CAFC Women vs Dulwich Hamlet Reserves – Preview
Following their 5-0 defeat at Maidstone on Sunday, Carshalton Athletic Women are on the road again this weekend, making the short trip to face Dulwich Hamlet Reserves.
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic Women are facing a new challenge in 2026/27 as they begin their first campaign at Tier 6, with Georgie Edwards taking charge and the Robins preparing for life in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North.
The transition has already brought a mixture of results. Carshalton’s opening league outing ended in a 4-1 loss at Herne Bay, but they responded emphatically against Hackney, producing an outstanding attacking display to record an 8-1 victory.
That result marked the Robins’ first competitive win of the campaign and offered an early glimpse of what Edwards’ team can produce at their new level.
Edwards became player-manager during the summer after Aaron Lamont brought his two-year spell with the club to an end. Lamont departed for a new role as assistant manager at Tier 5 Farnham Town, where he is working alongside former AFC Wimbledon boss Kevin Foster.
His departure means a new chapter has begun at Carshalton, with club captain Edwards combining her responsibilities on the pitch with those from the dugout. She has also made history by becoming the club’s first player-manager.
The Robins used their four-match pre-season schedule to prepare for the increased demands of Tier 6. They opened with a narrow 1-0 defeat against Ashmount Leigh before recording their first victory with a 4-0 success over AFC Croydon at Colston Avenue, a game in which Edwards found the net.
Another win followed against Bromley Development. Suzanne Davies, Abi Igbavboa and Dee Badley gave Carshalton a three-goal advantage before Bromley fought back with two goals, but the Robins held on to complete another positive result.
Their final friendly brought a different outcome as Sutton United came from behind to win 4-1. Carshalton had been in front for much of the contest, only for Sutton to turn the match around with four late goals.
The first competitive fixture provided an immediate introduction to the demands of the division. Herne Bay claimed a 4-1 victory, although Kaydence Kabadaki gave Carshalton something to celebrate by scoring the club’s first goal at Tier 6.
The FA Cup followed with another away trip to Kent, this time against Hollands & Blair. After falling behind early, Carshalton levelled through a fine Kabadaki strike. The hosts regained the lead and added another after the interval, before Igbavboa reduced the deficit with 10 minutes remaining.
Despite pushing for an equaliser, the Robins could not complete the recovery and were knocked out following a 3-2 defeat.
They responded in spectacular fashion in their next league match. Hackney were swept aside 8-1, with Badley and Remmi Gardner both scoring twice, while Dulley, Taylor McCrea, Kabadaki and Shauna Doherty also found the net.
The unbeaten run did not last, however, as Carshalton faced another major test away at Maidstone. The Stones, among the sides expected to challenge near the top of the division, recorded a 5-0 victory.
Attention now turns to Dulwich Hamlet Reserves, with Edwards and her players looking to respond once again and turn their encouraging performances into greater consistency as the season progresses.
The Season Ahead
Carshalton Athletic Women’s move into Tier 6 represents another significant milestone for a club that has progressed rapidly since the team was established in 2024.
The Robins now find themselves competing in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North, where they face a combination of familiar opponents and clubs experiencing a different stage of the football pyramid.
Maidstone United and Tooting Bec have also stepped up into the division following promotion, while Ebbsfleet United and Sport London e Benfica have arrived after relegation from Tier 5.
The remaining sides include Actonians Reserves, Camden Town, Clapton Community, Dulwich Hamlet Reserves, Hackney, Herne Bay and AFC Greenwich Borough.
The opening weeks have already demonstrated how competitive the division could become. Dulwich Hamlet Reserves have collected 10 points from their first five matches, although their number of games played is higher than several of the teams around them.
Camden Town and Maidstone United have both taken nine points from three league matches, with each side maintaining a perfect record in their opening fixtures.
Both clubs have also made strong starts in the FA Cup, winning their first two matches in the competition, further underlining the early pace being set near the top of the division.
Carshalton’s own start has been more uneven. The defeat at Herne Bay was followed by the FA Cup disappointment against Hollands & Blair, before the Robins produced their biggest statement of the campaign with an 8-1 win at Hackney.
They were unable to carry that momentum into their latest outing, though, with Maidstone securing a 5-0 victory.
