A closely fought League Cup encounter with local opponents saw us eventually lose out via penalty kicks, writes James Barrett.
A stunning strike by midfielder Rob Carrick was the highlight of a decent second-half performance but Whyteleafe keeper Sheikh Ceesay claimed the glory with two saves in the shoot-out.
Team news: Boss Stuart Massey was able to select Bobby Price for the first time since the opening day of the season, while Carrick, Robert Tanner and Adriano Moraes were also recalled. Sean O’Toole, Brendan Murphy-McVey and Matt Males all dropped to the bench.
Price made a quick impact as his forward run forced a corner but Tony Sinclair volleyed Mickel Miller’s delivery wide from 15 yards.
The visitors’ first opportunity saw Sam Clayton miss a good chance from close range, while Price made a fine block to deny Greg Andrews space on the edge of our box. At the other end Carrick and Jamal Alexander both lined up efforts from distance but each missed the target.
Whyteleafe took the lead on 24 minutes as Nathan Simpson’s run found space down our left and ex-Robin Jason Henry bundled the cross in despite the close attentions of two men in red.
We went straight on the attack from the re-start and Price, Carrick and Miller worked the ball down the left before Moraes’ measured cross was headed out and Alexander’s drive was deflected off target.
As most players lined up for a delivery into the Leafe box on the half hour, Miller instead released Price down the right and his low cross was met by Moraes, but his shot was blocked by an outstretched defensive leg.
Our defence dealt with a couple of threatening attacks by the visitors before the break, while Michael Campbell cut an isolated figure as we struggled to create any more chances.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 1
Andrews fizzed a free kick into our side-netting on 52 minutes before Bradford struck a low shot wide from 20 yards following good work from Miller and Alexander to tee him up.
We had a fair shout for a penalty on the hour as Sinclair went to head a Miller cross goalwards from six yards, but he appeared to be nudged by his marker – referee Hayden waved away the calls however.
It was then Moraes who put a header off target on 66 minutes as he met a corner at full pelt and under pressure from Ceesay.
We switched to two up front as Alexander made way for Joshua Silvera and he played a neat one-two to get Price in down the right. Campbell met the cross with a deft header but Ceesay clawed it away from goal at full stretch.
But we equalised after a couple of minutes of sustained pressure around the Leafe area – a third corner won in quick succession was played short and Carrick came onto a further pass to blast a 25 yard strike into the top far corner.
Sinclair then became our shining light as he twice denied Leafe’s attacker in an unbelievable 10 seconds of football on 76 minutes.
Clayton broke beyond our backline and he managed to roll the ball past the oncoming Eden but our captain got back and slid in to knock the ball onto a post. While he was untangling himself from the net Leafe sub Shawn Lyle back heeled it back on target, but Sinclair was up and slammed the ball away on the line.
We hit our opponents on the break on 78 minutes as Moraes threaded a neat through ball into the path of Miller and his low cross found Campbell but the striker blazed an effort over from 15 yards.
We kept Leafe on the back foot for the final 10 minutes but couldn’t hit a second goal – the best opportunity saw Campbell drive a cross-shot across goal which was just too far in front of the incoming Silvera and Miller in the box.
Penalties:
0 – 1 Andrews: although Eden got a hand to it
1 – 1 Silvera: sent Ceesay wrong way
1 – 2 Lyle: sent Eden wrong way
2 – 2 Moraes: coolly slotted away
2 – 2 Graham: thumped a post
2 – 2 Carrick: Ceesay guessed right to save
2 – 3 Pratt: Smashed down the middle
2 – 3 Bradford: Ceesay palmed away high effort
2 – 4 Jensen hit the decider in
Next up: It’s back to league endeavours as Faversham Town arrive at Colston Avenue on Saturday 11th October. We then travel away to Three Bridges for an FA Trophy tie on Saturday 18th October before we welcome Egham Town for a Surrey Senior Cup match on Tuesday 21st October.
Carshalton Athletic: Eden; Price, McKinlay, Sinclair (c), Moraes; Bradford, Alexander (Silvera – 67), Tanner, Carrick, Miller; Campbell
Unused subs: O’Toole, Males, Murphy-McVey
Goal: Carrick (74)
Booked: Carrick, Bradford, Miller
Whyteleafe: Ceesay, Pratt, Simpson, Smith, Patterson-Bohner, Jensen (c), Clayton, Graham, Harper (Lyle - 57), Andrews, Henry (Fowler - 67) (Basker - 80)
Goal: Henry (24)
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