We came from behind twice to win 3-2 at Princes Park, and that includes a saved penalty and 18-year old midfielder Reece Cave donning the gloves for an hour, writes James Barrett-Sterling.
Team news
Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, following injury, made his first start in two months while Bobby Price and Omar Koroma returned to the starting line-up. Ex-Robin Paul Vines led the line for our hosts.
Kick-off
We got off to a poor start in this one as, on 10 minutes, Town won a free kick level with our 18 yard line and Richard Pacquette rose between two red shirts to head in the delivery.
The home side continued on the front foot with Pacquette, from an almost similar situation, side-footing a free volley over the bar and Vines driving wide from inside our area.
We then suffered a blow as Billy Bishop slipped while taking a goal kick and injured his back. He left the field of play on a stretcher and it was decided that, in lieu of a sub goalkeeper, young Cave would pull on the number one jersey.
Conversely, this coincided with us getting a hold in the game as Tommy Bradford fired an angled drive wide across Lewis Carey's goal and Jordan Cheadle had a 30-yard thunderbolt chalked off to a dubious offside decision (the ball did seem to take the slightest nick off Koroma whom was running across the area but he appeared at least level with everyone else).
Cave was called into action a couple of minutes later as he came amongst a forest of bodies to punch a cross away, only for Danny Dudley to be on hand to clear a lofted return from 20 yards practically off his own line.
But, deep into added time, we did restore parity as Mickel Miller took on Mendy down the right before cutting in on his left foot and beating Carey at his near post.
HALF-TIME: 1 - 1
We began the second-half very positively and, after Ricky Korboa saw a shot slam off a post, another attack a few minutes later saw Miller bundled over by McIntyre inside the box.
Cheadle stepped up to the spot-kick but, although he struck the ball well enough, Carey guessed right and palmed the ball away.
It was a blow and, although Cave hadn't been seriously tested since the break, he was caught out on 65 minutes as Town retook the lead.
A free kick into our box was only half-cleared to Richard Avery and the defender powered a first-time effort from 18 yards that squirmed through Cave's legs and in.
It was a blow but our heads didn't drop, plus Peter Adeniyi threw caution to the wind by bringing on Raheem Sterling-Parker to partner Koroma up top. It proved to be a telling substitution.
The game ebbed back and forth for a while, with Bradford seeing a left-footed effort cannon back off their crossbar and Cave patting down a Vines header on a corner kick, before we restored parity.
Miller neatly played in Sterling-Parker who beat the offside trap to race clear. The angle was narrowing but he squeezed a shot in between Carey and the far post for his 13th of the season.
And, just two minutes later, he turned provided as he got free on the left, floated in a cross and Korboa, who had come from deep, headed the ball beyond Carey and into the back of the net.
And, deep in added time, a cross from the right was only half-cleared by Peter Adeniyi and a man in green guided a header on target but Cave got across to palm the ball away from danger.
And, deep in added time, a cross from the right was only half-cleared by Peter Adeniyi and a man in green guided a header on target but Cave got across to palm the ball away from danger.
Photos and match highlights will be available soon.
Next up
Walton Casuals arrive on Monday 27th November before we host Cray Wanderers on Saturday 2nd December.
Carshalton Athletic: Bishop (Cave - 30); Price (c), Dudley, Morath-Gibbs, Cheadle; Korboa (Adeniyi - 89), Healy (Sterling-Parker - 69), Aziaya, Bradford, Miller; Koroma
Unused subs: Alexiou, Elsom
Goals: Miller (45), Sterling-Parker (78), Korboa (80)
Assists: Miller, Sterling-Parker
Booked: Healy, Price
Thamesmead Town: Carey, Abidugbe, Mendy, Taiwo, Avery (c), McIntyre, Green (Quile - 46), O'Connor, Vines, Pacquette, Parish
Unused subs: Adeniran, Laker
Goals: Pacquette (10), Avery (65)
Booked: Anidugbe
Attendance: 94
Current league position: 4th (37 points)