CAFC Women vs Hollands & Blair – Preview
Following Sunday’s 4-1 defeat away to Herne Bay in their first-ever Tier 6 fixture, Carshalton Athletic Women turn their attention to the FA Cup as they travel to Kent to take on Hollands & Blair in the Preliminary Round.
The Robins will be looking to bounce back immediately and book their place in the First Qualifying Round, with a home tie against Tonbridge Angels awaiting the winners.
Carshalton Athletic
The new season is now underway for Carshalton Athletic Women, with the Robins embarking on the biggest challenge in the club’s short history as they compete at Tier 6 for the first time.
Established in 2024, Carshalton enjoyed an impressive debut season under Aaron Lamont. The Robins finished runners-up in the Surrey Premier Division in 2024/25, winning 13 of their 16 league matches, drawing once and suffering just two defeats.
Their strong league campaign was complemented by silverware, as Carshalton claimed the Surrey Divisional Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over Croydon FC in the final at Meadowbank. The triumph represented the first major trophy won by the women’s team.
The Robins continued to progress during their second season, going one better in terms of league victories. Carshalton won 16 of their 18 matches in 2025/26, with only two defeats, and produced a series of impressive performances throughout the campaign. However, despite their outstanding record, they narrowly missed out on the Surrey Premier Division title, with Dorking Wanderers U23s finishing above them.
Cup success once again provided a highlight. After overcoming Sutton United Reserves and Dorking Wanderers U23s, Carshalton reached the Surrey Divisional Cup final, where they produced a dominant performance to defeat Milford & Witley 6-1 and retain the trophy.
The Robins’ remarkable progress ultimately earned them promotion to the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North. Confirmation arrived in June, giving the club the opportunity to step up to Tier 6 for the 2026/27 campaign.
Promotion has also brought a change in the dugout. After two successful seasons at the helm, Lamont departed to take up an assistant manager role with Tier 5 side Farnham Town, working alongside former AFC Wimbledon manager Kevin Foster.
Club captain Georgie Edwards has now taken charge of the first team. Edwards will combine her managerial duties with her responsibilities on the pitch, becoming Carshalton’s first-ever player-manager.
The summer provided Edwards and her squad with four pre-season tests as they prepared for the increased demands of Tier 6. The results were mixed, but the fixtures offered valuable experience against a variety of opposition.
Carshalton began pre-season with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to established Tier 6 side Ashmount Leigh before responding with an impressive 4-0 win against AFC Croydon at Colston Avenue. After a goalless opening 45 minutes, the Robins stepped up the tempo after the interval, scoring four times, with Edwards also finding the net.
Another victory followed against Bromley Development. Carshalton established a 3-0 advantage through Suzanne Davies, Abz Iggy and Dee Badley, before Bromley fought back with two second-half goals. The Robins held on to secure their second win of pre-season.
Their preparations ended with a 4-1 defeat against Sutton United. Carshalton had held the advantage for much of the match, but Sutton turned the game around late on by scoring four times in the closing stages. Despite the disappointing result, the fixture provided another demanding test ahead of competitive football.
The first competitive challenge at Tier 6 arrived last Sunday, when Carshalton travelled to Herne Bay. The Robins battled throughout but ultimately suffered a 4-1 defeat, with Kaydence Kabadaki scoring Carshalton’s first goal at the new level.
Attention now turns to the FA Cup, with Edwards and her squad having an immediate opportunity to bounce back and make their mark on the competition.
The Season Ahead
Carshalton Athletic Women have begun their first campaign in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North, with the Robins facing a new level of competition following their promotion last season.
The step up to Tier 6 was secured in June after another impressive campaign in the Surrey Premier Division. Carshalton recorded 16 wins and just two defeats from their 18 league matches, a record that ultimately earned promotion despite finishing runners-up to Dorking Wanderers U23s.
With the new season now underway, the Robins are settling into life at a higher level and facing a fresh collection of opponents. Alongside Carshalton, Maidstone United and Tooting Bec have also made the step up, while Ebbsfleet United and Sport London e Benfica arrive following relegation from Tier 5.
Actonians Reserves, Camden Town, Clapton Community, Dulwich Hamlet Reserves, Hackney, Herne Bay and AFC Greenwich Borough remain in the division from last season, providing Carshalton with a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar opposition.
The opening league fixture highlighted the challenge ahead, as Herne Bay claimed a 4-1 victory over the Robins. Kabadaki found the net for Carshalton, giving the visitors something positive to take from their first league outing at Tier 6.
