Manager interview - Peter Adeniyi

A dramatic added-time goal meant our Boxing Day derby against Tooting and Mitcham United finished all square, writes James Barrett.

As we looked to hunt down our visitors whom currently sit six points above us, things looked good at half-time as we led through Tommy Bradford’s 19th of the season.

And we looked set to claim a morale-boosting victory, especially after Tooting captain Sol Patterson-Bohner was sent off with 10 minutes to go, but visiting midfielder Chace O’Neill popped up in the fourth minute of added time to ensure his side keep us at arms length.

“We felt massively disappointed afterwards, we did enough to win the game while restricting them to just two or three attempts on our goal,” said player/manager Peter Adeniyi.

“But, again, we failed to take the chances we made and that’s down to us. It’s great to see the boys being so creative but, for that bear fruit, it seems we must work on our end product a bit more in training.”

Adeniyi knew how big the derby against Tooting was and he wasn’t afraid to make some big decisions in the lead up to kick-off.

“We had a gameplan – we added the power of Kingsley Aikhionbare alongside the pace of Mickel Miller and Ricky Korboa - and it worked, keeping their defence on the back foot for long periods.

“They weren’t expecting that approach from us and no-one could’ve really complained if we had won.”

We next face Walton Casuals away on Saturday 31st December (kick-off 3pm).

Match summary - Tooting & Mitcham Utd (h)

A late equaliser robbed us of a morale-boosting victory in this local Christmas derby, writes James Barrett.

Team news: Kingsley Aikhionbare and Brendan Murphy-McVey came in for Josh Phillips and Jahmahl King, while on-loan goalkeeper Joe Tupper started in place of the suspended Alex Kozakis.

We went into the break one-up as Tommy Bradford plundered his 19th of the season after Aikhionbare and Ricky Korboa combined to put him through on goal.

HALF-TIME: 1 - 0

We kept frustrating United and the visitors began racking up the cautions until Sol Patterson-Bohner, their skipper, picked up a second yellow and was sent off with 10 minutes to play.

Sub Ronald Sobowale had a great chance to seal victory shortly after but his eventual shot cannoned off a post - and it was to prove costly.

United swung a cross into our box which Chace O'Neill managed to get under control before scuffing a shot past Tupper from a tight angle.

Photos from this game will be available soon.

Next up: We visit Walton Casuals on Saturday 31st December before we head to Chipstead on Monday 2nd January.

Carshalton Athletic: Tupper; Price, Hamilton-Downes (c), Morath-Gibbs, Panton; Bradford, Adeniyi, Murphy-McVey (Sobowale - 79); Miller, Aikhionbare (Healy - 73), Korboa
Unused subs: King, Phillips, Bongo
Goal: Bradford (37)
Assist: Korboa
Booked: Korboa

Tooting and Mitcham United: Merson, J Wilson, Adebowale, Alimi, Patterson-Bohner (c), Rowe, Bassett, O'Neill, Dixon (Barrington - 88), Bennett (Cunningham - 64), Roberts (Robinson - 82)
Unused subs: Hoban, C Wilson
Goal: O'Neill (90)
Booked: Dixon, J Wilson, Patterson-Bohner, Alimi
Sent off: Patterson-Bohner

Happy holidays!

From everyone at the club, we'd like to you wish you a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year - thank you for your continued support!

Boxing Day preview

There’s a real feast of football on offer in Surrey this Christmas time, writes James Barrett.

We will host a ding-dong derby against Tooting and Mitcham United on Boxing Day (KO 3pm) and the match is shaping up to be a belated present in the stocking of local football fans.

Both clubs have rarely been outside the Ryman South top five this season and we look to peg back our near neighbours whom sit six points ahead of us in second place.

We boast some of the highest goalscorers in the league so far this season and the likes of Ricky Korboa and Mickel Miller will be itching to fire us to victory – although they could find their path to goal potentially blocked by defensive ex-colleagues Quincy Rowe and Adriano Moraes.

"Unfortunately we'll have midfielder Jordan Hibbert and goalkeeper Alex Kosakis missing through suspension but we have others who can come in and cope under pressure," says player/manager Peter Adeniyi.

"We've also been tweaking things in training recently and it's so pleasing to see the players taking to new ideas and approaches. We respect Tooting's league position but we don't fear them and I'm looking forward to an interesting game of football."

Tooting, in stark contrast, lost the league’s leading marksman Billy Dunn to rivals Greenwich Borough earlier this month, so replacement Marcel Barrington will wish to endear himself to the United faithful by finding the net in this encounter.

