Match summary - Met Police (h)

On a dry and sunny Saturday afternoon, we entertained Metropolitan Police FC of the Ryman League Premier Division in our penultimate pre-season friendly, writes John Kistner.

We started brightly with our trademark short quick passing movements all over the pitch, inviting the Met to come higher up the pitch in an attempt to close us down early. This left some gaps at the back for the Met which we exposed on a number of occasions through, in the main, centre forward Kingsley Aikhionbare.

Our goal came in the 16th minute after Peter Adeniyi challenged a Met player in central midfield, won the ball and played an exquisite through ball for Ricky Korboa to run on to, before rounding the Met keeper Luke Edgecombe with neat footwork, and then shooting from almost the dead ball line into the Met's goal.

A good half for us, with a high tempo passing game, and a deserved lead.

HALF-TIME: 1 – 0

The second half was a far more even affair and the Met had some good chances to equalise early on. As our players started to tire as the half wore on, the Met started to gain more possession, and in the 62 minute, their winger Ryan Gondo picked up the ball on the left after some hesitant defending, and weaved inside before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Jack Minchin.

A number of substitutions were made by both sides, and the game played out to a draw on 90 minutes.

Next up: We face Dulwich Hamlet FC at home on Tuesday 2nd August, then we visit Horsham FC for the opening league game of the season on Saturday 13th August.

Carshalton Athletic: Minchin (Suleyman - 77); Price, Ayah, Adeniyi, King, Morath-Gibbs, Miller, Kaba, Aikhionbare (Kaiser - 77), Murphy-McVey (Salgado - 77); Korboa (c) (O'Toole - 77)
Unused subs: Ismail, Gray, Del Alcasal
Goal: Korboa (16)

Metropolitan Police: : Edgecombe, Taylor, Smart, Bokai, Sutherland (c) (Salmon - 62), Robinson, T Smith (O Smith - 62), Hicky (Lane - 46), Barrett (Nurse - 62), Chislet, Gondo (Packuette - 62)
Unused sub: None
Goal: Gondo (62)