Hayes Lane Monday, August 29th, 2011   Isthmian Premier Division Attendance: 177         Cray Wanderers 1-0 Carshalton Athletic
2011 /12

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Cray Wanderers 1 – 0 Carshalton Athletic Ryman Premier League Attendance: 177 Carshalton suffered their second defeat in as many days after failing to score in this Bank Holiday Monday fixture against Cray Wanderers. However the defeat could be considered a little harsh for The Robins who had chances to come away with something. Manager Paul Dipre opted for a 4-4-2 line up for this game with forward Dean MacDonald the one to miss out up front. He dropped to the bench along with Francis Quarm as returning midfielder Tom Davis partnered Billy Crook in the middle of the pitch. Both Joel Ledgister and Anthony Joseph started on the left and right of midfield respectively. The match was played at a ferocious pace from the first whistle and both teams didn’t shirk the physical side of the game as five yellow cards were dished out. Carshalton carved out the first real chance of the game on three minutes. Paul Vines won a free kick on the right and Justin Roberts met Crook’s delivery, but he couldn’t get his firm header on target. Dean Lodge seemed to relish partnering Vines up front and his pace complimented his fellow striker’s work ethic. Vines stole in behind the home defence on six minutes, but centre back Tyrone Sterling blocked his shot and then his attempted cross. Lodge then won a free kick on the edge of the Cray box, but Ledgister blasted it way over the crossbar. The Robins had a shout for a penalty on 10 minutes, Lodge again ran at the home defence but referee Leaf waved away the claims after he appeared to be bundled over. Two minutes later Lodge turned Sterling and jinked into the box onto his right foot, but he was shut down just as he was about to strike. With Roberts and David Ray dealing with Cray’s attempted attacks and keeping their top scorer Leigh Bremner quiet, The Robins were the team on top although neither goalkeeper had yet to be seriously tested. Carshalton nearly went ahead in the 21 minute. Ray headed a Crook corner back across the six yard box but Cray left back Alex Bentley cleared the ball out before anyone else could react. Ledgister picked up the over hit second corner on the right and he cut back onto his left foot, his delivery almost ending up in the top far corner. Bremner then showed his attacking flair, ghosting in unmarked at Carshalton’s back post to get his head to a cross, but he put his effort straight at Nick Hamaan. Vines then got on the end of a Ricardo Joseph cross but the ball hit his shin and rolled into the hands of Andy Walker. The game was very competitive and both midfields were denying each other space and time on the ball, and Cray’s Chris Saunders picked up the game’s first yellow card when he scythed down Davis. Carshalton then had another penalty claim dismissed, as Anthony Joseph’s cross meant for Crook struck the arm of a Cray defender but it was deemed accidental by the officials. As the first half drifted into injury time, Roberts picked up a booking for knocking Bremner down to the ground on the corner of the 18 yard box. With everyone lined up to deal with a cross, Cray left winger Jack Clark bent the ball around the wall and inside Hamaan’s near post and despairing dive to make it 1-0. MacDonald came on for Ledgister at the start of the second half and the match continued from where the first half ended. Davis got stuck into a challenge from the off, with Aaron Day receiving a caution for reacting angrily. The Carshalton fans were in fine voice and continued to support the team throughout. Anthony Joseph won a corner down the right after a good passing move involving Crook and Davis but, from the delivery, MacDonald had a shot cleared off the line. Bremner then had the freedom of The Robins box as he gathered a header, but he somehow managed to pick out Hamaan’s right post. Crook set MacDonald away down the left just before the hour and his wicked cross along the six yard box was just missed by the outstretched foot of Vines. That was Crook’s last involvement in the match and he was replaced by Francis Quarm Lodge sent a thunderous left foot shot just over the bar as the game went into the final 20 minutes. Both teams were still fighting tooth and nail to be the first to score the next goal, and Ray was booked for dissent after yet another tussle with Bremner. Quarm then looked long for Lodge up the middle and he ran through on goal, streaking past the covering Sam Long in the process. Walker came out to narrow the angle, but Lodge went round him and knocked his shot back towards the goal from a widening angle. However it just sailed over the right hand corner. With 15 minutes remaining Vines led the claims for a third Carshalton penalty after he appeared to have been pulled down in the home area. Referee Leaf waved play on and, on the break, Clark almost scored again but his 20 yard shot slammed the post and rolled out for a goal kick. As Carshalton pushed for an equaliser, Alex Bentley was booked for catching Lodge with a raised foot. The Robins thought they had snatched a point with five minutes remaining. Davis curled in a wicked cross into the Cray box and Vines powered home a header at the back post, but the linesman’s flag cut short the celebrations. “Cray are a fit bunch and did all the basics right today, but I didn''t think either team looked great in all honesty. Its plain to see that although our team has got some good ingredients I haven''t yet found the right recipe, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I am looking at different formations and options,” said manager Paul Dipre. “I gave our wide players a chance and I was disappointed that our midfield passing game was sacrificed a little but wasn''t replaced by anything from the wide areas. I had high hopes for the change and when we did deliver good balls into the box, Vines nearly scored from them. “There''s no doubt that our best performance of the day came from the stands, where the fans were superb. I''m sorry that we didn''t give them the result they deserved and we will be trying even harder to please them at Hastings.” Carshalton will be looking to put some points on the board at Hastings United on Saturday 3rd September, before hosting Billericay Town at home on 10th September. The Robins then travel to Horsham on Tuesday 13th September. Carshalton Athletic: Hamaan: Murphy, Ray (c), Roberts, R Joseph: A Joseph (Dipre), Crook (Quarm), Davis, Ledgister (MacDonald): Lodge Vines. Unused subs: Chalmers-Stevens, Kamara. Cray Wanderers: Walker: Long, Sterling, Willy (c), Bentley: Day, Saunders, Whitnell (Humphreys), Clark: Bremner, Phillips (Akosah). Unused subs: Dolby, Coleman, Parkinson. Goal: Clark (45+1)