CAFC Women vs South Park Reigate – Preview
Carshalton Athletic continue their defence of the Surrey Divisional Cup with an away tie against South Park Reigate in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
Carshalton Athletic – The Season So Far
Following a second-place finish last season and the first piece of silverware in the club’s history with victory in the Surrey Divisional Cup, Carshalton Athletic began their second season in women’s football with Aaron Lamont continuing as manager for the 2025/26 campaign.
Pre-season proved to be a mixed bag, with Carshalton winning five and losing three of their eight fixtures. However, three of those five victories came at the end of pre-season, with the Robins recording impressive wins of 6–1, 6–0 and 11–1 over Chessington & Hook, Tooting Bec and Tonbridge Angels respectively, heading into the new season in strong form.
There were high hopes for Carshalton’s debut in the FA Cup, but the Robins were beaten 3–1 by a strong South London FC side, exiting the competition at the first hurdle. Their league campaign, however, got off to an impressive start with a 9–0 victory away at Manorcroft United, despite being reduced to ten players following the dismissal of goalkeeper Beth Yarrow.
That result was followed by a dramatic 3–2 win over Dorking Wanderers U23s, with Kenza Gueriani netting a stoppage-time winner. Carshalton were then awarded three points after Epsom & Ewell withdrew from their scheduled league fixture due to a lack of players. The Robins continued their strong start by defeating Merstham 4–1, taking their tally to 12 points from four games.
Carshalton then put in a spirited performance in the Isthmian League Cup, but ultimately fell to a 3–0 defeat against Sutton United, who compete in Tier 5, two divisions above the Robins. That was followed by their first league defeat of the season, losing a tight encounter 1–0 away to Dorking Wanderers U23s.
A response was needed, and Carshalton delivered with three consecutive league victories against Manorcroft United (16–2), Walton & Hersham (14–0) and Oxted & District (5–0).
The Robins began their defence of the Surrey Divisional Cup with an entertaining 4–3 victory over Sutton United Reserves to reach the quarter-finals. However, they exited the Capital Intermediate Cup at the first hurdle, losing 2–0 to a well-organised Tooting Bec side.
Carshalton’s 100% home league record came to an end with a narrow 5–4 defeat to Sutton United Reserves, but they responded positively in their final match before Christmas, securing a 2–0 win away at Croydon FC. The Robins started 2026 on the right foot with a 3–1 home win against Merstham and now sit three points clear at the top of the table with seven league games remaining, although Dorking Wanderers U23s and Sutton United Reserves both have games in hand.
Sunday gives the Robins a break from league action, as Aaron Lamont takes his side to Reigate to face South Park in the quarter-finals of the Surrey Divisional Cup – a competition the Robins lifted last season.
South Park Reigate
Last season, South Park Reigate picked up 30 points from 18 games in the Surrey Division 1 South. That was enough for a third-place finish in a seven-team division, and they remain in the eighth tier for 2025/26.
This season has seen the Surrey Division 1 North and South merge, with 13 sides now contesting Surrey Division 1. South Park got their campaign underway in September and made the perfect start, winning 3–2 away at Horley Town. They followed that up a week later with a convincing 3–0 win over Cranleigh to make it two wins from two.
Their first defeat came at home to Meadow Sports, where they were beaten 4–2. October began with an international away day as South Park travelled to face Jersey Bulls, but the trip ended in disappointment as the Bulls ran out 9–3 winners. South Park responded well with a 3–2 win away at Hersham, but that was followed by a heavy 6–2 home defeat to Ash United.
South Park finished 2025 unbeaten in their final two games, recording a 4–0 win away at Old Tiffinians before drawing 2–2 at Milford & Witley. That leaves them fifth in the league on 13 points, nine points adrift of the top two, albeit with a game in hand.
