to rotate when necessary, and the strength of the squad means he has options available should he decide to freshen things up at Jubilee Field.
The priority will be to maintain the momentum built during the opening five games while ensuring the squad remains fresh enough to deal with another demanding fixture. With a perfect record behind them, Bates will be hoping that whoever is selected can help the Robins continue their impressive start to the campaign.
Pre-Match Analysis
Monday’s meeting at Jubilee Field sees two sides heading into the game with very different starts to their respective campaigns, although both will have taken encouragement from their results on Saturday.
Carshalton will arrive in confident mood after winning all five of their league matches so far. Steven Bates’ side have scored ten goals and conceded just two, and their ability to find different goalscorers has been one of the most encouraging aspects of their start.
Three Bridges, meanwhile, have found life in the Isthmian Premier Division considerably more difficult. The newly promoted side lost their opening four matches, but they showed real character on Saturday as they fought back from 2–0 down to draw 2–2 with Dulwich Hamlet. Noel Leighton and Scott Malone scored late goals to earn a valuable point.
That comeback could prove significant heading into Monday’s fixture. Three Bridges will have taken confidence from their late fightback, while the home advantage at Jubilee Field should provide another boost.
The quick turnaround will also be a factor for both teams. With neither side having had much time to recover from Saturday’s fixtures, squad depth, fitness and the ability to manage player workloads could all play a part.
For Carshalton, the objective will be to maintain their perfect record and continue their excellent start. For Three Bridges, Monday represents an opportunity to turn Saturday’s fighting draw into their first victory of the season.
The Robins will go into the match as the form side, but Three Bridges have already shown that they are capable of making life difficult for their opponents, and their determination to secure a first league win of the campaign should make for an intriguing contest.
Key Player
One player Carshalton will know particularly well is Three Bridges midfielder Stefan Ilic, who has added considerable experience to the newly promoted side’s squad.
Ilic, 27, has enjoyed a varied career across the non-league pyramid, having represented a number of clubs including Tooting & Mitcham United, Lewes, Welling United, Braintree Town, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Hungerford Town, Carshalton Athletic, Walton & Hersham, Sittingbourne, Dulwich Hamlet, Cray Wanderers, Hendon and AFC Whyteleafe. He first came to prominence in the Isthmian League with Tooting & Mitcham, while his spell at Lewes saw him step up to the Isthmian Premier Division.
Ilic spent the 2024/25 season with Hendon, making 32 appearances and scoring five goals, before joining AFC Whyteleafe in the summer of 2025. He made 31 appearances and scored five goals for Whyteleafe before moving on during the 2025/26 campaign.
He also has previous links with Carshalton, having had a short spell with the Robins before moving to Walton & Hersham in 2023.
Carshalton supporters will have another reason to remember Ilic. In October 2025, while playing for AFC Whyteleafe, he scored against the Robins in the Surrey Senior Cup, curling a superb effort into the far corner to open the scoring. The match eventually finished 3–3 before Whyteleafe progressed on penalties.
Ilic also brings experience from the Baller League, where he has represented Prime FC. His Baller League profile lists him as a midfielder and records 12 appearances, four goals and four assists.
Now at Three Bridges, Ilic provides Jamie Crellin with another technically gifted and experienced option in midfield, and his ability from distance and set-piece situations could be something Carshalton will need to be particularly wary of.
The Gaffer
Jamie Crellin has overseen the most successful period in Three Bridges’ history, guiding the club to an extraordinary league and cup double during the 2025/26 campaign.
Crellin’s connection with the club goes back several years. A former Three Bridges captain, his playing career was brought to an end following a serious challenge, after which he moved into management and took over the first team from long-serving manager Paul Faili.
Since taking charge, Crellin has helped establish Three Bridges as one of the leading sides in the Isthmian South East Division, and his work was recognised repeatedly throughout the 2025/26 campaign. He won the Isthmian League’s Manager of the Month award three times during the season, including in September, December and February.
His greatest achievement came last season, when he guided Bridges to their first-ever Isthmian League South East Division title. Three Bridges finished the campaign with 96 points, 11 points clear of second-placed Croydon Athletic, while their remarkable attacking football saw them score 124 league goals.
Crellin then completed a historic double by leading Three Bridges to their first Sussex Senior Cup triumph. After progressing through a difficult cup run, including victories over Horsham and Worthing, Bridges faced Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s at the Amex Stadium. The final finished 1–1 after normal time before Three Bridges prevailed on penalties, with goalkeeper Sam Roberts making the decisive save.
The league title secured promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division for the first time in the club’s history, while the Sussex Senior Cup success delivered the club’s first senior county cup triumph.
Crellin now faces a very different challenge as he looks to establish Three Bridges at Step 3. Monday’s meeting with Carshalton will provide another opportunity for his side to build on Saturday’s comeback against Dulwich Hamlet and begin turning their impressive promotion campaign into a successful first season at the higher level.
Match Details
Date: Monday 31st August 2026
Opponents: Three Bridges
Competition: Isthmian League
KO: 3pm
Venue: Jubilee Walk, Three Bridges Road, Three Bridges, Crawley RH10 1LQ
Admissions: Ticket Prices on the gate: Adult £12, Concession £6, Student / Military / Blue Light / Disabled Admission £6, Age 12-17 £6, U12 Free
Advance online bookings (Purchase by 11:59pm the day before): Adult £10, Concession £5, Student / Military / Blue Light / Disabled Admission £5, Age 12-17 £5, U12 Free
Tickets: Purchase Here or at the turnstiles
