Match report - Phoenix Sports (a)

A feisty encounter ended honours even as we left Mayplace Road with a 1-1 draw, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

Team news
Ryan Healy came in for the departing Mickel Miller in the only change from the 5-1 win against East Grinstead Town.

Kick-off
The game was played in terrible conditions - the wind was so strong it was holding up goal-kicks or carrying through balls away from their intended targets; for the football purist, it was not.

Jordan Cheadle fired in a shot from 30 yards that had keeper Steve Phillips scrambling early doors, but clear cut chances were hard to come by until the 20th minute.

The home side should've really opened the scoring as Ashley Probets delivered an inswinging free kick that was met by Jack Barry, but the centre back put a free header wide from six yards.

It seemed inevitable that the deadlock would be broken via a set-piece and we won a corner in the 37th minute. Tommy Bradford sent over an inviting ball which Kalvin Morath-Gibbs powerfully headed home from around six yards.

The home side wanted a penalty in added time as Barry and Ola Sogbanmu tumbled while contesting a free kick into our area, but Carvalho blasted the loose ball way over from close range and the goal would've counted.

The referee had to deal with a melee as the players began to troop off the pitch at half-time, with Sports' Zak Byron allegedly sparking off an incident with Healy - tellingly the home midfielder didn't re-appear for the second-half.

HALF-TIME: 0 - 1

Our hosts came out on the front foot after the break and, after we failed to clear our lines properly from a throw-in deep inside our half, a loose ball was turned goalwards by Christie Pattison from 20 yards and it beat the dive of Bishop into the top corner.

We had to weather some more attacking play by our hosts before Ricky Korboa made a purposeful run on the left on 56 minutes. He finally fizzed a low ball across the six yard box and Bradford was just too slow sliding in to divert it on target.

Neither side really created much more going into the last 10 minutes but we did have a big opportunity to nick all three points on 86 minutes.

Bradford threaded a neat forward pass into a run by sub Raheem Sterling-Parker whom had beaten Barry for pace but, as the angle got tighter inside the area, his angled shot flew wide of the far post.

Match highlights and post-game interviews are available via robins.tv

Next up: We host Hythe Town on Saturday 3rd February before heading down to Lewes on Saturday 10th February.

Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Price (c), Morath-Gibbs, Dudley, Cheadle; Bradford, Healy (Adeniyi - 67), Aziaya, Korboa (Sterling-Parker - 75); Koroma (L Phillips - 67), Sogbanmu
Unused subs: J Phillips, Murphy-McVey
Goal: Morath-Gibbs (37)
Assist: Bradford
Booked: Dudley, Price

Phoenix Sports: Phillips, Andrews, Probets, Bryon (Miller - 46), Young, Barry (c), Carvalho, Robinson, Kessie, Ansah, Pattison
Unused subs: Adeyemo, Flynn, Kemp
Goal: Pattison (48)
Booked: Robinson, Carvalho

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

Attendance: 104

Current league position: 3rd with 62 points (Lewes lead the way on 67)

Club statement - Mickel Miller

We can formally announce forward Mickel Miller has been scooped up by Scottish Premiership club Hamilton Academical for an undisclosed fee.

Miller, a 21-year old Carshalton Athletic Academy graduate from South London, who has netted 25 times already this season, has been attracting increased attention from professional clubs since last season.

He was one of a select group of Non-League players invited to the Jamie Vardy Academy last summer which then led to a short trial with Sheffield United.

But it’s the Accies who have sealed a move that sees Miller sign a year-and-a-half contract and scale an equivalent six steps of the football pyramid.

Miller started with us at the age of 15 and made his first team debut two years later. He fast became a fans favourite known for his frightening turn of pace, quick feet and ferocious strike.

Miller scored his final goal as a Robin in the 5-1 win against East Grinstead Town at Colston Avenue earlier this month.

“I want to thank Paul Dipre for believing in me and Peter Adeniyi for the freedom to express myself since taking charge,” Miller said.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute at Carshalton, and the support from the staff and fans has meant so much to me, but this is the start of something new and I look forward to where it might take me.”

Club chairman Paul Dipre commented: “I am very pleased for Mickel and I’m sure it won’t be the last time he will make headlines.

