Carshalton Defeated on Penalties in Surrey Cup -

Carshalton Defeated On Penalties In Surrey Cup

After an entertaining tie at Church Road that finished 3–3 in normal time, Carshalton Athletic exited the Surrey Senior Cup following a nervy penalty shootout.

Following Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat to Cheshunt, manager Peter Adeniyi made seven changes to his starting XI. Ming, Hamstead, Saunders Henry, Korboa, and Salami all returned to the lineup, while Lucas Dyer was handed his first competitive start after making eight appearances from the bench this season. Academy starlet Donte Augustus, who has also featured as a substitute, was rewarded with a first start too,

having scored a crucial goal in the Academy’s FA Youth Cup win over Sheppey United last week.

The Robins had the first clear chance of the match in the 9th minute. A long ball from Kerbey wasn’t dealt with by the Whyteleafe defence, allowing Kola Salami to break through on goal. However, the forward couldn’t find the target. Six minutes later, Salami had another opportunity. This time, Ricky Korboa broke down the left and delivered an early cross into the box. Salami took a touch past goalkeeper Slav Huk but couldn’t get the shot away cleanly,

and the Whyteleafe defence were able to see it out for a goal kick.

Despite Carshalton’s early pressure, it was the hosts who struck first. On 19 minutes, former Robin Stefan Ilic picked up the ball outside the box and curled a brilliant strike into the far corner to give Whyteleafe the lead. It was a setback for the visitors, but they responded with more attacking intent. Lucas Dyer made a strong run but couldn’t hit the target.

Shortly after, Korboa’s shot was blocked by a Whyteleafe defender and fell kindly to David Smith, who fired just over the bar. Whyteleafe were dangerous on the break and created a chance down the right, firing into the side netting.

Carshalton continued to push for an equaliser before the break. Saunders Henry had a long-range strike pushed away by Huk, but it was the home side who had the final chance of the half, heading over from a corner.

The Robins needed a quick response after the restart – and they got one, albeit through a slice of fortune. Less than a minute into the second half, a Whyteleafe defender tried to head the ball back to Huk, but misjudged it. Salami reacted quickest and tapped into the empty net for a deserved equaliser.

However, Whyteleafe responded immediately. A cross from the right found Moses Emmanuel, who headed home from close range to restore the lead. The game began to open up, with Ryan Gondoh forcing a save from Kerbey to keep the score at 2–1.
On 70 minutes, Carshalton drew level again. Chaos in the box saw Tommy Bradford cross back into the danger area from the byline. Bryan Ifeanyi was perfectly placed to head home.

There were appeals that the ball may have gone out of play before Bradford’s cross, but the goal stood.

Just three minutes later, Whyteleafe went ahead for a third time. This time it was Jamie Mascoll who drilled the ball home after another attacking move. The game remained open, with Carshalton chasing another equaliser and Whyteleafe continuing to threaten on the break. Bradford had a header saved by Huk, and soon after, the Whyteleafe debutant made another important stop, tipping Ifeanyi’s strike past the post.

Whyteleafe hit the post twice in the second half, showing their attacking threat, but with three minutes of normal time remaining, Ifeanyi struck again. His powerful effort took a slight deflection on its way past Huk, levelling the game at 3–3.

Despite late pressure from both sides, the match headed to a penalty shootout.
Carshalton went first, with Ladapo calmly converting. Gondoh equalised for Whyteleafe. Korboa then saw his penalty saved by Huk, though there were protests the goalkeeper had come off his line early. Whyteleafe capitalised, converting their second penalty to lead 2–1.

Ifeanyi found the corner with his effort, but Whyteleafe maintained their edge, with Kerbey getting a hand to their third spot-kick but unable to keep it out. Bradford made it 3–3, before experienced defender Aaron Goode put Whyteleafe back ahead at 4–3.

Sanchez Ming had to score to keep Carshalton in it. He went to Huk’s right, but the keeper made the save – players at the centre circle began shaking hands, thinking it was over. However, the assistant referee spotted Huk had come off his line early, and the penalty was ordered to be retaken. Ming stepped up again and this time made no mistake, making it 4–4.

It all came down to the final penalty. Former Robin Daniel Bennett stepped up and sent Kerbey the wrong way, sealing a 5–4 shootout win for Whyteleafe, who progress to the last 16. Carshalton, meanwhile, fall at the first hurdle.

The Robins now turn their focus to league action, with a trip to the south coast to face Whitehawk on Saturday.