They have goals in their midfield however and the likes of Jordan Wilson, another ex-Carshalton man, and Chace O'Neill will by trying to their utmost to add to their tallies.

In fact, as both clubs have been finding the net for fun so far this league campaign, the promise of goals is high – we've have hit 56 to date, including the impressive 10-0 win over Godalming Town, while Tooting have mustered a massive 70 of their own, with eight coming in one game against Molesey.

Last season the clubs won their respective home fixtures against each other, with Kingsley Aikhionbare firing home a 90^th minute winner for us in a 1-0 win, but Tooting have won five of their last eight away games and will be looking to add a sixth.

"There are plenty of points up for grabs over the Christmas and New Year period, so we've set ourselves what I feel is a realistic target to hit," adds Adeniyi.

"We are simply concentrating on accumulating as many as we can but it's important not to let the teams above us pull away, so we'll be giving everything to ensure we try and cap this Christmas with three points."

Ticket prices for the match are as follows: Adults (over 18) - £10, Senior citizens (over 60) - £6, Under 18s - £3.

The Watford vs Crystal Palace match (KO 12.30pm) will also be televised in the clubhouse, which is open from 12pm and serves various real ales, lagers and an array of wines, spirits and soft drinks.

So shake off some of those holiday cobwebs down at Colston Avenue on Monday 26^th December – this one is set up to be a real Christmas cracker!

Match report - Hythe Town (h)

A second-half red card was the turning point in an otherwise tight affair against Hythe Town, writes James Barrett.

Team news: There were returns for Alex Kozakis, Bobby Price, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, Mickel Miller and Ricky Korboa. Brendan Murphy-McVey was back among the substitutes following injury.

The game started at a frenetic pace as both teams pressed when out of possession and Tommy Bradford was on the receiving end of two early rough challenges.

A lovely one-touch move involving Ricardo Panton, Paris Hamilton-Downes and Ricky Korboa the originator eventually bombing forward on six minutes, but Nick Reeves was booked for cynically hauling our man down.

Jahmahl King beats Kenny Pogue in the air

The first real shot in anger came from the visitors on 14 minutes but centre back Craig Cloke's ambitious 40 yarder went way off target.

Korboa then spotted a forward dart by Mickel Miller and threaded a neat through ball for his teammate to latch onto, but goalkeeper Joe Mant read the situation and cleared the ball away on the edge of his box.

Peter Adeniyi won a free kick 25 yards from goal on 19 minutes but Bradford's curled effort just went the wrong side of Mant's left-hand post.

Matt Newman managed to isolate Jahmahl King on a long crossfield ball into our box on 26 minutes but the midfielder had to eventually settle for teeing up Sam Adams on the edge whom guided a first-time shot into the arms of Kozakis.

We almost took the lead on 32 minutes as, after some patient build-up around Town's box, Adeniyi took aim from 20 yards. The ball seemed destined to nestle in the top corner but Mant spectacularly tipped it away at full stretch.

And the next real action came in the form of Town's opener five minutes later - a stray pass by Panton was seized upon by Adams whom drove forwards before unleashing a 20 yard shot that left the wrong-footed Kozakis stranded.

HALF-TIME: 0 - 1

Ronald Sobowale was handed his league debut in place of Korboa at the start of the second-half but we made a nightmare start to proceedings.

A long ball over the top was guided back to Kozakis by Kalvin Morath-Gibbs but Liam King hunted our keeper down and the pair tangled - the referee said our man hauled the striker back by the shirt and produced a red card.

As we had no sub keeper on the bench, Morath-Gibbs donned the gloves but he could do nothing to stop Adams from scoring his, and Town's, second of the game via the penalty spot.

Morath-Gibbs stepped in between the sticks

We responded a few minutes later with a Bradford free kick into their box but Adeniyi's header dropped the wrong side of the far post.

Then Bobby Price ventured forward and gathered a weak clearance but his slightly deflected shot was easily gathered by Mant.

Murphy-McVey sealed his comeback from injury by coming on in the 68th minut, while Town's forwards were denied by two offisde flags until they made it third time lucky on 71 minutes.

A fizzed pass to Kenny Pogue saw him burst past Hamilton-Downes but Panton managed to get a foot on his low cross. Liam King kept harrying for possession and he eventually squeezed a shot past our prone defender and make-shift keeper from close range.

We won a corner a few minutes later and Miller headed Murphy-McVey's deep delivery back into the six-yard box but Mant plucked the ball out from in front of Bradford.

