Robins Win At Cheshunt -

Robins Win At Cheshunt

Carshalton Athletic made it two wins in a row after a 1–0 victory at Cheshunt on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Steven Bates made two changes from the side that beat Canvey Island at Colston Avenue last week. Tolu Ladapo, after his goal from the bench last weekend, was brought into the starting XI along with centre-back Fikayo Atewologun. They replaced Noah Nzuzi, who wasn’t in the squad, and Eddie Allsopp, who dropped to the bench.

Cheshunt got the game underway on a mild afternoon in Hertfordshire. Carshalton made a good start, putting pressure on the hosts by getting into advanced areas, winning corners and free kicks in dangerous positions, and pressing to win the ball back when Cheshunt had possession in defence.

However, chances were few and far between in the opening stages, and it was Cheshunt who had the first big opportunity of the game on 18 minutes. Tommy Wood was played through on goal and went one-on-one with Hubert Graczyk. He looked set to score but ultimately fired his chance wide of the far post.

That was a let-off for the Robins, who then went close on 25 minutes. Ryan Huke did well to cut the ball back to Nathan Young-Coombes, and the 23-year-old struck an effort at goal. The shot was on target but was tipped away for a corner by Cheshunt goalkeeper Ayman Azaze.

The resulting corner was headed out of the box by a Cheshunt defender and fell to Denzel Akyeampong outside the area. The right-back struck the ball at goal but saw his effort drift just wide of the post.

Carshalton won a number of set pieces in the first half and went close from another on 40 minutes. When the ball was headed out to Ryan Huke, the Farnborough loanee hit a volley at goal, but his effort went just wide of Azaze’s goal.

Referee Alfie Finch-Critchley blew his whistle for half-time with the score still goalless. Manager Steven Bates would have been happy with his side’s effort, having limited the hosts to very little in terms of clear-cut chances while the Robins got themselves into good positions.

Carshalton got the second half underway and went close to an opener just two minutes after the restart. Fikayo Atewologun made a driving run from defence and played the ball across to Ryan Huke. Huke set himself but couldn’t find the target, striking his effort over the crossbar.

Nathan Young-Coombes was then played through on goal on 50 minutes but couldn’t find the target on this occasion, dragging his shot wide of the post. Carshalton continued to apply pressure and went close again when Fabio Saraiva picked up the ball outside the box and went for goal. The midfielder scored from a similar position against Potters Bar Town two weeks ago, but this time struck his effort over the crossbar.

The Robins finally made their pressure count on 74 minutes, opening the scoring through Nathan Young-Coombes. The former Brentford striker controlled the ball in the penalty area and, with his back to goal, struck a low effort on the turn into the bottom corner to give his side a deserved 1–0 lead. It was a great strike, but the Robins still had work to do to see the game out.

Hubert Graczyk was called into action after a through ball reached a Cheshunt forward. Graczyk rushed out of his goal to close the angle, forcing the Cheshunt man wide and applying pressure, which allowed time for Carshalton to regroup before eventually dealing with the danger.

Cheshunt continued to pile on the pressure in the closing stages as they searched for an equaliser. The hosts won late free kicks and corners, but the Robins stood firm on each occasion, keeping their clean sheet intact in the process.

After five minutes of stoppage time, referee Alfie Finch-Critchley blew his whistle for full time, confirming a second win in a row for Carshalton – the first time the club has won back-to-back matches since victories over Burgess Hill and Welling in September. The result means the Robins remain in 17th place but are now four points clear of Cray Valley PM and Welling United, who occupy the final two relegation spots.

Manager Steven Bates was pleased to pick up his second victory as Carshalton boss after starting his spell with three consecutive defeats. Commenting on X after the game, Bates said: “Really pleased for the boys today. They worked their socks off and deserved the three points and the clean sheet.”

Following Nathan Young-Coombes’ first goal for the club, Bates added: “So pleased for this young man. A very decent footballer who has had a tough couple of seasons and deserved his goal.”