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A full-strength Merton put in a fine attacking performance to defeat close rivals Carshalton, and so keep on track for promotion. However, it has to be said that there is plenty of scope for improvement at the back. The defence looked very porous in the second half, and more goals would have been shipped but for three outstanding saves by Warren McCourt. Merton started on fire and Louis Barron-Pell scored as early as the 2nd minute with a dipping shot over the keeper from inside the box. Nicholas Holley and Jamie Streat were very prominent in midfield, and good covering from Spud Bradley and Lewis West prevented any Carshalton incursions into the final third. Nicholas Holley went very close with a couple of long-range free kicks, and both Louis Barron-Pell and Julian Osei-Gyimah looked lively up front. Merton totally dominated the play, but Carshalton defended pretty well to keep chances at a premium. Julian Osei-Gyimah was withdrawn after 15 minutes with breathing difficulties, and Jack Malin deputised up front. A second Merton goal was not long coming when Jack Malin and Nicholas Holley created some problems on the left of the penalty area. The ball eventually found Louis Barron-Pell, who darted in and tucked the ball away inside the right-hand post. Merton continued to dominate play, but on 21 minutes they gave away a silly penalty for a push in the box. The Robins made no mistake with the spot kick. Merton came back and Nicholas Holley went close again from a free kick. Four minutes from the interval and after some good work by Nicholas Holley and Jamie Streat, Louis Barron-Pell claimed his hat-trick by restoring Merton's two-goal advantage with another well-struck shot.

The second half started with Carshalton in determined mood, and within three minutes they pulled a goal back when the central defenders failed to deal with a ball down the middle. This allowed a Carshalton forward to race clear and beat Warren McCourt with a strong shot. A minute later, a fluent passing move saw Louis Barron-Pell complete his sensational return with another clinical finish to make it 4-2. Carshalton continued to press forward and there were some anxious moments as the Merton rearguard wobbled, and Warren McCourt was forced to make the first of his excellent saves. On 43 minutes Merton made it five when Jack Malin burst through the Carshalton centre just past halfway, and then powered away before cracking the ball past the keeper. Carshalton never gave up, and five minutes later it was 5-3 when a forward broke through on the left to score despite Merton's protests for a foul on Jonathan Kehoe. The possession was fairly even, but it was Merton who nearly scored when George King cut in from the left and hit the inside of the post with the keeper beaten. At the other end a dreadful mistake at the back let in a Carshalton forward for a easy-looking finish, but Warren McCourt made an outstanding save at close range. The Merton midfield was in fine form and they picked out Jack Malin just beyond the half-way line. The big forward accelerated clear before firing the ball past the keeper. Jamie Streat then went close with a header, and at the other end of the park Warren McCourt stopped a certain goal with a great save. Further action followed when Daniel Johnson and Tshepho Sawdon played in Jack Malin whose blistering pace took him clear, but he lost out in a one-on-one with the keeper. A penalty was then missed when Jamie Streat was upended in the box, and in the dying minutes Jack Malin was clearly pushed after breaking through on the left wing. In summary a fine attacking performance with successful returns for man-of-the-match Louis Barron-Pell and Jack Malin. The midfield did very well with Jamie Streat outstanding. However, after an excellent first half the Merton outfield defenders turned in a very rocky performance excepting Spud Bradley and late-substitute Billy Kelly.

Reporter's man of the match: Louis Barron-Pell.

Team: Warren McCourt; Adam Marie, Jonathan Kehoe, Lewis West, Spud Bradley; George King, Jamie Streat, Daniel Johnson, Nicholas Holley; Julian Osei-Gyimah, Louis Barron-Pell. Sub: Tshepho Sawdon, Jack Malin, Billy Kelly, Sam Durban.