SAL Division 2 – 29th October 2005

In a match that at least on paper promised to be the second division’s match of the day, Carshalton produced a magnificent all round team performance to defeat last season’s division three champions Merton having made the relatively short journey across to the Joseph Hood Recreation Ground in Morden.

Merton were by far the quicker out of the blocks, forcing as they did the first corner of the game inside the opening minute – the kick though comfortably defended by Cars.  The visitors soon settled into their stride and created an early opening for midfielder Bill Tilley who, in the 9^th minute saw the Merton keeper, thanks to some excellent positioning, safely gather his long-range effort.  Cars continued to trouble their hosts, which led to a fine passage of play on 16 minutes that saw Kevin McLeod picking out Andy Clower in the penalty box.  Unfortunately, Clower didn’t quite get over the ball and he volleyed high and wide from 12-yards.  Moments later, stand-in keeper Tom Meadowcroft came to Cars’ rescue when he denied Merton’s centre forward in a classic one-on-one confrontation.  The young keeper’s great stop all the more remarkable because having strayed outside his 18-yard area and unable to handle the ball, he intelligently made the save with his chest.  Although the better football at this stage was coming from Cars, more often than not their final ball in to the danger area was over hit, which enabled the Merton centre-back pairing to clear their lines with little fuss or effort.  However, on the half hour mark the visitors finally got it right, and a beautifully measured Bill Tilley cross was met by Paul Pearce whose header from just inside the 18-yard line flew just over the crossbar.  Cars enjoyed a purple patch for the remainder of the half, leading to a great opportunity for Steve Powell who rifled a shot inches wide of the near post on in the 39^th minute.  Then, with five minutes of the half remaining, an outrageously crude challenge from behind on Pearce saw the first yellow card of the contest being shown to the Merton centre-back who, it must be said, was having a particularly torrid time marking the Cars striker.  A minute later Shane Bowes thought he’d opened the scoring when he stooped low to head home from a corner on the right.  But, the Cars striker watched in stunned disbelief as the Merton keeper made a magnificent point blank save on the goal line.  The final incident of a well-contested first half saw the Cars captain Chris Tilley collecting a booking for a trip on the Merton centre-forward.

As the second half got underway it was clear that Cars had upped their game, though somewhat surprisingly it was the home side that had the first chance to break the deadlock – their centre-forward heading over from a corner on the right.  In the 56^th minute another fierce challenge on Pearce as he jumped for a high ball with the Merton centre-back left the Cars player pole axed and Merton happy to concede just a corner.  The break in play meant Pearce could receive some much needed treatment to his very sore head and then, still feeling the effects of the previous challenge, electing to remain on the edge of the area rather than take-up his normal position at the near post.  This proved to be a fortuitous choice because as the corner was headed clear by a Merton defender, the ball fell invitingly for Pearce who sent a sublime left-foot volley crashing into the net. Unfortunately for the visitors, less than three minutes later a mistake at the back allowed Merton to create an opening down the right flank for their lively midfielder to sprint past the last defender and find the top corner with an excellent finish from the 18-yard line.  Despite this setback Cars were looking by far the more likely of the sides to actually go on now and win the game, with chances quickly following for both Corner and McLeod – each having a header well saved by the keeper.  With the match entering the last five minutes Cars mounted an attack down the left wing where Powell with a delightfully weighted pass invited McLeod to race into penalty area.  McLeod, reaching the by-line drilled the ball towards the near post where Collard at the second attempt, stuck the ball away to put Cars back in front.  Having let the home side comeback once already, Cars were determined not to let it happen again, and successfully playing out the closing minutes to record their second league win of the campaign.

This win sees Carshalton climbing to the top of the table, although this is due in the main to the teams around them having been on cup duty this week.  There was no disguising the joy in the Cars dressing after the game and no need really for Ian Lewis to praise his team, for each of the players knew the contribution they’d made in achieving a great result.  Therefore, the MOM award this week goes to the whole team for a stunning performance that had in abundance the necessary ingredients of grit, passion, determination and skill.

Next week Cars make the long journey to the Pavilion, Oakfield Playing Fields, Ilford for an AFA Intermediate Cup tie against third division side Old Parkonians, conquerors of Alexandra Park in the previous round.     

Beddington Hotspur