Team news: Boss Peter Adeniyi handed full debuts to Alex Kozakis, Jahmahl King, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs and Sekou Kaba, while Paris Hamilton-Downes was missing as he completed a suspension picked up from the end of last season.
Both sides traded attacks during the first 10 minutes; Mickel Miller's free kick only hit the defensive wall from 25 yards on two minutes, while Kozakis fumbled a whipped cross into our box under pressure but we managed to clear our lines.
We continued to be patient and kept the ball for long periods but neither keeper was called into serious action until we should’ve taken the lead on 17 minutes.
Ricky Korboa sprung the home offside trap and rounded the oncoming Anthony Ender but he merely rolled the ball towards the empty net which allowed Lewis Hyde the chance to recover and deny a cert goal.
Horsham went down the other end and Terry Dodd capitalised on a poor pass to tee up Darren Boswell inside our area. Kozakis stayed big and the winger lofted his shot wide of the left-hand post.We took the lead shortly after that as Korboa played a one-two with Tommy Bradford but his cross was cleared back out to Miller whom, from the edge of the box, struck an angled thunderbolt which seemingly flew through Ender and bulged the back of the net.
Bradford himself then put a free shot from 15 yards wide and almost saw a deflected shot beat Ender after he nicely took down a Kaba pass, both of which sandwiched a comfortable save by Kozakis on a back post header.
Our debut goalkeeper then got behind a pot shot from Dodd to preserve our lead before Korboa had another golden chance to open his account on 41 minutes. He timed his run on an Adeniyi through ball again to perfection but he shot straight at the exposed Ender.
But it was third times a charm on the stroke of half-time as Adeniyi found Kaba inside the Horsham area. The midfielder made space for an angled shot that Ender just took the pace off of, but Korboa was on hand to smash the ball home from about two yards.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 2
Our hosts started on the front foot after the break and Kozakis got behind Dodd’s 18 yard free kick, while sub Charlie Pitcher couldn’t guide a flicked header on a cross on target.
But, again, we slowly started to boss possession and we created another great opening on 56 minutes; Adenyi’s scooped pass got Korboa in yet again but the young forward allowed the ball to bounce one to many times and Ender just beat him to it inside the area.
Ricardo Panton ventured forward on the hour and he beat his marker and the drawn Ender before cutting the ball back from the byline. Miller had to take a touch which slowed his momentum and allowed Ender to race back and save the resultant shot with his legs.
Horsham continued to huff and puff but we were always dangerous on the break and we added our third in the 70th minute. Adeniyi wowed the 251-strong crowd with a barnstorming 65 yard run down the right, holding off three stern challenges, before squaring to the lurking Korboa who turn the ball in from close range.Sean O’Toole was then introduced for his first taste of league action since last November and he showed good pace to get into the home box on 78 minutes. He unselfishly squared to fellow sub Kingsley Aikhionbare but he was cruelly denied an opening day goal as the merest nick off his marker took his shot just the wrong side of the far post.
The only blot on our day was conceding a goal with the last kick of the game; George Branford took advantage of a slack pass in our backline to thrash a low swerving shot past Kozakis and in off the far post.
Next up: We host Molesey on Monday 15th August before we play an FA Cup tie against Farnham Town on Saturday 20th August. We then travel to East Grinstead Town on Saturday 27th August.
Carshalton Athletic: Kozakis; Price (c), King, Morath-Gibbs, Panton; Bradford, Adeniyi (Males – 75), Murphy-McVey, Kaba, Korboa (O’Toole – 71); Miller (Aikhionbare – 75)
Unused subs: Ismail, Gray
Goals: Miller (22), Korboa (45, 70)
Booked: Miller, Kaba, Aikhionbare
Horsham: Ender, Hyde, Whitehead (de Andrade – 81), Branford, Jones, Farmer, Shelley (c), Harris (Pitcher – 46), Dodd (Cousins – 71), Carney, Boswell
Unused subs: Lewis, Atkinson
Goal: Branford (90)
Booked: Shelley, Farmer