Cray Wanderers fell to their first defeat of the season as Carshalton remained one of only two sides with a 100% winning start to the Isthmian Premier season.
Cray became the only side so far to score against the Robins through Alex Hernandez cancelling out a Nathan Young-Coombes strike, but Matty Yates goal proved decisive.
Cray had drawn their opening two games of the season but were unfortunate not to win against Cheshunt on Tuesday night. There were injuries for Quade Taylor and Soul Kader so there were three changes to the starting line up from the Cheshunt match. A new signing, midfielder Sammie McLeod began in place of Alfie Payne with Ola Ogunwamide in for Lateef Adaja and Dan Ajakaiye who came closest to winning the Cheshunt match started in place of Kader.
Carshalton had picked up two solid clean sheet wins at AFC Whyteleafe (2-0) on the opening day and defeated Wingate & Finchley also 2-0 on Monday night so there was no surprise that they were able to name an unchanged side.
On another warm and sunny afternoon, the first half in particular was a fine match played with attacking intent from both sides. Carshalton look a much different side to the one which struggled last season and had the first real opening when after a shot from Nathan Young-Coombes was charged down and Tope Fadanunsi set up Fabio Saraiva who always seems to play well against the Wands fired a shot over the top.
For Cray, Alex Hernandez cut inside and saw a low drive well held by Ben Duzinski. Cray won two or three corners or set piece positions but couldn’t quite make these tell. Hernandez hooked an effort over and then a ball across for Ade Yusuff with Dudzinksi looking to meet the striker went across goal and Dan Ajakaiye couldn’t get a touch. With the hydration break after twenty-two minutes Cray perhaps edged the opening exchanges.
On the half hour though Carshalton went in front when a rarer than hen’s teeth stray pass from Frankie Raymond found Nathan Young-Coombes who had an outstanding game and down the right of the area made no mistake slotting under Henry Molyneux and into the net.
Cray looked to respond instantly and down the right Ola Ogunwamide’s looping cross-shot was heading for the top left and forced Dudzinski to palm the ball over for a corner. Then Hernandez set up Yusuff whose effort was blocked.
Carshalton did end the half well and firstly down the left Tolu Ladapo saw his near post effort well blocked by Molyneux. The Wands custodian also did well to deny Ladapo again from Young-Coombe’s pass.
Before the break Saraiva fired a free kick over the top and Young-Coombes lashed an effort over the bar.
HT: 1-0
The second half in comparison to the first was a more scrappier affair with the rare sight of dark grey clouds up above saw the prospect of some wet stuff but never materialised.
In the 53rd minute the Carshalton rearguard was breeched for the first time this season when after a break McLeod found Ogunwamide down the right and his cross was accurate from Hernandez to get in front of a defender to steer the ball into the net from around eight yards.
Cray at this stage looked to have an element of control but five minutes later the Robins went back in front as Young-Coombes was again involved and his cross from the right was met by the head of Fadahunsi which hit the bar but fell invitingly for Matty Yates who turned the ball in from close range. Unfortunately, during the build up to the goal former Carshalton player Crossley Lema was injured and had to go off with Lateef Adaja coming on.
Another Young-Coombes cross just looped over the bar but Cray had another flurry and another substitute, Shae Hutchinson down the right set up Ogunwamide who looked certain to score but was denied by a block from Saraiva. Then Adaja’s ball across was finger tipped across goal by Dudzinski, but no-one could get a touch in the middle. Cray then had a more than legitimate claim for a penalty or at least a free kick outside the area when Yusuff went down in the box under a challenge from Prince Kandolo but much to the angst of the Wands fans no foul was given.
In the 76th minute Carshalton came close again when Yates saw a well struck shot come back off the left post and shortly after Young-Coombes hit a well struck shot which Molyneux did well to save with his legs.
Cray continued to seek a leveller and a Frankie Raymond free kick down the left was glanced wide by Hernandez as the game entered its final minute.
In six minutes of added time Carshalton looked to end with a flourish and another Young-Coombes delivery saw Fadahunsi get a header in on goal which Molyneux got down to save.
In the end the final whistle went and once again Cray who are in 16th place in the admittedly very early league table had contributed to the afternoon’s entertainment and never let their heads drop but Carshalton certainly looked like a side with the extra playoff places this season that could be there or thereabout. After a whistle stop start to the season with three quick games at least there is now a midweek break and after the weekend to perhaps get players with knocks a chance to recover. Carshalton are top on goal difference and visit Stanway Rovers next Saturday over Dartford who also have three wins out of three with Eastbourne Borough and Leatherhead the other unbeaten sides with seven points.
The Wands host pre-season league favourites Eastbourne Borough at Flamingo Park on Saturday which will be a massive occasion. Kick off 3 pm.
Carshalton Athletic: Ben Dudzinski, Denzel Owahene- Akyeampong, Ethan Kaiser, Prince Kandolo, Robert Howard (Nico Jones, 80), Jack Jebb (Tyrese Osbourne, 86), Fabio Saraiva (Capt.), Matt Yates (Joshua Koroma, 81), Nathan Young-Coombes, Tolu Ladapo (Renedi Masampu, 54), Tope Fadahunsi
Scorers: Young-Coombes 30, Yates 58
Booked: Kandolo 17, Masampu 70, Owoahene-Akyeampong 75
Cray Wanderers: Henry Molyneux, Crossley Lema (Lateef Adaja, 61), Bayli Spencer-Adams (Alfie Payne, 86), Rob Strachan, Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Sammie McLeod, Ola Ogunwamide, Dan Ajakaiye (Shae Hutchinson, 66), Alex Hernandez
Scorer: Hernandez 53
Booked: Hernandez 90+1
Referee: Harry Wood
Assistants: Thomas Ling, Louis Dawson
Att: 425
Images courtesy of Natalie Stribbling