It was a comfortable victory against the league newcomers in a game featuring goals, good goalkeeping and a red card, writes James Barrett-Sterling.
Team news
Mekhail McLaughlin, Ola Sogbanmu and Michael Campbell all returned to the starting line-up.
Mekhail McLaughlin, Ola Sogbanmu and Michael Campbell all returned to the starting line-up.
Kick-off
We made a dream start as Danny Dudley ventured forward on three minutes and got Raheem Sterling-Parker away down the left. Our man beat his marker and got along the byline before seeing Jamie Craddock divert his low ball into his own net.
Tommy Bradford then lined one up from 20 yards but he saw his effort bounce just wide of James Broadbent's left upright. Then he and Campbell combined to get Josh Phillips into their box and he knocked a ball across the six yard box. Sogbanmu came onto it at the back post but Broadbent blocked his low shot away.
But our midfielder wasn't to be denied again on 13 minutes - Bradford arched in a corner delivery and Sogbanmu, completely unmarked, powerfully headed the ball in off the crossbar for his first of the season.
Shoreham looked neat on the ball at times but they found our backline, particularly Dudley and Jordan Cheadle, in no mood to be generous while Ricardo Panton foraged forward and almost picked out a run by Campbell, but the ball was a millimetre in front of our forward.
When the visitors did manage to get a glimpse of our goal they also found Richard Ossai wasn't in a charitable mood - our keeper clutching a firm angled drive from 20 yards by Dan Simmonds.
Sogbanmu picked up a knock and had to be replaced by Peter Adeniyi as Shoreham become frustrated, giving away several fouls, until things boiled over on 34 minutes. Craddock went in hard on Phillips, then appeared to kick out at Panton. The original pairing squared up as several players surrounded them, then Craddock turned his attention onto Adeniyi and the referee eventually brandished a straight red card for violent conduct.
We kept on the front foot and Campbell did well to charge down a Broadbent kick as the keeper dithered somewhat on a back pass, but unfortunately the ball flew off target. Then Bradford and Phillips both almost played Sterling-Parker in on goal but the passes just had too much pace on them.
Adeniyi showed some neat footwork to beat two men on his way towards the Shoreham box but a third blocked his pass away on the edge. Phillips picked up the pieces but Broadbent was equal to his angled shot.
And Cheadle was given a chance to fire in a free kick just before the break but his shot just went the wrong side of the near post.
HALF-TIME: 2 - 0
The second-half started with a bang as Sterling-Parker burst through on goal within two minutes and he was up-ended by Broadbent. Cheadle stepped up and calmly beat the keeper from 12 yards for his second goal of the week.
Sub Levi Phillips made an impact shortly after coming on as his cross found Campbell by the penalty spot and he chested it down. Bradford kept the ball alive for his strike partner but he frustratingly shot wide from eight yards.
But Campbell remained a thorn in Shoreham's side as the half wore on; a neat turn and hit from 18 yards had Broadbent sprawling to tip the ball onto his crossbar. We kept the corner alive on the near side and Bradford eventually rolled a pass across the six yard box, but no-one was on hand to turn it in. L Phillips found the advanced Panton but Broadbent kept out his angled shot from the corner of the area.
Campbell took aim again on 61 minutes and this time he beat Broadbent from 20 yards, but the ball cannoned back off the post and L Phillips put the rebound high over the bar.
Then Panton and Bradford combined to get L Phillips away down the right. He held the ball until picking out Campbell with a pullback, but again Broadbent did well to get down and deny our man a first goal since returning to the club.
Broadbent blocked Bradford's close range effort after L Phillips picked him out inside the box on 67 minutes but, with our very next attack, Adeniyi took a Panton pass and slalomed his way through on goal before side-footing the ball across the keeper and into the bottom far corner.
Cheadle came mighty close to his second of the game on 74 minutes but for the fingertips of Broadbent whom tipped over our man's 20 yard free kick.
The game looked to be winding down to its logical conclusion but Shoreham salvaged some pride with three minutes to go - Evan Archibald collided with Ossai as they contested a low cross and the ball - despite the lunge of Dudley who seemed to have cleared it - just crossed the line.
Photos from the game will be available soon.
Match highlights are available via robins.tv
Next up
We go to Corinthian Casuals on Monday 28th August before hosting Pagham in the FA Cup on Saturday 2nd September.
We go to Corinthian Casuals on Monday 28th August before hosting Pagham in the FA Cup on Saturday 2nd September.
Carshalton Athletic: Ossai; Panton, Dudley, Cheadle, McLaughlin; Price (c) (Healy - 77), Sogbanmu (Adeniyi - 28), Bradford, J Phillips; Campbell, Sterling-Parker (L Phillips - 50)
Unused subs: Miller, Opoku
Goals: Craddock (3 og), Sogbanmu (13), Cheadle (48 pen), Adeniyi (68)
Assists: Sterling-Parker (2), Bradford, Panton
Shoreham: Broadbent, Packer (c), Hand (Caplin - 74), Woodford, Timms (Smith - 66), Gathern, Nazla (Goldson - 49), Simmonds, Archibald, Burton, Craddock
Unused subs: Qaudri
Booked: Nazla
Sent off: Craddock
Our 'Man of the Match': Michael Campbell
Attendance: 195