“I would like to thank Ronnie MacDonald (Hamilton chairman) for the way the transaction has been conducted. On behalf of everyone at Colston Avenue I wish both Mickel and the Accies the best of luck in the seasons ahead.”

Miller came through our youth and academy system, being one of the first students since the Academy’s inception. He will follow an impressive list of former youngsters who have played for the Robins youth set-up including Millwall midfielder Jed Wallace.

In total, Miller made 118 appearances for us and scored over 50 goals.

Parking info for Saturday's away match

We have been asked by our friends at Phoenix Sports to tell any Robins fans looking to drive this Saturday the following information:

"Please note there is NO parking inside the ground at Phoenix Sports on Saturday. Parking is available in the school opposite the stadium. Also, please do not park on the double yellow lines around the ground as they are in constant use by the local council."

Kick-off between us and Phoenix Sports is 3pm on Saturday 27th January.

Match report - East Grinstead Town (h)

We made it four wins in four as we saw off a spirited East Grinstead Town on Saturday afternoon, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

Team news

Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, Ola Sogbanmu, Tommy Bradford, Michael Aziaya and Jordan Cheadle all returned to the starting line-up, with Raheem Sterling-Parker named among the subs for the first time since his injury sustained on Boxing Day.

Kick-off

We began on the front foot and forced the first real save of the game inside 10 minutes.

Tommy Bradford found some space in the Town box and he thrashed a low effort on target with the outside of his left foot, only for Risheet Lal to palm it round the far post.

But, on 14 minutes, Omar Koroma ran onto a long ball and Town skipper Dean Cooney clumsily chopped him down as they jockeyed inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot and our man beat Lal's low dive for his sixth goal in Robins red.

We were keeping possession well but Town tightened up after going behind and now stifled a lot of our forward play, with full back Craig Ferguson in particular executing a perfect tackle on Sogbanmu as our man almost wriggled free on goal.

And visiting winger Isaac Hutchinson gave Billy Bishop a couple of things to think about with shots from distance that had our keeper on his toes.

But, one minute before half-time, Sogbanmu won us a free kick inside their D. Up stepped Cheadle whom forced Lal into a low parry and Koroma was alert enough to nod the rising ball back into the net.

HALF-TIME: 2 - 0

Town came out more purposefully after the break and Will Hoare found space in our box to get the ball beyond Bishop, but Danny Dudley had read the situation and cleared the ball from virtually off his own line.

But the home fans didn't have too wait long to celebrate again as, while we tried to create something down the left, Lal made a hash of an attempted clearance and Sogbanmu lobbed the ball back first-time over the keeper and into an empty net.

Our visitors didn't flag however and continued to put us under pressure which culminated in a chance for Marcus Elliott whom smashed a half volley from 12 yards into the ground, but Bishop did excellently to palm the bouncing ball away.

We weren't to be denied though - we regained our composure and a fourth goal came on 70 minutes as Ricky Korboa latched on to a poor defensive header before drilling a low shot across Lal and in off the far post for his sixth of the season.

A welcome sight greeted the Robins faithful as Raheem Sterling-Parker was then sent on, but Town conspired to take the tarnish off our afternoon on 74 minutes.

We only half cleared a ball into our box and Elliott teed up the lively Hutchinson whom blasted a low effort in off a post from 18 yards.

That was the only blot on our copy book however, unless you count Korboa’s miss from six yards after sub Mickel Miller got down the right before picking out his teammate whom skied his effort over the bar.

But Miller had the final say as, in added time, he galloped down the right and teased his way past two markers on the byline before being bundled over. He picked himself up and beat Lal from 12 yards to wrap up yet another comprehensive victory.

Match highlights, photos and interviews all to follow soon.

Next up: We travel to Phoenix Sports on Saturday 27th January before hosting Hythe Town on Saturday 3rd February.

Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Oshilaja, Morath-Gibbs, Dudley, Cheadle; Bradford, Sogbanmu (Miller - 74), Aziaya (Adeniyi - 77), Hamilton-Downes (c), Korboa; Koroma (Sterling-Parker - 74)

Unused subs: L Phillips, Price

Goals: Koroma (14 pen, 44), Sogbanmu (53), Korboa (70), Miller (90 pen)

Assists: Cheadle, Sogbanmu

Booked: Hamilton-Downes

East Grinstead Town: Lal, Boulding, Ferguson, Wilson, Cooney (c), Bray, Hoare, Mazzone (Gaggin - 46), Postance (Giraud-Hutchinson - 74), Elliott, Hutchinson

Unused subs: Sargeant, Kitilaza

Goal: Hutchinson (74)

Booked: Wilson

Our 'Man of the Match': Ola Sogbanmu

Attendance: 343

Current league position: 3rd (61 points - Lewes 1st with 66)

Mickel Miller

Carshalton Athletic has agreed terms with Hamilton Academical of the Scottish Premiership for the transfer of Mickel Miller . We are hoping to finalise paperwork this week. A full announcement will me made upon completion of the transfer.

Match summary - Dorking W (a - Surrey Senior Cup 2nd round)

We went from pole-position to suffering a terrible end to our night as a late controversial penalty dumped us out the Surrey Senior Cup, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

Team news

Joe Jarrett was handed his full debut in midfield, while Mekhail McLaughlin, Mohammed-Idris Oshilaja, Ryan Healy, Brendan Murphy-McVey, Levi Phillips and Omar Koroma were given chances to impress. Ex-Robins Lewis Taylor and Sol Pinnock were in our hosts' squad.

We more than matched our Ryman Premier hosts for long periods of the game, with the pace of Phillips and Ricky Korboa providing their defence problems in particular.

The returning Koroma also looked sharp and had a fair shout for a penalty before half-time but it wasn't given.

Koroba sadly had to come off during the break after being on the receiving end of one too many late challenges but his replacement, Mickel Miller, opened the scoring in the 70th minute with his 23th strike of the season.

He almost doubled our lead a minute later but our top scorer watched as his firm shot cannon back off the crossbar.

But, with four minutes remaining, we allowed Dorking to level as Guiseppe Sole planted a free header on an 86th minute corner beyond Billy Bishop.

And things went from bad to worse before we could think about any upcoming penalty shoot-out as the referee adjudged a foul to be inside our area. Once our protests had been waved away, Sole stepped up and converted the spot-kick.

We suffered further in added time as Paris Hamilton-Downes picked up two yellow cards within the space of one minute, while Oshilaja was dismissed after the final whistle for dissent. 

Next up: We welcome East Grinstead Town on Saturday 20th January before travelling to Phoenix Sports on Saturday 27th January.

Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Oshilaja, Dudley, McLaughlin, Hamilton-Downes (c); Healy, Jarrett (Morath-Gibbs - 81), Murphy-McVey; Korboa (Miller - 46), Koroma, L Phillips

Unused subs: Healy, Bradford, Cheadle

Goal: Miller (70)

Booked: Hamilton-Downes

Sent-off: Hamilton-Downes, Oshilaja

Dorking Wanderers: Huk, Hamlin, Boulter, Dyett, Oakes, Moore, Taylor (Putman - 78), Sheridan, Chendlik, Tolfrey (Pearse - 64), Beard (Sole - 78)

Unused subs: Philpott, Pinnock

Goals: Sole (86, 90 pen)

Booked: Hamlin

Attendance: 102

Match report - VCD Athletic (a)

It was a comfortable visit to VCD Athletic as a slick first-half performance cemented the three points, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

Team news
Bobby Price and Paris Hamilton-Downes came back into the side, with the returning Omar Koroma named among the substitutes.

Kick-off
The first actual chance of the game fell to our hosts in six minutes but, after a neat take and spin, Ellis Brown blasted over from 18 yards.

But it didn't take us long to get off the mark as, on eight minutes, a short corner routine had Tommy Bradford seeing an angled shot blocked away. Jordan Cheadle fired an effort back in and Ola Sogbanmu guided the ball beyond Joe Mant for his second of the season. 

Sogbanmu, who played at centre forward for this one, was in the mood and he hassled a hesitant Dan Smith two minutes later before bustling through on goal. Unfortunately however, with only Mant to beat, our man put a low effort wide of the far post.

VCD were wasteful with possession during the opening 45 minutes and so we enjoyed long spells with the ball, eventually doubling our lead on 18 minutes after Cheadle forced Mant into a spectacular save with a 30 yard free kick.

So we had another corner, this time delivered in by Bradford, and it was flicked on at the near post only for Junior Baker to deflect the ball past a statuesque Mant by an opponent.

