Robins Victorious at Cray season opener
Carshalton began the season with a battling 2-0 victory against Cray Valley (PM). Goals from Sharon Ifeanyi and Tommy Bradford in the South London sun secured the three points and started a hopeful season for the Robins.
The first 10 belonged to Carshalton as the Robins tried to capitalise on early dominance. A slow back pass allowed David Smith to run in, and when he was shoved off the ball, the Robins had their first and best chance of the first 45 with a free kick.
Bradford stood over the dead ball, deep on the left, and pinged a deadly free kick destined for the top left corner of the goal.
Cray Keeper Shaun Peart-Rowley had other ideas, though, and clawed the ball over for a corner.The resulting corner saw chaos grip the Cray box as the ball took numerous touches before falling to Smith, and his stretching shot rebounded off the post, maintaining the level score.
If the first 10 belong to The Robins, then the second 10 was for Cray. A bad challenge from the debuting Ansu Janneh allowed Cray to get a chance. They hit a deep free kick that saw Cray’s Alex Kpake sidefoot a looping volley unchallenged that went past the far post. If the lack of accuracy hadn’t saved us, then the flag luckily would have.
The pressure from Cray continued as Kenny Aileru was causing havoc down the left. He beat his man and smashed a cross across the box after 12 minutes, which our second debutant, Keeper Matthew Kerbey, did well to get his hands to and palm out. The bouncing ball was too difficult for Cray’s Denzel Gayle to do anything with. From there, the game settled into a stop-start rhythm. Fouls became the name of the game, and cards were being brandished for both sides as a game with few chances went to the break level.
Whatever Peter Adeniyi said in the dressing room worked. Or, just maybe, the Cray keeper’s lack of activity in the first half hindered him. Either way, the deadlock was soon broken. In the 47th minute of the game, a slack pass from Cray’s Gayle saw the ball roll to Ifeanyi 25 yards from goal.
His quick feint sent two Cray players to the right, as he recomposed on his left leg. He let rip from the distance, and the sweet strike that followed made time stand still as the ball half rocketed/half floated into the net. Peart-Rowley stretched, but grasped nothing but air. The travelling support erupted in joy as the players ran to the corner to rejoice. The first goal felt as if the season had truly started.
Confidence is a wonderful thing, as the goal buoyed the team. More chances came with a header in the 51st minute from Mason Saunders-Henry didn’t find its mark, minutes before Joshua Sonibare burst down the wing. His low shot was palmed by the keeper, and the threat averted.
Cray started to find their feet in the game again and started posing more questions for the Robins. A throw deep in the Carshalton half was knocked on and allowed for Marcel Barrington to have a pop shot in the box. Kerbey showed why he is the new number one as he lunged forward, his body as big as it could be to deny the opportunity.
Now, fouls became more common again as play became scrappy and disjointed. But with the lead, Carshalton were much more comfortable with the lack of continuity on the pitch.
Then, the key moment came, as the game was all but completed in the 79th minute. A long ball was punted forward, and as the Cray defence watched Smith saunter back from an offside position, they realised they should have been watching the recently introduced Abdulateef Salami.
Cray’s Barney Williams misjudged the ball, and it bounced over his head, allowing Salami through. They jostled into the box, tugging and scraping, but Salami was ahead. Williams ended up tugging too hard from behind, bringing Salami down. The ref blows, the pen is given, and a red card follows.
As Williams skulks into the dressing room, running himself the early bath, Bradford steps up to add to the misery of Cray.
Peart-Rowley went right, the ball went left. 2-0 to the Red Brazil is sung from the travelling support as Cray’s newly added digital screen plasters the score for all to see.
Carshalton dominated from there, with the wingers being a constant threat, and the extra man allowing for the game to be controlled in the middle of the park. Salami caused more havoc in injury time,
as he held the ball on the byline, knowing he always had the beating of his man. A quick shimmy was the precursor to his dart into the box, poking a shot at the keeper’s legs. Nothing came from the corner, but nothing needed to; the game was beyond Cray, even though they fought to the end.
A late chance saw Barrington attempt a scissor kick that bounced wide, and that was all she wrote, 2-0 to Carshalton at a ground that has not been kind to the Robins over recent seasons.
This game was all about how you started the season, but the Robins’ finishing is what showed in the end.
Carshalton will be in action again on Monday evening for the first home game of the season against Lewes at 7.45 pm.
Up Next
Date: Monday 11th August
Opponents: Lewes FC
Competition: Isthmian League
Ko: 7.45pm
Venue: Colston Avenue
Admissions: Get Tickets Here
