Saturday was our biggest test of the season by a long way; travelling to unbeaten Polytecnic in a bid to turn them over and give a massive boost to our promotion chances. What didn’t help us was that we were without four regulars in Scott, Fisky, Andy Taylor and Rob Morley. Draft in super sub Keith though and all our worries disappeared.

Into the game and the first 15 minutes was all about Poly showing us why they were unbeaten, first to the ball and moving around the pitch quickly. But for all their early dominance Neil didn’t have to make one save. As the first half wore on Carshalton started to find their feet and suddenly Poly had some real competition, especially in the middle of the park where Dave Tilley and Richie Smith were starting to win anything that came their way. Carshalton harried Poly and forced them into giving the ball away needlessly. The game was being played at a frantic pace but neither team could carve out any real chances. The highlight of the first half came when a sweeping Carshalton move down the left flank found Dave Tilley on the edge of the box but the keeper was just able to hold on to Dave’s stinging shot.

The second half started at the same pace the first had finished with Poly perhaps enjoying a bit more possession at the beginning. Still the game was on a knife-edge and you just knew that the first goal would be the winning goal. Chances were again few and far between, JP trying to lob the keeper from all of 40 yards. The keeper was beaten but the ball sailed just wide. Another chance for JP on the edge of the box after Wiggy had laid off the ball straight to his feet but his volley was straight at the keeper. Kev Macleod had a volley from the edge of the box following a Swanny knock down from a corner but again Carshalton couldn’t find the target. Up the other end Bill had to clear off the line after a bit of a goalmouth bundle. As the game reached its climax Carshalton got another corner. As Dave Tilley was arriving at the far post his marker pushed the ball out with his hand. Surely the ref would have seen that. The ref blew his whistle – for a foul by Dave. Rubbish! Dave never touched him, even the Poly players knew that. We felt robbed but a few minutes later as Bill went to clear the ball it bounced up and struck his hand, again the ref blew and again it was for a foul. Sighs of relief all around. That was the last action of the game. Apparently it was great to watch, although it felt a bit scrappy at times. The pitch was in a shocking condition; we would have been better off playing on tarmac.

Top performance from everyone this week. No one went missing and it would be too hard to give a MOM this week but I felt that Dave, Bill and Richie stood out from the crowd. Well-done lads. Promotion is still on but we must beat Bank of England in two weeks time. Everyone needs to be there.

Jonny Phillips