Friendly - 9th September 2006 

Carshalton 2s completed their pre season programme on Saturday with a crushing defeat at Beddington Park of last season’s Division Three champions and near neighbours, Old Westminster Citizens.

Looking to build on the good form shown in their previous two friendlies, Cars made a sensational start to the game when they opened the scoring with less than a minute played – Martin Vincent’s shot from the edge of the 18-yard box finding the bottom left-hand corner of the Citizens’ goal after great work from Sam Johnson had created the early opportunity. Despite Cars continuing to take the game to their visitors, they had to wait until the 32nd minute before adding their second goal of the contest, which came from Paul Pearce, who volleyed home from the six-yard line after meeting Andy Clower’s deep cross to the far post. An almost identical cross from Clower in the 41st minute presented Lewis Cosgrove with the chance to put Cars further ahead, which the midfielder did with much aplomb from close range. On the stroke of half-time, substitute Shane Bowes effectively sealed the game when he collected the ball in the middle of the park and ran fully 40-yards before slotting it under the advancing Citizens’ keeper. 

The onslaught on the visitor’s goal didn’t wane after the break, and just three minutes into the second half Kevin Macleod notched Cars’ fifth goal with a snap shot at the far post. The only surprise now was that Cars had to wait until the 81st minute before finding the back of the net again – Vincent scoring his second of the afternoon with a stunning half-volley that beat the Citizens’ keeper at the near post. Two minutes later, Johnson’s delightfully weighted pass in behind the Citizens’ centre-backs allowed Bowes to match his team mate Vincent by also scoring a second goal – Cars’ seventh. Then, a minute later Bowes turned provider when he drove a low cross to the far post where Pearce became the third Cars striker to hit a brace, completing the scoring with another effort from around the six-yard box. 

Next week Carshalton finally get their league campaign underway when they travel to St. Mary’s, Teddington Lock to meet Weirside Rangers. 

Beddington Hotspur