Robins Defeated At Welling
Carshalton Athletic fell to a 2–1 defeat away at Welling United on Tuesday evening.
Manager Steven Bates, taking charge of his second game as Robins boss, made four changes to the side that lost 2–1 to Ramsgate on Saturday. There was a welcome return from injury for left-back Renedi Masampu, while Eddie Oppong, Chris Dickson and Laurence Ernest were handed their first starts under the new manager. Josh Shonibare was not included in the squad, with Nikolai Krokhin, Tommy Bradford and Tolu Ladapo named among the substitutes.
The game got underway on a mild evening at Park View Road. The Robins made a bright start and enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages. Their early pressure paid off after nine minutes. Chris Dickson whipped a dangerous ball into the box that was headed clear by a Welling defender, but it fell invitingly to Luke Read, who rifled a first-time effort from 25 yards past Mackenzie Foley and into the bottom corner.
It was an excellent start for Carshalton, who continued to press forward. From a corner, the ball dropped to Kola Salami with his back to goal. Attempting the spectacular, he tried an overhead kick, but the effort flew over the bar. Salami went close again minutes later, driving into the box from the right-hand side before seeing his shot flash wide.
Despite their fast start in the opening stages, the Robins were pegged back on 21 minutes. Welling worked the ball into the middle to John Ufuah, and the former Carshalton striker tapped home first time to make it 1–1.
Carshalton responded well and had the ball in the net on 26 minutes. Eddie Oppong slipped a pass through to Kola Salami, who finished confidently,
but the flag was raised for offside after a slight delay in the pass. Soon after, Luke Read tried his luck again from distance when a corner was only partially cleared, but this time he couldn’t keep his effort down. The visitors then won a free-kick just outside the box following a foul by Welling captain Dean Gunner. Fabio Saraiva stepped up,
but his curling effort drifted wide of the post.
Welling took the lead on 41 minutes. A corner from the left was delivered into the area and flicked on, eventually finding Dean Gunner, who fired home the loose ball to put the hosts 2–1 ahead.
It was a blow for Carshalton, who pushed for an equaliser before the break. On 44 minutes, Eddie Oppong drove into the box, cut inside and attempted to curl one into the far corner, but Mackenzie Foley was equal to it,
pushing the ball away before the Wings cleared. The final chance of the half was a significant one. Salami beat his man and drove into the penalty area before cutting the ball back to Oppong, who looked set to score. However, his first touch let him down, and the former Kettering Town forward poked his effort wide of the post.
The half-time whistle blew with Carshalton trailing. Steven Bates’ side had created several good opportunities, but conceded twice despite limiting Welling to very few chances.
Early in the second half, Carshalton had a golden opportunity to draw level. On 56 minutes, a ball was played over to Chris Dickson,
who controlled superbly before striking a powerful effort at goal. The shot took a touch off Mackenzie Foley at point-blank range, with the former Carshalton goalkeeper doing brilliantly to divert the ball inches wide of the post.
As time ticked away, the Robins threw everything forward in search of an equaliser. In the 90th minute, a corner was delivered into the box and, after the initial clearance, Bryan Ifeanyi headed the ball back into the danger area. It fell to Laurence Ernest, but the defender couldn’t get his feet sorted and fired over the crossbar. A minute later, the ball dropped to Fabio Saraiva in a promising position, but he dragged his shot wide.
Carshalton had one final chance to salvage a point in the fourth minute of added time. A pinpoint cross found Saraiva unmarked in the centre, and he guided a header towards goal that looked destined to sneak in. However, Foley reacted sharply to tip the effort away.
Despite their numerous chances, the referee brought the game to a close with Welling claiming all three points. The result lifts them two places to 20th, just four points behind the Robins with two games in hand. Carshalton remain 18th, one point clear of Cray Valley PM, who now have a game in hand against Welling on Tuesday 3rd March.
Next up, the Robins travel to Hertfordshire for another crucial encounter, facing 21st-placed Potters Bar Town on Saturday afternoon.
Up Next
Date: Saturday 28th February 2026
Opponents: Potters Bar Town
Competition: Isthmian League
KO: 3pm
Venue: The Lantern Stadium, EN6 1QB
Admissions: Adult £13, Over 65 £10, 17-21 £5, U16s £1 – Purchase at Turnstiles
