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In an exciting encounter at Hartington Road, Carshalton can consider themselves unlucky not to have come away from Chiswick with at least a share of the spoils.

As early as the tenth minute, Cars took the lead when under extreme pressure from two forwards the home side’s left back toed the ball past his own keeper. Just five minutes later, a low driven corner from Ian Lewis was met at the near post by Razza Roberts whose shot caused panic amongst the defenders resulting in young Ashley Jackson stabbing home to put Cars two up.

Polytechnic came more into the game towards the half-time interval, but their efforts were thwarted by a Cars back three that included MOM Jim Armstrong and restricted them to just a couple of half chances. However within five minutes of the restart Poly got back into the contest, their centre forward cooling slotting home after Cars had failed to clear their lines.

Although playing uphill and against the wind the hosts began to dominate proceedings and duly levelled with a well taken goal on seventy minutes. This proved to be the turning point of the game, for within a few minutes a mix-up down the left led to a Poly forward seizing his chance to have a run on goal and score from close range, thus completing his teams fight back. Despite their disappointment, Carshalton regrouped and went searching for an equaliser, both Chris Clarke and Jason Baker having efforts that went close. The match had moved into stoppage time when Cars were punished for pushing so many players forward, Poly catching them on the break to put the result beyond doubt.

So the home side took all three points with a spirited display having come back from two down, though Carshalton will feel they didn’t deserve to lose a game that showed there can at times be some good football played in the lower reaches of the SAL. Having it seems, due to a league ruling inherited the 8th XI fixtures that come with a huge negative goal difference it will be difficult for the 7th XI to attain this campaign anything other than a bottom half of the table finish, but judging on the evidence of this performance and also with some consistency in team selection it won’t be too long before they start to pick-up points.

A special mention from the reporter goes to the Polytechnic Club for their hospitality and general match day organisation that is once again this season amongst the best in the SAL.

Beddington Hotspur