We rounded off 2017 with a hard-fought victory, and third league double, over visiting Horsham, writes James Barrett-Sterling.
Team news
Three changes from the draw against Corinthian Casuals as Mekhail McLaughlin, Levi Phillips and Brendan Murphy-McVey were all given rare starts. Ex-Robin Hakeem Adelukun lined up within the visitors' first eleven.
Kick-off
The game started pretty even-stevens as both teams probed forward - Horsham forced a couple of corners while we kept the ball well for long periods.
We carved out our first decent chance on nine minutes - a deep Mickel Miller cross was cushioned down by Peter Adeniyi towards the unmarked Phillips but, from six yards out, the young winger failed to connect with the ball.
But we stayed on the front foot with Tommy Bradford and Jordan Cheadle putting pot-shots just over from 20 yards.
And we took the lead on 17 minutes as Cheadle and Phillips combined on the left before the latter picked out Bradford in the box. He controlled the ball sublimely before shifting it onto his left foot and slamming home between Brannon Daly and the near post.
We continued to dominate possession but the Horsham rearguard kept us from further extending our lead, although full back Lewis Hyde had to leave the game on the half-hour after falling awkwardly while preventing Phillips from galloping away.
Much as the game began, the visitors forced a couple of corners in added time and the first of those was met by Scott Kirkwood at the near post, but Bishop was alert enough to get a firm hand on the ball and prevent it from going in.
HALF-TIME: 1 - 0
Horsham started the second-half with a high tempo and Bishop has to be alert to deal with a high up and under into our area on 50 minutes. Liam MacDevitt put our keeper under pressure but thankfully Bobby Price was in hand to block away a follow-up shot inside our box.
We responded as Murphy-McVey lofted a pass for Miller whom drew a foul while shuffling the ball out to Phillips. The referee played an advantage as our winger got inside the Horsham area but his low cross was hacked away.
Then an inswinging free-kick by Cheadle on 57 minutes just eluded Miller and Kalvin Morath-Gibbs at the back post.
We had a glorious chance on the hour to make it 2-0 as Miller broke the Horsham offside trap and latched onto Price's weighted through ball. Our top scorer managed to tee up Murphy-McVey but, from 12 yards, he only managed to strike the ball straight at Daly.
And we were punished for not turning our supremacy into more goals as Horsham's Tony Nwachukwu got free down the left on 67 and his cross was only cleared to Steve Metcalf whom rifled in from 15 yards.
It was frustrating for the home fans to take and we responded by bringing on Ola Sogbanmu and Ricky Korboa to freshen up our attack.
And both made an impact when we re-took the lead on 75 minutes - Sogbanmu won a tackle in the Horsham half, Adeniyi waltzed forward and held off a couple of challenges before slipping Korboa in and he beat Daly with a low angled drive into the bottom far corner.
We looked comfortable again but Nwachukwu threatened our lead on 81 - he burst through and forced Bishop into a low save and the ball bounced favourably for the attacker. All he had to do was lift the loose ball into an unguarded net but he guided it just wide of the far post.
Korboa and Horsham sub Toby House both had chances late on but our man was denied by Daly, while Horsham's top scorer fired wide across goal as the game entered added time.
Match highlights, video interviews and photos all to follow soon.
Next up
We travel to South Park on Monday 1st January before Sittingbourne visit us on Saturday 8th January.
Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Price (c), Morath-Gibbs, McLaughlin, Cheadle; L Phillips (Korboa - 68), Murphy-McVey (Sogbanmu - 68), Adeniyi, Aziaya, Miller; Bradford
Unused subs: Hamilton-Downes, Healy, Oshilaja
Goals: Bradford (17), Korboa (75)
Assists: L Phillips, Adeniyi
Booked: Miller
Horsham: Daly, Metcalf, Hartley, Adelukun, Hyde (Boiling - 31), Kirkwood (c), Gaylor, Bown (C Harris - 63), Boswell, Nwachukwu, MacDevitt (House - 68)
Unused subs: Duncan, Farmer, Harris
Goal: Metcalf (68)
Booked: C Harris, Hartley
Attendance: 415
Our 'Man of the Match': Tommy Bradford
Current league position: 4th (52 points - Lewes lead the way with 57)
Team news
Three changes from the draw against Corinthian Casuals as Mekhail McLaughlin, Levi Phillips and Brendan Murphy-McVey were all given rare starts. Ex-Robin Hakeem Adelukun lined up within the visitors' first eleven.