Our tails up, and with Billy Bishop as a virtual spectator, we kept foraging forward and we thought we had a third after Mickel Miller acrobatically finished a flicked on cross via Kalvin Morath-Gibbs but the linesman gave our top scorer as offside.

But we didn't have to wait too much longer before we did further extend our lead.

Sogbanmu and Ricky Korboa combined on 27 minutes to get Mickel Miller away down the left. He eventually dinked a cross over to the back post and, as he didn't stop running, Sogbanmu planted a simple header int the back of the net.

And our fourth arrived five minutes before the break via an unusually 'route one' method.

Sogbanmu flicked on a Bishop goal kick and Bradford stole in between two defenders to run clear, neatly slot the ball beyond the exposed Mant and send our supporters into raptures.

HALF-TIME: 0 - 4

Levi Phillips was introduced at the start of the second period and he almost grabbed our fifth on 54 minutes.

Sogbanmu played a neat through ball that the young winger pounced on - he watched the bounce and didn't rush but Mant got down and denied Phillips with a strong hand.

But our hosts made it more of a game after the break and almost reduced the arrears on the hour, but Aymun El-Moyhalbel saw his snapshot from 18 yards hit the near post.

VCD kept up the pressure around our box however and, within a throng of players, Danny Dudley's attempted back-pass to Bishop carried too much weight and the ball nestled inside the far post.

But we didn't allow them to get any further back into the game and Sogbanmu was millimetres away from completing a hat-trick as he stretched for a Bradford cross-shot on 70 minutes. 

We lost Bobby Price and Korboa to small knocks by the 75th minute mark, but sub Omar Koroma gave us an injection of pace up top and twice he came close to adding a goal late on.

Match highlights, interviews and photos to come.

Next up: we go to Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday 16th January in the Surrey Senior Cup. We then host East Grinstead Town on Saturday 20th January.

Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Price (Oshilaja - 65), Morath-Gibbs, Dudley, Cheadle; Miller (L Phillips - 46), Bradford, Aziaya, Hamilton-Downes (c), Korboa (Koroma - 76); Sogbanmu
Unused subs: Healy, Adeniyi
Goals: Sogbamnu (8 and 27), Baker (18 og), Bradford (40)
Assists: Cheadle, Miller, Sogbanmu

VCD Athletic: Mant, Imudia, Awotwi, Baker (c), Smith (Gorbell - 33), Blackwood, Adebayo, Gordon, Brown, Mfula (Darboe - 33), El-Moyhalbel

Unused subs: Kamara, Akanbi, Ajeon

Goal: Dudley (61 og)

Our 'Man of the Match': Ola Sogbanmu

Attendance: 83

Current league position: 4th (58 points - Lewes top with 63)

New trial dates

Player interview - Mickel Miller

Forward Mickel Miller was ‘spot-on’ last weekend as his hat-trick kept up our assault on the Bostik South summit, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

We saw off visiting Sittingbourne 3-0 last Saturday, with Miller confidently dispatching two penalties and adding a superbly-taken strike late on, meaning we have now only suffered one defeat in our last 15 games.

We currently sit fifth in the league and only five points behind leaders Lewes, although other clubs in the play-off positions have games in hand.

“We stuck to our game plan and it eventually paid off,” said Miller who now has 22 goals to his name this season.

“They sat back and gave us a lot of time on the ball, so we had to be patient. We could relax a bit after the first penalty and we created more opportunities in the second-half.”

Our success from the spot has been hit and miss throughout this season but Miller confidently stuck away the pair of penalties awarded either side of half-time.

And he will not give up the responsibility easily, even with more experienced players like Jordan Cheadle and Raheem Sterling-Parker in the mix.

“They’ve had their chances so I’m on them now – until I miss!” he smiled.

“I’ve been practising my shooting a lot as I’ve been told I need to be more composed. Thankfully it’s been paying off recently.”

Our next match is a trip to VCD Athletic on Saturday 13^th January (kick-off 3pm).

Match report - Sittingbourne (h)

We put in a professional performance as it took time, and two penalties, to see off a dogged Sittingbourne on Saturday, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

Team news

Danny Dudley, Mohammed-Idris Oshilaja, Ricky Korboa and Ola Sogbanmu all returned to the starting line-up from last time out.

