It was a hard-earned three points as we eventually completed a League double over visiting Hythe Town, writes James Barrett-Sterling.
Team news
Peter Adeniyi, Paris Hamilton-Downes and Raheem Sterling-Parker all came into the side, while new signing Rian O'Sullivan, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, was named on the bench.
Kick-off
It was a wet and grey afternoon as the game began in light drizzle and the first real opening didn't arrive until the 13th minute.
Adeniyi poked a through ball for Sterling-Parker to latch onto but, from a narrow angle, our top scorer bent a shot just over the top far corner.
Defences were certainly on top as the forwards found it difficult to win much in the air, although Zak Ansah hit a bobbling shot across Billy Bishop's goal from 18 yards.
Hamilton-Downes fancied his chances from 20 yards on 22 minutes but failed to hit the target as chances were kept at a premium.
But we finally broke the deadlock just after the half-hour as Sterling-Parker was played in down the left and he cut inside Michael Turner before unleashing a low shot that curled inside the bottom far corner.
Our joy was short-lived however as, less than four minutes later, the lively Ryan Palmer delivered a cross from deep and Dos Santos got free to plant a header beyond Bishop from seven yards.
Town threatened again on 40 minutes as Webster picked out an unmarked Chris Kinnear 20 yards from goal. The midfielder powered a shot which took a slight nick off the covering Hamilton-Downes and the ball thankfully crashed off the crossbar.
Town threatened again on 40 minutes as Webster picked out an unmarked Chris Kinnear 20 yards from goal. The midfielder powered a shot which took a slight nick off the covering Hamilton-Downes and the ball thankfully crashed off the crossbar.
And the visitors had an opportunity to take the lead just before the break after Kinnear was bundled over by Michael Aziaya, but Ryan Palmer bent the free kick wide of the far post.
HALF-TIME: 1 - 1
Ola Sogbanmu was introduced for the start of the second-half but defences continued to dominant proceedings.
Adeniyi and Bradford combined to get Koroma a glimpse of goal, but a defensive leg stretched out to block. At the other end and Bishop was alive to a burst forward by Chapman to smother the ball travelling fast on the slick surface.
Sogbanmu and then Koroma did well to flick on a Billy Bishop clearance on 55 minutes and Sterling-Parker burst beyond the Town defence, but his first touch was heavy and it gave Godmon the chance to come out and eventually block our man's eventual shot away.
Sogbanmu and then Koroma did well to flick on a Billy Bishop clearance on 55 minutes and Sterling-Parker burst beyond the Town defence, but his first touch was heavy and it gave Godmon the chance to come out and eventually block our man's eventual shot away.
In hindsight it always seemed the two sides would be separated by 'something' and we given a chance to take the lead from the spot on 72 minutes.
Bradford played a delightful through ball for Adeniyi to run onto beyond the Town backline. Godmon did well to slide out and block the ball away with his legs, as our player/manager considered rounding him, but the ball found it's way back to Bradford.
He came forward with purpose and was up-ended by a late challenge by Godmon just inside the area - once the dust had settled, and the referee dished out several talking-tos, Koroma calmly stroked home his eighth goal in eight appearances.
And we held on for the three points, with both sub Ricky Koboa and Bradford denied by Godmon late on, ahead of consecutive visits to the only two clubs above us in the league - Lewes and then Cray Wanderers.
Match highlight and post-match interviews coming soon via robins.tv
Next up: We travel to league leaders Lewes on Saturday 10th February. We then visit Cray Wanderers on Saturday 18th February.
Carshalton Athletic: Bishop; Price, Morath-Gibbs, Dudley (Sogbanmu - 46), Cheadle; Hamilton-Downes (c), Adeniyi, Aziaya; Bradford, Koroma, Sterling-Parker (Korboa - 80)
Unused subs: Healy, O'Sullivan, Murphy-McVey
Goals: Sterling-Parker (32), Koroma (76 pen)
Assists: Cheadle, Bradford
Hythe Town: Godmon, Turner, Webster, Kinnear, Johnson (c), Dickenson, Campbell, Chapman (Phillips - 80), Ansah, Dos Santos, Palmer
Unused subs: Stirmen, Owen, Nurden, Capel
Goal: Dos Santos (36)
Booked: Godmon, Webster
Our 'Man of the Match': Michael Aziaya
Attendance: 335
Current league position: 3rd on 65 points (Lewes 1st with 68)