In the Surrey Divisional Cup, South Park Reigate began their campaign in the first round with a trip to Old Tiffinians. Despite trailing at half-time, they turned the tie around in the second half to secure a 3–2 victory and a place in the last 16. They were due to host Premier Division side Epsom & Ewell in the next round, but the visitors withdrew from the tie, allowing South Park to progress to the quarter-finals and set up a home clash with Surrey Premier Division leaders Carshalton Athletic.
Surrey Divisional Cup
The Surrey Divisional Cup is contested by teams from both the Surrey Premier Division and Surrey Division 1. Division 1 sides entered the competition in the first round in October, with Premier Division teams joining in November at the last-16 stage.
Last season, the Robins went all the way to lift the trophy. Starting in the last 16, they overcame Dorking Wanderers U23s with an entertaining 5–3 win at Colston Avenue, featuring goals from Josie Alderman, Kanita Throp and a hat-trick from Abbie Measures.
A quarter-final walkover against Milford & Witley sent Carshalton into a semi-final against Farnham Town, where they gained revenge for an earlier league defeat with a convincing 4–0 win, thanks to goals from Kanita Throp, Sarah Chapman and a brace from Maria Andrade.
The final, held at Dorking Wanderers’ Meadowbank Stadium, saw the Robins race into a 3–0 lead against Croydon FC through goals from Kanita Throp, Aisha Douglin and Kenza Gueriani. Despite a late Croydon goal from current Carshalton forward Dee Badley, substitute Honey Dulley sealed a 4–1 victory and secured the club’s first-ever piece of silverware.
This season, 22 teams entered the competition and it has already been whittled down to the final eight. Carshalton faced a tough test in the last 16, eventually edging out Sutton United Reserves 4–3 at home thanks to a hat-trick from Dee Badley and a goal from Bianca Underhill. That victory set up the quarter-final tie with South Park Reigate, who beat Old Tiffinians in the first round before advancing after Epsom & Ewell withdrew from their last-16 fixture.
Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, there is an all-Premier Division clash between Dorking Wanderers U23s and last season’s finalists Croydon FC. Horley Town face Milford & Witley in an all-Division 1 tie, while another Division 1 side, Hartland, host Walton & Hersham in the remaining quarter-final.
As the competition reaches its business end, every side still involved will believe they have a genuine chance of lifting the trophy at Meadowbank later in the season.
Team News
New signing Nadia Sabania has made an immediate impact since joining the Robins. On her debut against Croydon FC, the midfielder scored both goals in a 2–0 victory, one a strike from outside the box and the other a header. She continued that fine form against Merstham, scoring Carshalton’s second goal – another effort from distance – before setting up Honey Dulley for the third in a 3–1 win.
Aaron Lamont will be pleased with how quickly Sabania has settled into the side and will be hoping his new midfielder can maintain her impressive run against South Park.
The Robins were missing a number of players against Merstham and named just a 13-player squad for that match. Lamont will be hoping to have a fuller squad available for the trip to Reigate.
Pre-Match Analysis
On paper, the Robins will go into the game as favourites, given their status as defending champions, their position at the top of the Surrey Premier Division and the fact they play a division above South Park. However, the two sides have never met in a competitive fixture, making South Park something of an unknown quantity for Carshalton.
South Park have made a solid start to the season in their division and have recorded several impressive results. Their tally of 22 goals in eight league games should not be overlooked, and Carshalton will need to be defensively sound if they are to leave Reigate with a clean sheet.
The hosts have earned their place in the quarter-finals on merit and will be eager to extend their cup run, particularly with just three wins separating them from lifting the trophy.
As always in cup football, anything can happen. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the tie will be decided by a penalty shootout, ensuring a dramatic conclusion to what promises to be a thrilling contest.
Match Details
Date: Sunday 11th January 2026
Opposition: South Park Reigate FC
Competition: Surrey Divisional Cup (Quarter Final)
Venue: King George’s Field, RH2 8LG
Kickoff: 3:30pm
Admission: FREE
