Carshalton kicked off the 2002/03 6^th Section in style as they thrashed arch rivals Old Finchleians, with Andy ‘Joan’ Foster scoring twice on his debut and a further goal from Nick ‘Tosh’ Jeffrey.  Matt Osborne’s influence on this 6^th XI team could be seen throughout, with every player playing for each other and the defence being particularly relaxed with Duncan Macdonald, Daniel Stanley and Alan Barrett at the heart.

Carshalton 6^th XI have only beaten Old Finchleieans away once in the last eight years, but they have not lost an opening fixture for seventeen years now, winning eight, now including the last three first division openers.  This is also the fourth time in a row that Carshalton 6^th XI has kicked off a new season away!   

Carshalton gave Jonah Foster his debut and the former West Wickham man did not disappoint.  He helped pull the strings and his two goals only told half the story of his contribution.  Finchleieans give a debut to three new boys, with David Bacon the most promising, followed by Chris Bart-Simpson and on-loan Marc Vivien Toe.  It was Paul Haines who had perhaps the first chance of the game when he tried an early strike on goal that was well closed down by Marc Vivien Toe.  In fact it was an indifferent first 15 minutes from Carshalton, they allowed Old Finchleieans too much time on the ball and wing-back Steve Van Carr was able to maraud up and down the right flank, causing more than a few defensive headaches.  

Jimmy Parson’s hanging cross showed Carshalton that the visitors appeared a little nervous after it was dropped unexpectedly by Carlo Gash, but fortunately for Finchleieans Van Carr was there to hack the ball away to safety.  Carshalton took the lead on 15 minutes when Tosh Jeffrey connected with Jonah Foster’s low cross on the volley to give the Greens the start they needed.   The cross may have been deflected, but there was no doubting the quality of Tosh’s finish.  Tosh should have doubled the score on 32 minutes, but he shot high after bringing down Dave Glennister’s corner in the box.  With Sven Goran Eriksson watching, Tosh was a yard away from impressing the England coach from 8 yards out.  

Finchleieans were given their best chance of the game when Hertz Van Hire’s back pass rebounded off the chest of Colin Levey.  Hertz looked certain to open his account for the hosts but somehow Daniel Stanley recovered in time and got a foot to the ball, with Van Hire going down and claiming a penalty.  Carshalton got their second right on the stroke of half-time when Paul Haines, who had been quiet in the half, got his first chance after breaking from a pass from Graham Johnson and slotting the ball past Carlo Gash toward the Finchleieans goal from a narrow angle. The ball was all but in when Barry Green made a dive for it, however Foster ensured the ball hit the back of the net with a deft touch from less than a yard.  

Carshalton made no changes at half-time, and who could blame them with the side in such exhilarating attacking form.  Alan Barrett walked away with the official sponsors' man of the match, and it was on balance well deserved as he had the job of keeping Herz Van Hire quiet.  It was his interception that stopped Van Hire from firing home after Paolo Twochop had created the chance.  Matt Osborne came close to increasing Carshalton's lead - beating Marc Vivien Toe on the line he rolled a shot across the face of the goal.  Finchleieans were then forced into their third substitute when Evil Berkovic came off with extreme cramp allowing Kevin Doorlock to come on for his SAL debut.  Within minutes the young midfielder put Avis Van Rental through in the penalty area but the striker blasted over the target.  

Anthony McFadden came on for Jimmy Parsons on 70 minutes and showed himself to be hungry to impress Osborne.  There had been rumours before the game that McFadden would be given his chance from the start, but he was just edged out by Andy Foster.  11 minutes from the end, Foster ran on to a header from Osborne and his pace took him well clear of the trailing Finchleieans defence.  With just Gash to beat he lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper and into the back of the net.   Five minutes from time Nick Jeffrey was denied a second when his shot rebounded off the upright after Graham Johnson’s run through the inside left channel.   

This was a promising start from Carshalton, still plenty to work on as Matt Osborne later admitted, but without doubt there is now an exciting edge to Carshalton's play that was lacking at times last season. 

Matt Osborne