The lively Sobowale displayed a neat flick and burst past Josh Burchell on 81 minutes and his cross from the right seemed to be destined to be cleared by a defender whom miscued his kick, but Miller was set to capitalise and the ball keeping going across the area.

And our last real opportunity for a goal came two minutes later as Sobowale and Miller combined to get Bradford in on goal but his left-footed shot just went the wrong side of Mant's near post.

More photos from the game are available here.

Next up: Tooting and Mitcham Utd arrive on Monday 26th December before we visit Walton Casuals on Saturday 31st December.

Carshalton Athletic: Kozakis; Price (Aikhionbare - 90), King, Morath-Gibbs, Hamilton-Downes (c); Panton, Adeniyi, Bradford, Korboa (Sobowale - 46); Miller, Phillips (Murphy-McVey - 68)
Unused subs: Henry, Healy
Booked: Price, Korboa
Sent off: Kozakis

Hythe Town: Mant, Aboagye, Burchell, Johnson, Cloke, Reeves, Cook, Adams (Webster - 86), Pogue (A May - 84), King (Mulrooney-Skinner - 84), Newman
Unused subs: Sawyer, S May
Goals: Adams (37 and 53 p), King (71)
Booked: Newman, Webster

Attendance: 206

Peter Adeniyi Interview

We are back in action at the weekend and, as he prepares the squad, there is only one word on the mind of Peter Adeniyi, writes James Barrett.

We play host to Hythe Town on Saturday, with only four points separating us in fourth and sixth place respectively, off the back of two wins and three defeats in all competitions.

So Adeniyi is calling on his charges to rediscover some consistency as we enter the busy Yuletide period.

“Being consistent is key in many walks of life and football is no different. We are simply concentrating on accumulating as many points as we can but, if we are being honest, we could probably have more on the board,” said Adeniyi.

“We've dominated many games this season and not come away with three points, so I’d like us to start changing that.”

One game Adeniyi alluded to was the recent league defeat by Corinthian Casuals where, after a commanding display saw us 1-0 up at the break, we conceded three goals and suffered two red cards during a nightmare second-half.

“I was probably the most emotional after a game as I’ve ever been in my career because we effectively threw away three points,” mused the 36-year old player/manager.

“We should’ve been at least 3-0 up by half-time but we didn’t take our chances, then we shot ourselves in the foot. We talked through it however and our response last weekend was pleasing but we need to now keep going.”

That positive result was a 4-1 victory away at Three Bridges and, although a weakened side lost a Surrey Senior Cup tie against Tooting and Mitcham United on Monday night, another league win against Hythe would solidify our promotion charge.

“The game against Hythe is an exciting prospect but, while we respect where they are in the league, we don’t fear anyone in this division,” Adeniyi added.

“We’ll be without the suspended Sekou Kaba and Jordon Hibbert but we have others who can fill their positions. It should be a great game of football but I want the boys to keep showing their killer instinct in front of goal."

Carshalton Athletic vs Hythe Town is on Saturday 17th December (kick-off 3pm).

Match summary - Tooting & Mitcham Utd (h - Surrey Senior Cup)

A solid performance by a youthful side wasn't enough to keep us in this season's Surrey Senior Cup, writes James Barrett.

Team news: Boss Peter Adeniyi handed a first-team debut to Ronald Sobowale, while Jack Minchin, Ryan Healy, Francis Sey and Harrison Street were given the chance to impress. Ex-Robins Quincy Rowe, Adriano Moraes and Jordan Wilson were in the visitors' squad.

On the attack: Francis Sey

United started brightly but Ollie Bennett and Marcel Barrington didn't trouble Minchin with early chances, while Sobowale tested keeper Matt Pierson with a low drive on the quarter hour.

Tooting full back Fabio Nunes thought he'd broken the deadlock on 28 minutes as he met a pass pulled back from our byline but his close-range effort thankfully hit the outside of the near post.

Sey and Panton began to get some joy down the left and both players had Pierson earning his corn as he denied both men just after the half hour mark.

Tommy Bradford twice came close to opening the scoring before the break but Pierson was equal to his low shot on 37 minutes before a late free kick, which has become a bit of a speciality for our man of late, was whipped just off target.

HALF-TIME: 0 - 0

Tooting began the second-half on the front foot and we were grateful to see Taurean Roberts' volley from six yards clip the top of our crossbar on 50 minutes.

We struggled to give Pierson anything serious to worry about as our visitors began to get closer and closer to converting the chances they were creating, but they enjoyed a huge slice of luck when the first goal of the game did arrive on 73 minutes.

