We recorded a morale-boosting victory away at Greenwich Borough on Tuesday night - but it didn't come easy, writes James Barrett-Sterling.
Team news
New signing Mohammed Idris Oshilaja was handed a full debut, while Peter Adeniyi returned from his injury.
Kick-off
Following the 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture last month, there was a sense of deja vu after Mark Phillips gave Greenwich the lead on the quarter hour.
But we didn't buckle this time and, in the 36th minute, Tommy Bradford drew a foul from their keeper in the box and Raheem Sterling-Parker converted for his 10th goal of the season.
There was also a melee after Bobby Price was roughly halted on a fine forward run before the break - once the dust had settled, the referee issued six cautions including, crucially, one for our goalscorer.
HALF-TIME: 1 - 1
We took the lead just two minutes after the re-start as, following great work by Michael Aziaya whom unsettled the Borough backline, Sterling-Parker rolled the ball home into an empty net.
But his evening took a sour turn literally 60 seconds later as he tried to close down a clearance and caught his man. The referee deemed that sufficient enough to issue a second yellow and end our striker's participation.
We rolled up our sleeves and defended our lead right until the final whistle, with Billy Bishop also chipping in with several good saves and a late Borough free kick smacking back off the crossbar.
Photos from the game can be viewed here.
Match highlights available soon.
Next up
We host Chipstead on Monday 13th November before visiting Hythe Town on Saturday 18th November.
Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Price (c), Dudley, Oshilaja, Cheadle; Aziaya (Quaynor - 90), Adeniyi (Alexiou - 90), Healy; Bradford, Sterling-Parker, Korboa
Unused subs: J Phillips, Cave
Goals: Sterling-Parker (36 pen, 47)
Assists: Bradford, Aziaya
Booked: Bradford, Adeniyi, Sterling-Parker
Sent off: Sterling-Parker
Greenwich Borough: Kamurasi, Paul (King-Elliot - 72), Phillips, McDonald, Barham, Babalola, Hickey (Dembele - 46), Fitzsimmons, Pritchard, Fuseine (Samoutis - 61), Clark
Unused subs: Carsle, Gunner
Goal: Phillips (16)
Booked: McDonald, Pritchard, Phillips, Fitzsimmons, Samoutis
Attendance: 148
Current league position: 7th (28 points)