A first win of the season was chalked up after we came from behind to maintain our unbeaten run, writes James Barrett.
We conceded our first goal after 211 minutes of play but made up for that disappointment by bagging our first goals of the season to gain victory.
Manager Stuart Massey deployed Jordan Higgs down the right as Bobby Price remains injured and Ricardo Panton continues down the road to full fitness. Robert Carrick was given his first start in the middle of the park, while Paul Scott replaced the injured Kingsley Aikhionbare up front.
There were no real chances carved out by either side in the first 10 minutes before Walton striker Andrew Mensah dinked an effort over Jack Eden’s far corner from 10 yards.
Henry made a good forward run on 12 minutes and Jamal Alexander threaded through a tantalising pass, but it had just too much zip on it for the forward to latch on to.
Both defences continued to be on top and efforts on goal were at a real premium until the home side took the lead on 31 minutes.
A free kick into our box was flicked on and Vernon Francis was stronger than Jack Eden on winning the loose ball. He eventually flicked it home off the under side of the crossbar from a tight angle.
The Robins tried to rally but Henry only found keeper Gary Ross with a low 25 yard free kick, while Scott appealed for a penalty after seemingly being shoved in the home box. We got back on level terms just before the break however.
A deep cross by Higgs was taken down by Henry who tried to fashion some space for a shot. As he skipped across a couple of challenges in the box Alexander came onto the ball and walloped a first-time shot past Ross for his - and the club’s - first goal of the season.
HALF-TIME: 1 – 1
The hosts forced four consecutive corners early on but we withstood the pressure and had another appeal for a penalty turned down on 50 minutes.
Scott put Henry clear through on goal but the ball got stuck under his feet a little as he considered shooting. The forward held it up and Carrick eventually took it on and slipped a pass into Scott who went down under some pressure.
Both sides made substitutions around the hour mark but defences had re-established their rule as chances became a premium.
Rhys Coleman took a quick throw into Henry on 70 minutes and the forward turned and ran for goal. He jinked past a couple of half-hearted tackles to get 15 yards from goal but his shot was gathered at the second attempt by Ross.
Massey used his third substitution to bring on young Mickel Miller and it only took the forward four minutes to make a mark.
Tony Sinclair’s long clearance was flicked on by Scott and Miller broke the offside trap to run clear. He kept his composure to power a low flicked effort past the advancing Ross and into the back of the net from 12 yards.
Fellow sub Panton picked out Tommy Bradford with a neat through ball a minute later but a recovering defender just did enough to close down the forward’s space in the box.
Walton winger Jack Battie did well to take down a high pass and hit a half-volley on 85 minutes but Eden got down at his near post to save it and keep us in front. We went on to add some gloss to the result deep into added time.
A poor defensive header went to Scott and he lofted a ball over the top for Miller to latch on to in the box. He was too wide to threaten goal but held it up as Paris Hamilton-Downes provided some support down the left. His low cross was met by an oncoming Carrick who slid in and guided the ball goalwards. A defender cleared it after the ball had just crossed the line, as the linesman signalled for a goal, but Scott rammed the ball home just in case.
Next up: We welcome Worthing on Tuesday 19th August before travelling to Walton Casuals on Saturday 23rd August. There is then a local derby as Tooting and Mitcham visit us on Monday 25th August.
Carshalton Athletic: Eden; Higgs (Panton – 61), Coleman, Sinclair (c), Hamilton-Downes, O’Toole (Campbell - 55); Carrick, Alexander, Bradford; Scott, Henry (Miller – 71)
Unused subs: Moraes, Dukali
Goals: Alexander (44), Miller (75), Carrick (90)
Booked: Panton
Walton and Hersham: Ross, Daily, Farrell, Scarlett, Clark (c), Mbaye, Battie, Francis, Mensah, Dalhouse (Hemmings – 67), Ogun (Bonnett – 57)
Unused subs: Thompson, Ajeon, Blackwood
Goal: Francis (31)
Booked: BonnettFor all of the latest details of the club go to http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/carshaltonafc/