CAFC Women vs Sutton United Reserves – Preview
After a two-week break for cup fixtures – and with last weekend’s league clash against Chessington and Hook postponed due to a waterlogged pitch – Carshalton Athletic finally return to league action on Sunday for what is arguably their biggest game of the season so far: a six-pointer against local rivals Sutton United Reserves.
Sutton United Reserves
Sutton United Reserves finished 5th last season, consolidating their place in the Surrey Premier Division with six wins, three draws, and seven defeats.
This campaign, however, they’ve looked revitalised – winning all six of their league matches to date. They currently sit among the title frontrunners alongside Carshalton and Dorking Wanderers U23s, and have been in prolific form in front of goal, scoring 34 times already.
Their cup performances have been more mixed in recent weeks. They were narrowly beaten 4–3 at Carshalton in the Surrey Divisional Cup, before exiting the Capital Intermediate Cup following a 4–0 defeat to AFC Greenwich Borough – though Greenwich do compete in the division above.
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic sit top of the Surrey Premier Division with 21 points from their first eight games. The race remains tight, with both Sutton and Dorking three points behind on 18 – Sutton holding two games in hand, and Dorking one.
Sunday’s match will be Carshalton’s first league outing since their 5–0 win at Oxted & District four weeks ago, with cup competitions taking centre stage in recent weeks. The Robins progressed in the Surrey Divisional Cup with a hard-fought 4–3 victory over Sutton United Reserves but were knocked out of the Capital Intermediate Cup two weeks ago after a 2–0 away defeat to Tooting Bec.
Carshalton will now look to bounce back as they continue their push for the title.
Team News
For the Capital Intermediate Cup tie at Tooting Bec, manager Aaron Lamont made six changes to the team that beat Sutton in the Surrey Divisional Cup. With the league the clear priority, Lamont is expected to field his strongest lineup on Sunday and will hope to have a full squad available as the Robins look to secure another crucial three points.
Head to Head
Last season, the Robins completed the league double over the U’s.
At Colston Avenue, Carshalton claimed a 3–0 win thanks to goals from Sarah Chapman, Heather Eade, and Georgie Edwards. In the reverse fixture at Collingwood Recreation Ground, Eade scored again, alongside Abbie Measures and Daisy Olley, as Carshalton repeated the 3–0 scoreline – helping secure a 2nd-place finish in their debut season.
The sides met again just three weeks ago in the last 16 of the Surrey Divisional Cup. In front of a strong crowd of 136 at Colston Avenue, the Robins took an early lead through Dee Badley. Hanna Hevesy equalised for Sutton soon after, but Badley restored the Robins’ advantage before the break. Substitute Bianca Underhill made it 3–1 in the second half, before Ciccardini pulled one back for Sutton. Badley completed her hat-trick to make it 4–2, but Dunne struck again for the visitors to set up a tense finale. Carshalton held firm to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
Pre-Match Analysis
With Carshalton top and Sutton three points behind – but holding two games in hand – Sunday’s match is a must-win for the Robins. The recent Surrey Divisional Cup tie was one of Carshalton’s most entertaining games of the season, with both sides playing high-intensity, attacking football. A similar tempo can be expected this weekend.
Dorking Wanderers U23s are also three points behind Carshalton with a game in hand. Any dropped points from the Robins would leave the title race out of their control, as they have already completed both league fixtures against Dorking. With Dorking not in league action this weekend, they will no doubt be watching closely given how much Sunday’s result could affect their own title hopes.
If the Robins can secure another victory over Sutton, they will end the weekend six points clear at the top – firmly in pole position as the title race intensifies.
Match Details
Date:Â Sunday 30th November 2025
Opposition: Sutton United Reserves
Competition: League
Venue:Â Colston Avenue, SM5 2PW
Kickoff:Â 2:30 pm
Admission: FREE