Sub Michael Dixon, who'd only been on the pitch one minute, fired in a low, hard cross that Minchin seemed to have under control but, due to the power on the ball, it squirmed out of his clutches and went in via a deflection off his own leg.

Bradford thought he'd brought us level shortly after but he was denied by a good save by Pierson and Nunes sealed Tooting's win as, despite Minchin saving Wilson's shot well on 85 minutes, he followed in to slam the loose ball home.

More photos from the game can be viewed here.

Next up: We host Hythe Town on Saturday 17th December before Tooting and Mitcham United return for a league game on Monday 26th December.

Carahalton Athletic: Minchin; Street (Henry - 56), King, Hamilton-Downes (c), Panton; Solowabe (Swaby - 72), Adeniyi, Healy, Sey; Phillips (Miller - 46), Bradford
Unused subs: Price, McGee
Booked: Bradford

Tooting and Mitcham United: Pierson,  C Wilson, Nunes, Robinson, Rowe, Patterson-Bohner, O'Neill, Hoban (Bassett - 87), Barrington (Dixon - 72), Roberts, Bennett (J Wilson - 66)
Unused subs: Moraes, Alimi
Goals: Minchin (73 og), Nunes (85)
Booked: Patterson-Bohner

Attendance: 156

Current goalscorer standings

Here is a definitive list concerning the chase for this season's Golden Boot award (as of 11/12/16, all competitions):

Ricky Korboa - 19
Tommy Bradford - 18
Mickel Miller - 13
Josh Phillips - 6
Bobby Price - 4
Brendan Murphy-McVey - 3
Own goals - 2
Peter Adeniyi - 1
Kingsley Aikhionbare - 1
Sekou Kaba - 1
Mekhail McLaughlin - 1
Kalvin Morath-Gibbs - 1
Sean O'Toole - 1
Ricardo Panton - 1

 - collated by James Barrett

Match summary - Three Bridges (a)

We racked up another three points on our travels as we left Jubilee Field 4-1 victors, writes James Barrett.

Warming up: defender Ricardo Panton

Team news: We named the same starting eleven that began Monday's game, while Ricardo Panton was back in the squad after a long absence. Ex-Robin Hakeem Adelakun lined up for our hosts.

And, in comparison to most of this season so far, three of our four goals were registered by defenders with our opener arriving courtesy of Kalvin Morath-Gibbs' deflected long-ranger on 22 minutes - his first goal for the club.

Catalyst: Morath-Gibbs got our first

We held that lead going into half-time and Panton was then introduced for Jahmahl King for his first appearance since mid-September, and he capped his return with our second on 55 minutes.

Bobby Price continued his recent good form during this one and he grabbed his fourth of a productive season just after the hour to end the game as a contest.

Our hosts did pull one back with six minutes to go but Tommy Bradford banged in his third free kick of recent times on 86 minutes to cap a good day's work.

Bradford sizes up his fruitful free kick

More photos from the game can be viewed here.

Next up: We host a Surrey Senior Cup tie against Tooting & Mitcham United on Monday 12th December before Hythe Town visit on Saturday 17th December.

Carshalton Athletic: Kozakis; Price, King (Panton - 46), Morath-Gibbs, Hamilton-Downes (c), Hibbert, Adeniyi, Kaba, Korboa (Folkes - 82); Miller, Bradford
Unused subs: Phillips, Minchin
Goals: Morath-Gibbs (22), Panton (55), Price (65), Bradford (86)
Assists: Panton, Bradford (2), Miller
Booked: Miller

Three Bridges: Fox, Hayles (Cooney - 62), Adelakun, Lansdale (Pierre - 73), Mobsby, Crellin (c), Djilali, Wilson, Garrard, Sargent, Tait (Rowe-Hurst - 69)
Unused subs: Peters, Benz-Saloman
Goal: Pierre (84)
Booked: Hayles

Our Man of the Match: Kalvin Morath-Gibbs
Attendance: 76

Running like clockwork at Colston Avenue

Forward Tommy Bradford's most recent treble was commemorated with a real 'big hand' recently, writes James Barrett.

Club vice-president and staunch supporter Peter Lebihan was so struck by the unusualness of the 21-year old's hat-trick of penalties against Hastings United last month that, following our 2-0 win over Whyteleafe on Saturday, he presented the 21-year old with a homemade clock.

Bradford, whom has scored 17 goals this season so far, added the most recent of his tally on Monday night against Corinthian Casuals and has promised to keep trying to find the net!

Next up for the first-team is a trip to Three Bridges on Saturday 10th December (kick-off 3pm).

