Playing their first home game of the season in late October has obviously caused issues for the majority of the Two’s players, as despite an early meet and no late comers, the goals still weren’t up by 2:45! However, there have been rumours that this was largely down to people just not wanting Badgie to take the warm up and enforce the dreaded “squats” on the team. Besides, doing more than a ten minute warm-up for a team in the 2’s physical shape could be more detrimental than positive.

 Once the game started, it didn’t seem like the lack of warm up was going to affect Cars, who seemed up for the battle against a Polytechnic team who looked like they came with the intention of playing some good football. With both teams stroking the ball around relatively nicely but with no real penetration, it took a little bit of controversy to spark the game into life. After some fantastic play down the right Graham Lynch found himself in behind the full-back and trying to get to the ball before the on-rushing keeper. Lynch managed to get there first and get a ball in from just inside the box, before getting pole-axed by the Poly keeper, who had no chance of avoiding the collision. With Cars expecting the non-existent referee’s whistle, there was no real urgency to get into the box and Poly cleared easily. From this decision Carshalton should have known that the referee was going to try and keep the game moving as much as possible, but they didn’t learn their lesson. After another challenge which could have easily resulted in a free kick going un-punished, Poly hit the still appealing Cars on the break and after making the initial save, Ed Healy was unable to prevent the Poly striker slotting home the re-bound. Cars were not deterred and continued to try and play football, with probably the best move of the half resulting in Ryan Polley being upended just outside the box. After lining up his wall at the near post, the Poly keeper proceeded to stand at his far stick and leave a gaping space in the near side of his goal, into which David Booth gleefully helped the ball over the wall into. The rest of the half was pretty non-descript, with neither side creating much and the teams going into the break level. All in all a pretty even half, in which Carshalton despite playing some nice football, were pretty disappointed with.

 After the break Cars continued with the trend of the season, improving their first half performance considerably and dominating the majority of the half. Shane Bowes pace was constantly troubling the full back, and he twice came close after getting in behind, just dragging his shot across goal. Booth then came close with an effort from the edge of the box. While Cars looked good going forward, any threat on the counter was comfortably nullified by Chris Tilley and the excellent Mark Harrison at the back. Despite creating a fair few chances, Cars were unable to really threaten the Poly keeper and extend their lead, and were left with 10 men after Harrison went down with an injury to his knee. Having only just come back from an operation on it, I’m sure everyone wishes him well and hopes it is not too serious.

 Another good performance by the 2’s, especially in the second half. With the team starting to look a bit more settled, there is definitely a possibility for this to be a big season. All we need now is to play the football we can for 90 minutes instead of 45.

 Team: E Healy, D Fenton, C Tilley, M Harrison, B Wood, G Lynch, D Lawler, Badgie, D Booth, S Bowes, R Polley, F Addo, A Taylor

Boothy