Friendly – 3rd September 2005

Carshalton got over the disappointment of the late calling-off of their midweek game against Royal Sun Alliance when they gained a superb morale-boosting win over their hosts Old Salesians at Old Schools Lane, Ewell on Saturday.

As always this annual fixture between the local rivals was eagerly contested although the home side were noticeably quicker out of the blocks which resulted in them just about shading a decent first half and going in at the break one goal to the good.  The goal in the 20^th minute was something of a gift from an unusually static Cars back-four that had left the grateful Salesians centre-forward on his own in front of goal and able to take all the time he needed to score with a well-directed header.

The second half started with Cars going in search of an equaliser, which arrived as early as the 47^th minute courtesy of midfielder Alex Corner who, having controlled Stuart Jeffreys' low driven free-kick and whilst holding off two defenders turned to fire home.  Straight from the restart the ball was lost by Salesians in their own half and Shane Bowes was on hand to take advantage, running onto a through ball before rounding the keeper and scoring Cars second in as many minutes, with a shot from an acute angle.   Cars third goal came along ten minutes later when Stuart Jeffreys scored with a speculative long-range effort that had the home keeper flapping at air.  Moments later the home side pulled a goal back to reduce the arrears and then with fifteen minutes remaining found an equaliser to set-up a great finale to what had become a very good pre season contest.  On 74 minutes Cars’ manager Ian Lewis having entered the fray as a second half substitute, put his team back in front when he ‘George Best-like’ rounded the keeper to slot home into an empty net.  Further chances followed for the Beddington Park outfit and it was no surprise when two minutes from time Bowes secured a well-earned victory hitting his second of the afternoon following a great run and finish.  Incidentally, this was goalkeeper Terry Vinson’s first win at any level against Salesians – a victory that has finally arrived as he enters his 25^th season with the Club.

Beddington Hotspur