Match report - Corinthian Casuals (h)

It was a real game of two halves as missed chances and two second-half dismissals cost us against Corinthian Casuals, writes James Barrett.

Team news: Ricky Korboa and Peter Adeniyi came in for Sean O'Toole and Anthony Folkes, while Jack Minchin was named among the substitutes. Ex-Robins Jordan Clarke and Warren Morgan were part of the visiting contingent.

We created the first real chance of the game on six minutes as Sekou Kaba picked out Paris Hamilton-Downes on the left and Bobby Price met his cross at the back post, but a defensive body blocked his header away.

On the spot: Bradford gives us the lead

Kaba was at the heart of our next opportunity as he bulldozed past a couple of opponents before teeing up Ricky Korboa from 18 yards. Keeper Danny Bracken dove to cover his shot but it hit Kaba, whose momentum had kept him running forward, and the linesman rose his flag for offside.

The pair combined again on 13 minutes as Korboa took a return pass between the Casuals centre backs but he blasted a shot straight at the grateful keeper.

Casuals had the chance to get a ball into our box with a free kick a minute later, but Alex Kozakis comfortably claimed Bettache's lofted ball.

But we finally turned our dominance into a goal on 18 minutes after Price and Peter Adeniyi combined on the right and the advancing Kaba took a pass beyond Bracken whom felled his ex-team mate. Tommy Bradford stepped up and popped the spot-kick high into the top-left corner.

We continued to hold Casuals at arms length, while Kozakis showed he was staying alert by coming forward and gathering another Bettache free kick in amongst a throng of players.

We should've doubled our lead just after the half-hour mark however as Adeniyi latched onto a blocked Bradford shot around 25 yards from goal. He unleashed a real first-time rocket that Bracken tipped onto the crossbar and the ball fell at the feet of the unmarked Kaba who, despite having bags of time, proceeded to sky the ball over first-time from around six yards.

It was a real let-off for Casuals and Shaun Okojie responded with their first real shot of the game shortly afterwards, but it didn't trouble Kozakis.

We refused to let them back into the game however, our pressing game typified by Bradford who covered 40 yards of grass before sliding in to halt a potential counter-attack.

But Okojie did plop a header on yet another free kick delivery in to the arms of Kozakis before Bradford hit a bouncing shot into Bracken's midriff, but we had another golden chance to extend our lead two minutes before the break.

Korboa did well to intercept a mis-hit pass in the middle of the park and he cut inside towards goal as Adeniyi's dummy run drew two opponents with him. Bracken saved the initial shot and, while he was still sprawled on the floor, Adeniyi teed up Korboa again from the byline but our man side footed an effort wide of the near post.

HALF-TIME: 1 - 0

Kaba got into a good position to meet an early corner delivery after half-time but his firm header grazed the top of the Casuals net.

And our midfielder then received a yellow card as his long legs caught the advancing Bettache before the same player tested Kozakis with a low shot from distance shortly after.

But we were still looking comfortable in possession and stifling Casuals' advances until the game spun on its head just after the hour mark.

A free kick was pumped into our box and, within the mass of bodies, the referee judged that Kaba had grappled his man to the ground - a second booking duly followed to compound a miserable night for him, while Josh Uzun stepped up to draw his side level with a low strike from the spot.

Their tails now up, the visitors began to get forward with more purpose and Okojie came onto a cross from the right on 68 minutes to sweep a first-time shot past Kozakis whom had no chance.

We were then grateful to Kalvin Morath-Gibbs as he made a perfectly timed tackle to deny Josh Gallagher a clear sight of our goal just a minute later.

We managed to settle and began put their defence under some pressure when Jordan Hibbert's tackle on Serbony just over the halfway line was deemed 'dangerous' by the referee and a straight red card was produced, much to the dismay of the majority inside Colston Avenue.

But even with the numerical disadvantage, we continued to play some good football - not least when Mickel Miller played a one-two with Korboa and then Bradford before sweeping the ball out to Price, but his dangerous cross was cut out inside their six yard box. Jahmahl King kept the deep corner delivery alive on the far side, with help from Adeniyi, before the ball was met by Morath-Gibbs outside of the box but his shot lacked the power to trouble Bracken.

On-loan Anthony Folkes came on with five minutes to go but it was another sub, Jamie Byatt, who grabbed the next headline in this topsy-turvy game - he was fed a pass as he came into our box on 90 minutes and he scored a powerful shot that went in via the despairing hand of Kozakis.

