Match report - Ashford United (a)

It was a winning start to the season as we beat a resolute Ashford United by a single goal, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

Team news: Richard Ossai, who arrived from Tooting in the week, started in goal while Jordan Cheadle was handed his first competitive start in Robins red. Ex-players Jason Goodchild and Adrian Stone were in our host's squad.

The game started brightly as both teams looked to go forward. We soaked up some early pressure, while Michael Campbell flicked on an Ossai goal kick into the path of Mickel Miller but his eventual cross was blocked away.

Ashford set their stall out early - high balls looking to exploit striker Tyrell Richardson-Brown's pace, but all our back four won big headers or made good interceptions to keep that plan from bearing early fruit.

But, when called upon, Ossai wasn't found wanting either - he gathered one dangerous cross cleanly in amongst a throng of players.

At the other end, Tommy Bradford spotted a run made by Campbell and threaded an almost inch-perfect through ball for our striker to latch onto, but home keeper George Kamurasi just won the race.

Bradford then got Miller away on the left and he finally sent over a cross that Bradford, but for a last-ditch header by Pat Kingwell, would've easily nodded home.

Richardson-Brown broke free and into our box on 19 minutes but the offside flag thankfully halted his progress.

Campbell won us a 20 yard free kick two minutes later but Cheadle saw his shot flash narrowly wide with Kamurasi beaten.

As another long ball came towards our goal, Morath-Gibbs then performed a perfectly-timed tackle to rob Richardson-Brown of another chance to bustle forward.

The home defence were equally adept at batting away the crosses we were putting in to their box however, so the game became a bit of a stalemate.

We tried to break the deadlock through Miller whom put two efforts over United's bar from distance and Campbell closed down the host's defence twice in a row as they tried to clear their lines, but Kamurasi halted his progress at the third attempt.

It was then Cheadle's turn to block off Richardson-Brown as the striker took aim in our box, while we lost Paris Hamilton-Downes to an injury on 40 minutes.

But then the only goal of the game arrived on the stroke of half-time as Bobby Price and Bradford combined on the right before the latter sent over a cross-shot. Brendan Murphy-McVey, who had run in from deep, controlled the ball in front of the sprawling Kamurasi before dinking it home to open his - and the club's - account for the season.

HALF-TIME: 0 - 1

Ossai endeared himself further to the travelling fans three minutes into the second-half as he palmed away a firm shot from distance by Rory Hill.

Mekhail McLaughlin, who came on for Hamilton-Downes, headed a clearance on 54 minutes and the ball, via Bradford, Miller and Murphy-McVey, ended back with Bradford whom forced a near post save out of Kamurasi.

McLaughlin did it again five minutes later as he intercepted a high ball before releasing Miller down the left. He showed willingness to take on his marker and whip over a cross but Kamurasi did just enough to deny Campbell who flung himself at the ball.

Ossai got behind another 20 yard effort by Hill but the winger was given the chance to score from closer in on 67 minutes.

Miller, who was chasing back, bundled over Fraser Walker inside our area but thankfully Hill smashed the spot-kick against our crossbar.

We breathed a sigh of relief and tried to get back on the front foot, but McLaughlin was cautioned for pulling back Richardson-Brown and Campbell, after beating his man with a neat step-over, shot the wrong side of the near post with his weaker foot.

Campbell got down the right on 80 minutes and got past his man before picking out Peter Adeniyi on the edge. Our player/manager chested the ball on to Miller but his angled shot was blocked away.

United were reduced to 10 men two minutes later as Campbell, who did well to trap and turn on a high clearance, was pulled down by Kingwell who was the last man. Bradford stepped up to the free kick but Kamurasi was equal to his curled effort.

There was almost a sting in the tale as Richardson-Brown broke into our box in added time, but Ossai rushed out and twice blocked the ball as the striker tried to force it goalwards.

We went up the other end and Josh Phillips did well out wide before feeding Bradford whom cut into the box. Campbell drew one defender out the centre but Kamurasi again denied our man at the near post.

Photos from the game are available here.

Match highlights are on robins.tv

Next up: We host Hastings United on Monday 14th August before playing Walton & Hersham in the FA Cup preliminary round at home on Saturday 19th August.

Carshalton Athletic: Ossai; Price (Healy - 72), Morath-Gibbs, Cheadle, Hamilton-Downes (McLaughlin - 41); Bradford, Adeniyi, Sogbanmu, Murphy-McVey (Phillips - 84), Miller; Campbell
Unused sub: Opoku
Goal: Murphy-McVey (45)
Assist: Bradford
Booked: McLaughlin

Ashford United: Kamurasi, Walker (Difford - 78), Elliott (Williams - 25), Botterill (Stone - 46), Avery, Kingwell, Phillips, Davisson, Goodchild, Richardson-Brown, Hill

Unused subs: Perkins, Lee-Wharton

Missed penalty: Hill (67)

Sent off: Kingwell

Our 'Man of the Match': Kalvin Morath-Gibbs
Attendance: 289