Despite those results, Carshalton currently sit seventh in the 12-team division, with three points from their opening three league matches. With a long season still ahead, the early table provides only a snapshot of where the teams may eventually finish.
For Edwards and her squad, the immediate objective is to continue adjusting to the pace and physical demands of Tier 6 while building on the progress achieved since the team’s formation.
Their rapid rise has brought Carshalton to a new level of women’s football, and this campaign provides an opportunity to test themselves against stronger and more experienced opposition.
There will inevitably be challenges along the way, but the Robins have already shown that they can compete and produce impressive attacking performances at this level.
With Edwards beginning her first season as player-manager and Carshalton experiencing Tier 6 football for the first time, 2026/27 promises to be another important chapter in the club’s development.
Dulwich Hamlet Reserves
Last season, Dulwich Hamlet Reserves finished seventh out of 11 teams in Division One North, with a record of seven wins, three draws and 10 defeats. With 24 points, they were well clear of relegation and only two points behind fifth-placed Greenwich Borough, in what was a competitive division last season.
This season, Dulwich have made an excellent start and go into Sunday’s game against Carshalton as the current league leaders. With reserve teams not eligible for the FA Cup, Hamlet have been able to complete five league games already.
They started with two consecutive victories, winning 7-0 away at Hackney before recording a 2-0 home victory against Tooting Bec. A 4-1 home defeat to Maidstone followed, but Hamlet responded by drawing 0-0 with Actonians Reserves before beating Sport London e Benfica 5-0.
That leaves Hamlet with 10 points from their opening five games and top of the table, although several teams below them have games in hand.
Dulwich Hamlet’s position within the club’s wider women’s setup also adds another interesting element to Sunday’s fixture. The first team compete at Tier 4, meaning the reserve side provides an important pathway for players looking to develop and push towards the first team.
For many of the players involved with the reserves, performances at Tier 6 provide an opportunity to impress the coaching staff and potentially earn a chance with the first team. That creates an additional incentive for Dulwich’s players to perform well throughout the season as they look to progress through the club’s system.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic had two new signings in their squad for last weekend’s match at Maidstone. Ceren Temur and Mary Robinson were the new faces, and both were introduced from the bench in the second half.
Although it was a tough game in which to make an impact, both players will have learnt a lot from the experience, and Georgie Edwards will be hoping to continue integrating them into the squad in the coming weeks.
Carshalton Athletic Women are actively recruiting for players to join the first team, aged 16+ who are looking to progress, develop and compete, as well as players seeking the opportunity for regular minutes. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact manager Georgie Edwards by email at Edwards.georgie@icloud.com.
Pre-Match Analysis
Sunday’s meeting with Dulwich Hamlet Reserves provides Carshalton Athletic Women with another opportunity to kickstart their league campaign after a difficult opening few weeks at Tier 6.
Dulwich have made an excellent start to the season, taking 10 points from their opening five matches. Their record of three wins, one draw and one defeat has put them at the top of the Division One North table, although they have played more games than a number of the teams around them. Their opening five fixtures have included convincing victories over Hackney and Tooting Bec, while they also showed their resilience by recovering from a 4-1 defeat to Maidstone with a goalless draw against Actonians Reserves and a win over Sport London e Benfica.
Carshalton, by comparison, have had a slower beginning to life at the new level. The Robins have recorded one league victory and two defeats from their opening three fixtures, with their 4-1 loss at Herne Bay followed by an emphatic response against Hackney. The 8-1 victory showed what Edwards’ side are capable of when they find their rhythm, but last weekend’s 5-0 defeat at Maidstone provided another reminder of the demands of Tier 6.
Dulwich are an established Tier 6 side, having competed in Division One North last season, while Carshalton are still adapting to the increased level of competition following promotion.
That makes Sunday another useful test for the Robins. After the disappointment of Maidstone, Carshalton will be looking to produce a positive response and build on the attacking confidence shown against Hackney.
A strong performance against the current league leaders would give Edwards’ side another opportunity to demonstrate their progress at Tier 6, while a positive result would provide further momentum as the season begins to take shape.
Match Details
Date: Sunday 20th September 2026
Opposition: Dulwich Hamlet Reserves
Competition: League
Venue: Green Dale Fields, SE22 8TX
Kickoff: 1:30pm
Admission: FREE
Tickets: FREE