Strangely enough, we managed to create three chances in stoppage time but Folkes and Miller both put shots from distance off target before Price read a mis-controlled pass inside his own half and ran with it past two opponents en route to goal, but Bracken brilliantly pushed his firm strike around the near post.

More photos from the game can be viewed here.

Next up: We travel to Three Bridges on Saturday 10th December before Tooting and Mitcham United arrive at ours for a Surrey Senior Cup match on Monday 12th December.

Carshalton Athletic: Kozakis; Price, King (Folkes - 86), Morath-Gibbs, Hamilton-Downes (c); Hibbert, Adeniyi, Kaba, Korboa; Miller, Bradford
Unused subs: Aikhionbare, Phillips, Minchin
Goal: Bradford (18 pen)
Assist: Kaba
Booked: Kaba
Sent off: Kaba, Hibbert

Corinthian Casuals: Bracken (c); Spencer, Morgan (Byatt - 86), Strange, Murray, Serbony, Uzun, Bettache, Okojie, Gallagher, Oldham (Clarke - 61)
Unused subs: McCallister, Aponieny
Goals: Uzun (63 pen), Okojie (68), Byatt (90)
Booked: Serbony

Attendance: 233

Player interview - Paris Hamilton-Downes

We got back to winning ways after picking up three hard-earned points at the weekend, writes James Barrett.

Following defeat away at Faversham Town last time out, and on a weekend where the top eight clubs in the Ryman Division One South all won, we solidified their grip on fourth place by beating struggling Whyteleafe 2-0.

And, ahead of a match against fifth-placed Corinthian Casuals tonight (Monday 5th), captain Paris Hamilton-Downes believes Saturday's result was a big one.

"It was important to put the Faversham display behind us and get back to winning quickly," the defender said. "Teams around us aren't dropping many points so it's important we don't either. It was a tough game against Whyteleafe but we are pleased to come away with a result."

It was top scorer Ricky Korboa whom grabbed the goals on Saturday as we endured some rough treatment from the frustrated visitors throughout the 90 minutes.

"It did get very physical out there but we kept our heads," Hamilton-Downes explained.

"It's mainly our forwards that suffer on that front - they are so skilful and quick that opponents can't get near them at times.

"But we know not to rise to such tactics and just let our football do the talking."

Korboa came off the bench before hitting his double, which were his 18th and 19th of the season, thus showing the strength-in-depth within the squad this season.

"I felt for Sean (O'Toole) as he had to go off early after a heavy tackle but Ricky isn't a bad replacement to bring on," added Hamilton-Downes.

"All our forwards have been important, both on and off the pitch. We've built our team around them this season and, so far, it's been paying off."

Our home game against Corinthian Casuals takes place on Monday 5th December (KO 7.45pm).

Match report - Whyteleafe (h)

It was a hard-earned victory as we endured a bruising encounter against Whyteleafe, writes James Barrett.

Team news: Alex Kozakis and Sean O'Toole returned, while on-loan midfielder Anthony Folkes was handed a full debut. Ex-Robins Owen Roberts and Bentley Graham lined up for the visitors.

The game begun in blustery, yet sunny, conditions and while Kalvin Morath-Gibbs and Paris Hamilton-Downes did well to deal with a couple of searching high Leafe balls, Bobby Price didn't quite catch a left-footed volley from 18 yards during the opening exchanges.

O'Toole was unfortunately forced off with an early knock on 13 minutes with Ricky Korboa taking his place.

After scoring free kicks in two consecutive games recently, Tommy Bradford would've been full of confidence taking one awarded to us on 15 minutes but, this time, he saw his strike ping off the top of Tom Stewart's crossbar.

Leafe's best spell of the opening 45 minutes then arrived and Alex Kozakis twice denied Andrew Mensah, the second by extending a leg and deflecting the visiting striker's near-post effort away.

Back of the net: Korboa poaches our first

But we opened the scoring on 28 minutes after Hamilton-Downes collected a Bobby Price cross on the far side of the Leafe box. Our captain teed up Miller whom forced a save from Stewart before Bradford acrobatically turned the ball goalwards from eight yards. Stewart could only this time deflect the ball slightly away and Korboa was on hand to tap in from two yards.

We then began to enjoy possession of the ball and frustrate our visitors  for long periods, although we almost gifted them a goal on 41 minutes as Kozakis misplaced a pass which was gathered by Ibrahim Akanbi. He cut across our area and teed up Sam Clayton but his shot went wide of the near post.

HALF-TIME: 1 - 0

The second-half started at a high tempo with Stewart and Kozakis denying Folkes and Mensah respectively.

