SAL - 13th February 2010

Carshalton 1s cemented their position at the top of the table with a convincing and professional demolition of a Kew side that has been struggling all season. That said it took over 20 minutes for Carshalton to really take control of the match with possession being given away too quickly and the Cars players trying almost too hard to make something happen. Kew even fashioned a couple of decent chances with Martin Bruce pulling off a fine save to deny their striker after he had barged his way through the defence.

After 20 minutes an accurate long ball forward from James Horton set Frazer Addo clear of his marker only for the keeper to charge out of his goal and bring him down. The referee pointed to the spot, Webbo strode purposefully forward, Manager Wigham told Dave Tilley to take it, but Webbo (who hasn't missed a penalty all season) grabbed the ball placed it on the sport and struck it firmly into the bottom left hand corner.

The goal appeared to take the wind out of Kew but also calmed Carshalton and from that point on the boys in green started to play some lovely football, with Scott and Fisky dominating the middle of the park and the two fullbacks, Webbo and Horton seeing plenty of the ball on the wings. A terrific delivery from a corner by Dave Tilley was attacked by Andy Taylor and his flicked header flew into the roof of the net to make it two nil. Five minutes before half-time and Carshalton scored the best goal of the match. Fisk and Andy Taylor played a neat one-two on the edge of the box before Fisk smashed the ball in off the under-side of the crossbar.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the end of the first with Carshalton on the front foot. Frazer Addo marked his second appearance for the first team with a 15 minute hat-trick. His first was a tap-in after he had crossed to Andy Taylor who smashed it back across goal for Addo to tap in. Ten minutes later and he met an Andy Taylor cross with a firm header to make it five nil. He rounded of his hat-trick by turning his marker on the edge of the box and smashing his shot passed the keeper. All in all an excellent contribution from the newcomer having also won the penalty in the first half that saw Carshalton take the initiative. 

Adam Taylor rounded of proceedings by scoring the seventh and Carshalton had improved their goal difference to +18 and maintained their position at the top of the table. With seven games remaining Carshalton are in great shape and next week's home game against Norseman could have a major bearing on the destination of the Division 2 title.

It was an excellent team performance with Ritchie and Rees dominating defensively and Webbo and Horton willing and able to press forward throughout the match. Scott and Fisk had fine games in the middle and Andy Taylor, though out of position on the right, was always a threat scoring one and setting up three others. Dave Tilley dictated play down the left, and Addo and Adam Taylor worked tirelessly up front. A complete performance and one we need to replicate next Saturday in the biggest match of the season so far. I'm not sure I've ever written a match report without mentioning myself, but as I only came on for 20 minutes and my most notable contribution was to attempt a back-heel only to find the ball still under my foot seconds later, much to the amusement of my team-mates, I think it best to pass over my short cameo performance.

Simon Clare