Kick-off

The visitors were appealing for a spot-kick as early as the first minute in this one as Oshilaja and Tyrone Guthrie bumped together in our box, but the referee waved play on.

But the opening 15 minutes basically saw us keeping possession for long spells as Sittingbourne were happy to just sit back and press when we got into their half.

The first shot of the game arrived on 17 minutes and, surprisingly, it fell to the visitors but Miles Cornwell fired as far wide from 25 yards as his first name would suggest.

We carved open their back line on 19 minutes as Peter Adeniyi got Mickel Miller away down the left. Sittingbourne wanted offside but our man cut into the box before picking the unmarked Korboa out back on the edge but, instead of lining up a shot, last week's match winner tried to beat a defender and the chance went.

Adeniyi stride forward again a minute later but, after a neat one-two with Sogbanmu, he didn't catch his shot and Harry Brooks easily gathered.

Sittingbourne were seemingly happy to just clear their lines when they won back possession but one move, on 26 minutes, ended with Dudley heading away a dangerous inswinging cross by Salvyn Kissitu.

Although he ended the game as our hat-trick hero, Miller's first real display of action came on 31 minutes - he cut inside from the right and unleashed a wicked curled effort from 20 yards that seemed destined to nestle in the top corner. Enter Brooks: the keeper flung himself across and tipped the ball over at full stretch.

It was a similar set-up a few minutes later but this time Miller shot low and the ball deflected off Korboa as he made a forward run - but the ball flew just wide of the near post.

But we eventually made our pressure count as Sogbanmu was felled just inside their box on 44 minutes and Miller stepped up to beat the dive of Brooks for his 20th of the season.

HALF-TIME: 1 - 0

We continued with our passing game after the break and Michael Aziaya, who impressed across the 90 minutes with his energy and break-up play, won a loose ball which Sogbanmu neatly flicked on for Bradford. He looked up and spotted the run of Miller but our goalscorer was flagged just offside.

Kalvin Morath-Gibbs managed to read a Mbolaji Dawodu through ball on 55 minutes and prevent Kane Rowland a glimpse of our goal.

But we doubled our lead just after the hour after Bradford wriggled free in the visitors' box and was bundled over by Chris Webber. The referee pointed to the spot and, after the official booked two Sittingbourne players for dissent, Miller this time sent Brooks the wrong way for 2-0.

Bradford then worked a couple of good openings, firstly by finding an unmarked Korboa who could've got a shot off with his left foot from 15 yards. He didn't and, as Sittingbourne got men back in the six yard box, our man could then only hit the side-netting.

Then, on 72 minutes, Bradford got onto a booming clearance and nodded the ball forward twice before forcing Brooks into a low save from 20 yards.

A minute later and Aziaya broke up another Sittingbourne foray before Korboa got Miller into the box but, again, Brooks parried away his angled drive.

A Sittingbourne free kick was hit too deep on 88 minutes and Cheadle cleared his lines. Miller and Korboa were left three-on-two but the former headed the ball on for Korboa to burst in on goal, but Brooks got down to push his shot away.

There was a sweet end to this game however as, in added time, Miller cut inside on a ball into the visitors' area and he curled a powerful effort beyond Brooks for his treble.

Match highlights, post-match interviews and photos coming soon.

Next up

We visit VCD Athletic on Saturday 13th January before East Grinstead Town come to us on Saturday 20th January.

Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Oshilaja, Morath-Gibbs (c), Dudley, Cheadle; Korboa, Aziaya, Adeniyi, Bradford, Miller; Sogbanmu (Hamilton-Downes - 78)

Unused subs: McLaughlin, J Phillips, L Phillips, Murphy-McVey

Goals: Miller (44 pen, 64 pen, 90)

Assists: Sogbanmu, Bradford

Booked: Miller

Sittingbourne: Brooks, Webber, Kissitu, Davisson (Parkinson - 75), Gorham (c), Coker, Phillip (Elliott - 75), Dawodu, Rowland, Cornwell (Okimeji - 58), Guthrie

Unused subs: Allan, Carey

Booked: Dawodu, Kissitu, Davisson

Our 'Man of the Match': Michael Aziaya

Current league position: 5th (55 points - Lewes top with 60)

Match postponed today

‪Today's match (Monday 1st) vs South Park is OFF due to a waterlogged pitch - please do not travel. A rearranged date will be made in due course.