Morath-Gibbs did well to slide in and cleanly win the ball from Scott Day on 53 minutes and Miller took the ball over 70 yards before crossing from the left but Bradford couldn't guide his header on target.

Kozakis was then alert to a 30 yard snapshot by Leafe defender Liam Collins that threatened to end up in the top far corner.

But, that aside, we were still in control of the game and bossed possession for long periods without really threatening to add to our lead.

Our visitors began to get frustrated and many a-time the game was stopped after late tackles went in on our forwards, but the referee kept his cards in his pocket.

One flowing move on 71 minutes, which began with Kozakis, saw four players get the ball into Korboa whom skipped past three opponents before teeing up fellow sub Peter Adeniyi, but, despite making space for a shot by the penalty area, a Leafe foot deflected his effort wide.

But we eased the atmosphere around Colston Avenue seven minutes later as a Miller flick put Korboa away on goal and he thumped home his 19th of the season in off Stewart's left-hand post.

Still the late challenges came however, with the referee deciding, despite reaching for his top pocket, eventually not to book Day for a second time after he recklessly took out his man. Graham (whom plainly pushed Ricky Korboa over after a free kick had already been awarded to our man)  and Courtney Ellis (for a late tackle that dumped Bradford to the deck) also both went unpunished.

We had a chance to add a gloss to the scoreline on 88 minutes as Miller burst through on a perfectly weighted Adeniyi through ball, but Roberts tracked back well and just managed to get a foot in the way of our man's effort from 10 yards.

More photos from the game can be viewed here.

Next up: We host Corinthian Casuals on Monday 5th December before heading off to Three Bridges on Saturday 10th December.

Carshalton Athletic: Kozakis; Price, King, Morath-Gibbs, Hamilton-Downes (c); Hibbert, Folkes (Adeniyi - 68), Kaba, O'Toole (Korboa - 13); Bradford, Miller
Unused subs: Aikhionbare, Healy, Phillips
Goals: Korboa (13 and 78)
Assists: Bradford, Miller

Whyteleafe: Stewart, Collins, Adebowale, Grant (Oluwatimilehin - 75), Roberts, Scarborough (c), Akanbi, Graham, Mensah (Ellis - 64), Day, Clayton (Clement-Peter - 86)
Unused sub: Amghar
Booked: Day

Attendance: 218
Our Man of the Match: Ricky Korboa

Match summary - South Park (a - Ryman League Cup)

It was another tight affair against South Park but this time we lost by a single goal and exited this season's Ryman League Cup competition, writes James Barrett.

Team news: Boss Peter Adeniyi made eight changes from the league encounter on Saturday - there were full debuts for Francis Sey, Dominique Bongo and Kaleed Henry, a first start of the season for young keeper Jack Minchin and the likes of Kingsley Aikhionbare, Sean O'Toole and Ryan Healy were also given the chance to impress.

We led at half-time as Tommy Bradford was at it again, converting a free kick just outside of their box on 32 minutes.

Healy probing forward at South Park

But this time we couldn't keep out South Park's attackers and goals by James McElligott (65) and Jake Roberts ten minutes from the end curtailed our cup run for another year.

More photos from the game can be viewed here.

Carshalton Athletic: Minchin; Street, Bongo (Antonio - 30), Hamilton-Downes (c), Tadafe; O'Toole, Henry (Cain - 73), Healy, Sey; Bradford (Phillips - 73), Aikhionbare
Unused sub: Price
Goal: Bradford (32)

Attendance: 72

Player interview - Stuart Searle

A familiar face came out of retirement recently as goalkeeper Stuart Searle answered our distress call before the recent home game against South Park, writes James Barrett.

We faced a goalkeeping crisis just 24 hours before that game as regular shot-stopper Alex Kozakis was injured and the on-loan Billy Bishop was recalled by Hampton & Richmond Borough less than a week into his stay at Colston Avenue.

Searle kept a clean sheet during his
return to Colston Avenue

But 37-year old Searle, who last played a competitive first-team match two years ago, dusted off his gloves to help us keep up our Ryman Division One South promotion aspirations.

"I wasn't nervous at the prospect, I just hoped my body wouldn't let me down," smiled Searle.

"It all happened rather quickly - I received calls from Paul Dipre and my old Carshalton goalkeeping coach Les Cleevely on the Friday afternoon. Thankfully I had the weekend free and, after a little consideration, I was only too happy to help out my old club."

