We won this clash of promotion hopefuls as two second-half wonder strikes helped us see off Cray Wanderers, writes James Barrett-Sterling.
Team news
New signing Christie
Pattison was handed his debut and Ola Sogbanmu returned for Omar Koroma and
Danny Dudley respectively.
Kick-off
Hayes Lane was bathed in
sunlight as the game begun and Raheem Sterling-Parker teed up Jordan Cheadle on
the edge of Cray’s box but, under pressure, his side-footed effort in the third
minute bent wide of the far post.
Billy Bishop was called
into early action as he got down low to deny Dadson and, thankfully, Michael
Power steered the rebound wide from close range.
The fast start to the
game remained as Jay Leader’s speculative shot from distance was tipped round
by Bishop and, after a poor corner delivery, we broke with Peter Adeniyi
finding Michael Aziaya.
Our midfielder looked up
and fed a lovely through ball for Sterling-Parker to race onto but keeper Nick
Blue spread himself and blocked the dinked shot.
Both sides were happy to
allow each other possession in their respective halves, but defences were on
top when attacks threatened to start looking tasty.
We almost unlocked the
door on 28 minutes as Sogbanmu lost, but then subsequently regained, possession
just outside the Cray 18-yard box. He shuffled the ball into Pattison whom cut
inside and lifted an inviting cross towards the incoming Sterling-Parker but
the delivery was millimetres too high.
The home side won a free
kick on 39 minutes as Paris Hamilton-Downes halted a forward run by Power 20
yards from goal, but Bishop comfortably gathered Dent’s low strike on goal.
We almost finished the
half with a flourish as Pattison showed good determination down the right to
get past a couple of opponents and into the box. His square ball was met by a
combination of Sterling-Parker and a defender and the ball agonisingly rolled
wide of the near post.
The referee awarded us a
corner that was met by the oncoming Kalvin Morath-Gibbs but the bouncing ball
came off his thigh and flew wide as he failed to set himself properly.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0
It did seem like
something special, or indeed comical, or maybe controversial would break the
deadlock in this one but it turned out to be pure simple luck.
Cray’s Aaron Rhule won
possession by the centre circle and set off towards goal, eventually getting
down the far side of our box. He knocked a cross over towards the back post
area and the ball sailed just inside the far post.
We responded straightaway
as Bobby Price galloped forward a minute later but his angled drive was well
held by Blue.
Tommy Bradford and
Sterling-Parker combined on the hour mark and the latter’s cross found Sogbanmu
by the penalty spot. He managed to steady himself and get a shot off, but an
outstretched defensive leg blocked the ball away.
But we kept plugging away
and, on 71 minutes, Pattision made a driving run through the middle of the
pitch before being hauled down 30 yards from goal.
Up stepped Cheadle – he hadn’t
scored since November but he left Blue rooted as he angled his free kick just
under the top near corner for his sixth of the season.
And our travelling fans
were overjoyed just two minutes later as Sogbanmu was found with a throw in and
he spun to play in Pattison whom took a touch with his right before rifling a
left-footed effort beyond Blue.
We had a chance to add a
gloss to the final score on 87 minutes as sub Ricky Korboa found himself on the
ball six yards from goal but, although he managed to get the ball over the
oncoming Blue, he lifted his shot off target.
All the goals, highlights
and post-match interviews are available via robins.tv
Next up: We play host to Thamesmead Town on Saturday
24th February. We then travel to Herne Bay on Saturday 3rd March.
Carshalton
Athletic: Bishop; Price,
Morath-Gibbs, Hamilton-Downes (c), Cheadle; Sogbanmu (Dudley - 89), Aziaya,
Adeniyi; Bradford, Sterling-Parker (O'Sullivan - 80), Pattison (Korboa - 77)
Unused subs: Healy, Koroma
Goals: Cheadle (72), Pattison (75)
Assists: Pattison, Sogbanmu
Booked: Hamilton-Downes, Korboa
Cray Wanderers: Blue, Mundele, Williams, Leader, Nelson,
Henry (Frieter - 79), Carpenter (c), Dent, Power (McDonald - 57), Rhule, Dadson
(Scott - 68)
Unused subs: Evans, Vines
Goal: Rhule (51)
Booked: Rhule, Dent, Carpenter, Williams, Leader
Our 'Man of the
Match': Michael Aziaya
Attendance: 318
Current league
position: 4th (68 points - Lewes
lead with 71)