With last week's defeat fresh in the 7s minds they were determined to make amends against Lloyds.  Previous matches have all been ill tempered affairs and this one was no exception with tackles flying in from the off, particularly from their centre forward (who was rubbish but talked a good game).

The 7s, after an edgy first ten, started to control the game with fluid passing down both flanks and solid in midfield.  Lloyds were restricted to weak efforts from outside the area while the 7s carved the Lloyds defence apart but without the end product.  As Carshalton continued to bomb forward a goal seemed likely and midway through the first half the goal came.  Tony Barrett picked Joe Cox out who crossed for Alan Thake to knock down for Chris Rose (at the right ground this week) to finish, 1-0.

Half time couldn’t come soon enough for Lloyds, who for all their neat passing couldn’t create any opportunities.  Who knows what happened at halftime, because the 7s started, or didn’t start, at all well.  Lloyds’ equaliser came when the Carshalton midfield failed to stop a runner who played a through ball down the left leaving Ryan Roberts at right back stranded (it’s my match report boys).  The left-winger then slotted home passed Mark Brown.

The goal at least woke Carshalton up, who then regained their composure and started to pass the ball again.  More inspired substitutions by Pete Taylor who brought on Michael Taylor and Chris Clarke for Alan (200-1) Thake and Jason Baker respectively.

Tempers frayed as the Lloyds forward squared up to Ryan Roberts and continued to foul.  Mike Hammond then played a completely intentional ball out to Mike Thake who ran up the wing passed to Chris Clark who looked up and found Chris Rose who trapped the ball and shot low under the ‘keeper, 2-1.

Carshalton still pressed forward to kill the game off, a late scare came from a Lloyds free kick but Mark Brown smothered the ball on the second attempt.

The final whistle blew and the 7s deserved the victory.  Beddington Park is becoming a fortress. 

Razza Roberts