Attention now turns to the FA Cup, with Carshalton travelling to Hollands & Blair in the Preliminary Round on Sunday 23rd August. Victory would set up a home First Qualifying Round tie against fellow Tier 6 side Tonbridge Angels on Sunday 6th September.
For manager Edwards and her squad, the early weeks of the campaign are an opportunity to adapt to the demands of regional football and continue the progress made since the team was formed in 2024.
The Robins arrive at this level with plenty of momentum behind them, having lifted the Surrey Divisional Cup in consecutive seasons and enjoyed two outstanding league campaigns.
Now, the focus is on establishing Carshalton Athletic Women at Tier 6, competing against some of the strongest opposition they have faced and continuing the rapid rise that has made the team one of the club’s success stories of recent years.
Hollands & Blair
Hollands & Blair competed in the Kent Premier Division at Tier 7 last season, producing a solid campaign that saw them finish seventh out of 10 teams with a record of five wins, five draws and eight defeats.
Blair produced several impressive results throughout the season, including a league double over Betteshanger Welfare, winning both meetings 2-1. They also recorded victories over Margate, Long Lane and Tunbridge Wells Foresters.
Their cup form was particularly noteworthy. Hollands & Blair enjoyed a strong run in last season’s FA Cup, defeating Eastbourne Town 6-2 in the First Qualifying Round before eventually exiting against Bromley in the Second Qualifying Round.
This year’s FA Cup campaign will provide another opportunity for Hollands & Blair to test themselves against higher-level opposition, with Carshalton’s arrival at Tier 6 giving the hosts a chance to make an early statement.
Team News
A busy summer behind the scenes has seen Georgie Edwards put the finishing touches to her squad as Carshalton prepare for their first season at Tier 6.
The new player-manager has focused on keeping the core of the team that has enjoyed considerable success over the past two campaigns, while adding fresh options to strengthen the squad for the step up. Following a showcase fixture in June, the Robins have enjoyed a productive pre-season, completing four competitive friendlies ahead of the new campaign.
Defenders Maisie Ward and Morgan Parnell both featured in the opening pre-season game against Ashmount Leigh and are set to play important roles this season. Parnell has also been handed the captaincy, taking over as skipper ahead of the 4-0 win against AFC Croydon.
Carshalton will also have plenty of familiar attacking talent at their disposal. Taylor McCrea is back to add another attacking threat, while Dee Badley remains a key figure after ending last season as the Robins’ top scorer. Honey Dulley is also returning for a third consecutive campaign with the club.
There is further defensive depth in the form of Demi Allen, while Beth Yarrow is back in goal. Edwards herself is also expected to continue contributing on the pitch alongside her new responsibilities as first-team manager.
Several new faces have joined the squad, too. Abbie Measures has re-signed for the club, while Shauna Doherty and Kaydence Kabadaki are among the latest additions. Kabadaki has already made her mark, scoring her first competitive goal for the Robins at Herne Bay last weekend.
With a mixture of established players, returning favourites and new additions, Edwards has assembled a squad capable of embracing the challenge ahead. The step up to Tier 6 represents a new test for Carshalton, but the Robins will be hoping their blend of experience and fresh energy can help them make a strong start to the next chapter in the club’s story.
Pre-Match Analysis
On paper, Carshalton Athletic will head into Sunday’s tie as slight favourites. The Robins have just secured promotion to Tier 6 and are therefore one level above Hollands & Blair, who remain in the Kent Premier Division at Tier 7. Carshalton also come into the fixture having enjoyed two highly successful seasons, winning back-to-back Surrey Divisional Cups and securing promotion following their 2025/26 campaign.
However, the FA Cup has a habit of making league positions count for very little.
This is a one-off cup tie, meaning there is no opportunity to make amends in a second leg. Ninety minutes, and a penalty shoot-out, should the game be level, will decide who progresses. That brings an added unpredictability to the fixture and gives Hollands & Blair every reason to believe they can cause an upset.
For the hosts, Sunday will also be their first competitive fixture of the season. While Carshalton already have a league game under their belt, Hollands & Blair will be hungry to start their campaign quickly and could look to use that freshness and the occasion to put the Robins under pressure from the opening whistle.
Carshalton, meanwhile, will be keen to respond after last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Herne Bay. The opening-day loss highlighted the challenges that come with stepping up a level, but the FA Cup offers Edwards’ side an immediate chance to put that result behind them and produce a positive response.
Match Details
Date: Sunday 23rd August 2026
Opposition: Hollands & Blair
Competition: FA Cup
Venue: Star Meadow, ME7 3AN
Kickoff: 2:30pm
Admission: Adults £4, Over 65s £3, U16s Free
Tickets: Purchase Here, or CASH ONLY at the gate