Kick-off
The game started pretty even-stevens as both teams probed forward - Horsham forced a couple of corners while we kept the ball well for long periods.
We carved out our first decent chance on nine minutes - a deep Mickel Miller cross was cushioned down by Peter Adeniyi towards the unmarked Phillips but, from six yards out, the young winger failed to connect with the ball.
But we stayed on the front foot with Tommy Bradford and Jordan Cheadle putting pot-shots just over from 20 yards.
And we took the lead on 17 minutes as Cheadle and Phillips combined on the left before the latter picked out Bradford in the box. He controlled the ball sublimely before shifting it onto his left foot and slamming home between Brannon Daly and the near post.
We continued to dominate possession but the Horsham rearguard kept us from further extending our lead, although full back Lewis Hyde had to leave the game on the half-hour after falling awkwardly while preventing Phillips from galloping away.
Much as the game began, the visitors forced a couple of corners in added time and the first of those was met by Scott Kirkwood at the near post, but Bishop was alert enough to get a firm hand on the ball and prevent it from going in.
HALF-TIME: 1 - 0
Horsham started the second-half with a high tempo and Bishop has to be alert to deal with a high up and under into our area on 50 minutes. Liam MacDevitt put our keeper under pressure but thankfully Bobby Price was in hand to block away a follow-up shot inside our box.
We responded as Murphy-McVey lofted a pass for Miller whom drew a foul while shuffling the ball out to Phillips. The referee played an advantage as our winger got inside the Horsham area but his low cross was hacked away.
Then an inswinging free-kick by Cheadle on 57 minutes just eluded Miller and Kalvin Morath-Gibbs at the back post.
We had a glorious chance on the hour to make it 2-0 as Miller broke the Horsham offside trap and latched onto Price's weighted through ball. Our top scorer managed to tee up Murphy-McVey but, from 12 yards, he only managed to strike the ball straight at Daly.
And we were punished for not turning our supremacy into more goals as Horsham's Tony Nwachukwu got free down the left on 67 and his cross was only cleared to Steve Metcalf whom rifled in from 15 yards.
It was frustrating for the home fans to take and we responded by bringing on Ola Sogbanmu and Ricky Korboa to freshen up our attack.
And both made an impact when we re-took the lead on 75 minutes - Sogbanmu won a tackle in the Horsham half, Adeniyi waltzed forward and held off a couple of challenges before slipping Korboa in and he beat Daly with a low angled drive into the bottom far corner.
We looked comfortable again but Nwachukwu threatened our lead on 81 - he burst through and forced Bishop into a low save and the ball bounced favourably for the attacker. All he had to do was lift the loose ball into an unguarded net but he guided it just wide of the far post.
Korboa and Horsham sub Toby House both had chances late on but our man was denied by Daly, while Horsham's top scorer fired wide across goal as the game entered added time.
Match highlights, video interviews and photos all to follow soon.
Next up
We travel to South Park on Monday 1st January before Sittingbourne visit us on Saturday 8th January.
Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Price (c), Morath-Gibbs, McLaughlin, Cheadle; L Phillips (Korboa - 68), Murphy-McVey (Sogbanmu - 68), Adeniyi, Aziaya, Miller; Bradford
Unused subs: Hamilton-Downes, Healy, Oshilaja
Goals: Bradford (17), Korboa (75)
Assists: L Phillips, Adeniyi
Booked: Miller
Horsham: Daly, Metcalf, Hartley, Adelukun, Hyde (Boiling - 31), Kirkwood (c), Gaylor, Bown (C Harris - 63), Boswell, Nwachukwu, MacDevitt (House - 68)
Unused subs: Duncan, Farmer, Harris
Goal: Metcalf (68)
Booked: C Harris, Hartley
Attendance: 415
Our 'Man of the Match': Tommy Bradford
Current league position: 4th (52 points - Lewes lead the way with 57)