Robins Fight Back To Beat Maldon
Carshalton Athletic battled back from two goals down to run out 3-2 winners at Maldon & Tiptree on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Steven Bates made two changes from the side that lost to Lewes on Tuesday evening. Fabio Saraiva and Donte Augustus missed out, with Fikayo Atewologun and Joshua Koroma replacing them in the starting XI. Bates also named three new signings on the bench: full-back Hani Hechachena, midfielder Jermaine Anderson and forward Will Bratvedt.
The game got underway, and the hosts made a dream start. Within the first two minutes, Maldon won a corner on the right-hand side. Eze Ebezoeme curled an inswinging delivery into the area, and the ball took a slight touch off a Carshalton player before sneaking into the back of the net, putting Maldon & Tiptree 1-0 up.
Just a few minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage. Maldon & Tiptree won another corner on the right-hand side, which was delivered into the danger area. The Robins were unable to deal with it again, with the ball taking a touch off a Carshalton player before going in at the near post, giving Maldon a 2-0 lead.
It was a slow start from the Robins, who hadn’t settled into the game. Maldon went close again on 14 minutes, when Emmanuel Adebiyi was slipped through on goal, but he wasn’t able to hit the target, firing his low shot wide of the goal.
Carshalton were starting to get a foothold in the game and were looking for a way back in. Denzel Akyeampong and Tope Fadahunsi linked up well on the right-hand side, playing a one-two between them. Akyeampong was the one to get a shot away, but his effort was held by Justham from a tight angle.
Carshalton had another opportunity to get on the scoresheet on 32 minutes. Matt Yates whipped a ball in from the left-hand side, and Nathan Young-Coombes met it with a header, but Elliot Justham was able to hold onto it.
Maldon & Tiptree then went up the other end and nearly made it 3-0. Adeyeye was played through on the left-hand side and fired a shot at goal, but Dudzinski did brilliantly to push it away.
The referee blew his whistle for half-time, with the Robins 2-0 down. Manager Steven Bates knew that his side had work to do in the second half.
The Robins made a fast start to the second half. In the 49th minute, the ball was played to Tope Fadahunsi, who looked to curl one into the top corner, but his effort crashed against the crossbar.
However, the Robins wouldn’t be denied a few minutes later. The ball was played to Denzel Akyeampong on the right-hand side of the penalty area. Akyeampong was able to hold the ball up and play it back to Rob Howard, who fired the ball home. Justham was able to get a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough to keep it out, and the Robins were back in the game at 2-1.
The Robins were in the ascendancy now and had a couple of chances to equalise. In the 60th minute, Ada Okorogheye was able to get a shot away on the turn, but goalkeeper Elliot Justham did brilliantly to push the ball away.
A few minutes later, Denzel Akyeampong launched a throw-in into the penalty area, which was met by the head of Prince Kandolo, but his header was straight at the goalkeeper.
Carshalton were pushing bodies forward to try and get an equaliser, which left space at the back. Maldon & Tiptree nearly caught the Robins out on the break, with Kai Redgrave racing away for the hosts. However, Matt Yates was quick to react and was able to get back and stop him from getting a shot off.
On 70 minutes, the Robins found an equaliser. The Robins won a corner on the right-hand side, which was taken by Matt Yates. He whipped the ball in, and substitute Will Bratvedt, on his debut for the Robins, was able to turn the ball home to make it 2-2.
In the 87th minute, Carshalton took the lead. Nathan Young-Coombes pounced on a loose ball and played a through ball to Bratvedt. Young-Coombes looked to have been brought down at the same time, but with Bratvedt through on goal, play continued, and the new signing had all the time in the world to fire the ball home and make it 3-2.
Maldon & Tiptree did everything in their power to find a late equaliser, but the Robins were standing firm. Maldon’s final opportunity came in stoppage time, when Aaron Williams-Bushell did brilliantly to beat his man and get a shot away, but Matt Yates was able to get across to make a vital block and keep Carshalton’s lead intact.
After six minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew his whistle for full-time, with the Robins running out 3-2 winners in Essex. After five games without a win in all competitions, it was an important victory for Bates’ side, who move up to fourth in the league, although the majority of teams around them weren’t in action due to FA Cup commitments.
Commenting on X following the game, manager Steven Bates said: “It’s been a tough few weeks for everyone but the spirit of the Carshalton Athletic fans and players can’t be questioned, both were amazing again!”
Up next, the Robins are in FA Trophy action, taking on Step 4 side Southall. The match will take place on SUNDAY 27th September at Uxbridge’s Honeycroft Stadium, with a 3pm KO.
Up Next
Date: SUNDAY 27th September 2026
Opponents: Southall
Competition: FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
KO: 3pm
Venue: Honeycroft Stadium, Horton Road, UB7 8HX (Home of Uxbridge FC)
Admissions: Adult £10, Concession £5, U16 £1
Tickets: Purchase at the turnstiles