Searle, during a career that has also seen him at Chelsea, Watford and MK Dons, had previously made over 350 appearances as a Robin and this latest one ended with a clean sheet as Tommy Bradford's 22nd minute free kick was enough to separate the two sides.

"The first 15 minutes were quite frenetic but I settled into it after that," he added. "It was pleasure playing with a team that wants to pass and move, and I had to make a couple of saves - it was an enjoyable experience.

"But there was an article in the programme that highlighted a match from 15 years ago and my name was in it! It's a young man's game and I won't be making a habit of doing this."

As Searle continues a fruitful coaching career with Chelsea Ladies, plus he managed Met Police Youth to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup earlier this year, he didn't rule out returning to his local club one day in that capacity.

"Peter Adeniyi's footballing philosophy is appealing to me, plus the club backs its academy by giving talented youngsters a chance which is fantastic.

"There is always room for improvement but I was very impressed with the players in front of me against South Park. I'd be happy to offer my services to the club if there were opportunities in the future."

Match summary - South Park (h)

A single goal was enough to seal all three points against visiting South Park, writes James Barrett.

Team news: The pre-match talk surrounded the return of Robins goalkeeping legend Stuart Searle whom came out of retirement to help us as Alex Kozakis was injured and the on-loan Billy Bishop was suddenly recalled back by parent club Hampton and Richmond Borough. Paris Hamilton-Downes also returned to skipper the side, while youngsters Harrison Street, Jack Minchin and Dominique Bongo were named on the bench.

It was end-to-end stuff for the first 15 minutes as both sides created many half-chances but the only goal of the game came on 22 minutes - Tommy Bradford buried a 20 yard free kick high to keeper James Wastell's right for his 15th of the season.

Netbuster: Bradford curls home the winner

Wastell had to come off injured not long after but, despite an outfield player having to go between the sticks for the visitors, we failed to add to our advantage.

At the other end, Searle was called into action a couple of times during the 90 minutes and you can read an interview with him about the whole experience here (it's within the November tab).

More photos from the match can be viewed here.

Carshalton Athletic: Searle; Price, King, Morath-Gibbs, Hamilton-Downes (c); Hibbert, Bradford, Adeniyi, Korboa (Healy - 81) ; Phillips (Aikhionbare - 63), Miller
Unused subs: Minchin, Street, Bongo
Goal: Bradford (22)
Booked: Miller

South Park: Wastell, O'Sullivan, Elliot, Stafford, Merchant, Ayling, King, Smith, Moody, McElligott, Jackson
Subs: Burgess, Smith, Lovegrove, Nicholls, Quartey

Attendance: 259

Match summary - Faversham Town (h)

We made it five unbeaten as we came from behind to beat Faversham Town on Monday evening, writes James Barrett.

Team news: There was a debut for new goalkeeper Billy Bishop as injury forced Alex Kozakis to miss his first action of the season, while Sean O’Toole and Jack Minchin came onto the bench.

Chances were exchanged during a goalless first 45 minutes but Town keeper Ben Bridle-Card saved well from both Josh Phillips and Mickel Miller, while Kalvin Morath-Gibbs cleared a Jack Steventon header off the line at the other end.

HALF-TIME: 0 – 0

Despite starting on the front foot after the break, the deadlock was broken by the visitors as Mobolaji Dowadu beat Bishop to a free kick delivery to head home on 58 minutes.

But we were level just two minutes later as Ricky Korboa got Miller in on goal and he rounded the advancing Bridle-Card before seeing his shot beat the recovering Matt Bourne to make it all-square.

The game looked like it was heading towards a draw but the same combination linked again with five minutes to go and this time Miller clinically finished past the visiting keeper for his thirteenth of the season.

The result put us briefly into second place in the league but Tuesday's nights results leave us in third ahead of our game against South Park this coming weekend.

More photos from the game can be viewed here.

Next up: We welcome South Park on Saturday 19^th November before we travel to theirs for our rearranged Ryman League Cup tie on Wednesday 23^rd November.

Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Price (c), King, Morath-Gibbs, Hibbert; Bradford, Adeniyi, Kaba, Korboa; Miller, Phillips (O’Toole – 72)

Unused subs: Hamilton-Downes, Minchin, Aikhionbare, Healy

Goals: Miller (60 and 85)

Assists: Korboa (2)
Booked: Price

Faversham Town: Bridle-Card, Cooper, Tenyue, Carrington, Bourne, Steventon, Bewick (Campbell – 84), Monger, Grant (Harvey – 78), Dowadu (Casey – 78), Stanford

Unused subs: Maxted, Benham

Goal: Dowadu (58)
Booked: Stanford