AFA Intermediate Cup Preliminary Round– 17th September 2005

A workmanlike performance on Saturday from a weakened Carshalton team was enough to see them progress through to the next round of the AFA Intermediate Cup, defeating a spirited Old Stationers team at the Old Elizabethan Sports Ground in Barnet.

Although both sides started brightly it was Cars that looked to have settled into their stride the quicker of the two, forcing as they did a succession of early corners and looking dangerous from the many free-kicks conceded by Stationers around their own 18-yard box.  Midway through the first half the home side themselves looked to have finally settled and as a result they began to come more into the contest, which led to some anxious moments for Cars down both flanks as they were attacked with much gusto by the Stationers’ wide men.  However, the Cars back line held firm under some sustained Stationers’ pressure and after a very competitive first 45 minutes the teams went into the break with the tie goal less.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with chances very much at a premium, the forwards struggling, defenders well on top, and with this extra-time seemingly a real possibility. As the game wore on though, and with the home players tiring in the heat, it was Cars who began to exploit the gaps, the openings at last appearing as their midfield took control of the proceedings.  Cars looked to have made the breakthrough on the hour mark when Paul Pearce just a yard out stretched to meet a cross, incredibly the young striker was unable to make a decent contact and the chance was gone, the ball running up off the toe of his boot and over the bar. Cars were looking now by far the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock and they didn’t have to wait much longer for the opening goal of the tie - Gary Cummings in the 68^th minute hitting a screamer from the edge of the area, which flew beyond the Stationers keepers’ despairing dive.  Almost immediately from the restart Stationers should have been level.  The fact that they weren’t was down to Ross Sinclair who pulled off an amazing reflex stop to turn the ball up and over his bar after a Stationers’ forward had looked nailed-on to score from inside the six-yard box; indeed, so certain had the equaliser looked, the unfortunate forward was well into his celebrations as the ball rolled down the back of the net for a corner only. On 80 minutes the tie was effectively over when Neal Collard found Paul Pearce with a pinpoint through ball and the speedy Cars forward run-in on goal to slot past the keeper having first evaded the cynical attempt of the Stationers’ centre-back to bring him down.  Although the hosts rallied in the closing minutes they never really worried Cars who successfully played out time to secure their place in the first round.

Missing a number of players from his recognized starting line-up this result will be viewed as a good one by Cars manager Ian Lewis whom, despite seeing his team failing perhaps to fire on all cylinders had nevertheless seen some good individual performances.  The performances of midfielders Stuart Jefferys and Andy Clower, and also that of skipper Chris Tilley will all have pleased him.  As good as they were though, none came close to the performance of MOM Sinclair - not only had he in the second half produced an early contender for save of the season but his positioning and handling throughout the tie had been straight from the top drawer.

Beddington Hotspur