Robins Remain Top After Merstham Win
Carshalton Athletic beat Merstham 3–1 at Colston Avenue to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Surrey Premier Division.
Following a four-week gap since their last match – a 2–0 win away at Croydon FC – manager Aaron Lamont made four changes to his side. Beth Yarrow was unavailable for selection, so Lauren Allen was brought in between the sticks on loan from AFC Wimbledon. Xaidan Gooding, Maisie Ward and Kenza Gueriani also came into the starting XI, having begun on the bench against Croydon.
The match got underway in cold conditions at Colston Avenue, with the first chance falling to Carshalton in the eighth minute. Heather Eade delivered a free kick into the box, picking out Sabania in the middle. The midfielder rose highest but could only glance her header wide of the post.
Merstham looked dangerous going forward as well. The visitors won a free kick in a promising area, with Cerun Temur stepping up to take it. She fired a powerful effort towards goal, but Allen was well positioned to catch and hold the ball. Carshalton then went close themselves from a corner. Eade’s delivery from the right caused chaos in the box, with Demi Allen attempting to fire home, but her effort was blocked and the eventual follow-up went wide.
Merstham won another free kick just outside the box on the right-hand side. Although the position seemed better suited for a cross, Dadrian Kennedy opted to shoot, sending her effort just over the crossbar. The visitors then had the best chance of the game so far in the 18th minute. Kennedy used her pace to race through on goal, with Allen rushing out and going to ground in an attempt to intercept. Allen managed to get a touch, but the ball ricocheted back to Kennedy, who, from a tight angle, could only fire into the side netting.
On 31 minutes, the Robins took the lead. A neat move found Eade in the centre of the pitch, with Dee Badley making a perfectly timed run ahead of her. Eade threaded the ball through, and Badley showed great composure to slot into the bottom corner,
giving Carshalton a 1–0 lead.
That goal sparked the game into life, and Carshalton doubled their advantage just two minutes later. Badley controlled the ball on the left-hand side and cut it back to Sabania on the edge of the box. The midfielder took a touch and unleashed a powerful strike over Lisa Harding to make it 2–0 – her third goal in two games for the Robins.
Carshalton continued to press before the break. On 39 minutes, Kimble fired over after a ball into the box, and a minute later Badley drove through the middle. Her effort was saved, albeit not convincingly, and Kimble was close to following up. The referee then brought the first half to a close with the Robins holding a 2–0 lead.
Lamont would have been pleased with the scoreline, though Merstham may have felt unfortunate not to have capitalised on their chances, particularly having conceded two quick goals late in the half.
The Robins carried their momentum into the second half. On 52 minutes, Eade had another free kick from outside the box, going for goal, but Harding did well to get down and save. Sabania, fresh from her earlier strike, tried her luck again from range, though this time her effort was speculative and drifted wide.
Eade was also keen to get on the scoresheet, firing a shot towards goal that Harding initially saved before reacting quickly to gather the ball. Captain Georgie Edwards was deployed as a makeshift striker for part of the second half and nearly made it 3–0. After Dulley made a challenge, the ball fell kindly to Edwards, but she couldn’t keep her effort down, sending it over the crossbar.
Merstham were not out of the contest, however, and halved the deficit in the 64th minute. Allen produced a brilliant save to deny the visitors, but the rebound fell to Sara Pita, who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2–1.
This goal set up a frantic end to the match, but Carshalton were not content to sit back and defend. Dulley played a clever ball through to Amelia Kimble, though the substitute could only find the side netting. On 74 minutes, Kennedy fired wide for Merstham.
Carshalton restored their two-goal cushion in the 78th minute. Sabania turned provider, playing the ball into Dulley on the right-hand side of the area. The substitute took one touch before smashing the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3–1
and settle the nerves of the home supporters. Dulley had a very similar chance just two minutes later, again set up by Sabania, but this time fired over the crossbar.
Allen was still required to remain alert in the Carshalton goal. Isata Kamara struck from distance, but Allen was well positioned to hold the effort. She then made her best save of the match, tipping away a curling effort from Kennedy that looked destined for the top corner. Allen was also involved at the other end, launching a long ball over the top to find Badley,
though the forward couldn’t add to her tally, firing wide.
There was one final chance before the whistle, with Dulley winning the ball in a dangerous area and cutting it back to Eade, whose effort flew over the bar. Ultimately, it made no difference, as the referee blew for full time with the Robins running out 3–1 winners.
Despite their league position and relatively young squad, Merstham caused Carshalton plenty of problems with their pace and ability on the break, making it a challenging afternoon for the Robins’ defence. However, Carshalton did enough to see out the victory and remain three points clear at the top of the table, after Dorking’s 4–0 win over Manorcroft United.
Attention now turns to Sunday, as the Robins make the short trip to South Park (Reigate) for the quarter-finals of the Surrey Divisional Cup – a competition Carshalton won last season.
Up Next
Date: Sunday 11th January 2026
Opponents: South Park (Reigate)
Competition: Surrey Divisional Cup (Quarter Final)
KO: TBC
Venue: King George’s Field, RH2 8LG
Admissions: TBC
