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A new-look Carshalton travelled to Hersham to contest this friendly against Elm Grove Colts, who finished mid-table last season in the Surrey Primary Premier Division. In sweltering heat, Carshalton made the early running on an undulating pitch against a very steep gradient. A couple of chances were not taken, and thereafter Carshalton lacked fluency and the home side quickly got into the game. After ten minutes the visitors suffered a setback when Nicholas Holley limped out of the game. There was very little goalmouth action at either end, and so Carshalton were perhaps a trifle unlucky to find themselves a goal down on 17 minutes when a square pass across the box found an unmarked forward, who finished cleverly from 8 yards out. Two minutes later the hosts scored a second when a winger cut in from the right and shot firmly past the Carshalton keeper. The half continued to be evenly contested, but Carshalton never looked like breaching the well-organised home defence. Jezz Williams did go fairly close after a strong run down the right flank, but he shot wide after cutting inside. At the other end Elm Grove forced a couple of corners and then Carshalton escaped when a strong shot just cleared the bar.

A re-organised Carshalton started the second half as if they meant business, and quickly took command of the match. Daniel Johnson and Jack Keable now provided much needed service for the attacking midfield trio of Jamie Streat, Louis Baron-Pell and Jezz Williams. The result was that Elm Grove came under constant attack for most of the second half. After several near misses, Jezz Williams pulled a goal back on 45 minutes with a superb strike after cutting in from the right flank. Carshalton continued to outplay the hosts, and Mo Fafona was proving a handful by buzzing around the opposing box and causing all sorts of problems. Louis Barron-Pell made a dazzling run down the left flank, and started a goalmouth scramble that eventually saw Mo Fafona force the keeper into an error before firing home. The visitors then tore into their opponents, and there were plenty of anxious moments before Mo Fafona netted another soft goal after a bit of a scramble. Elm Grove responded by breaking through on the right and clipping the cross bar with a terrific shot. Jezz Williams and Louis Barron-Pell resumed normal service down the flanks, and ten minutes from time Ben Gyamfi netted after another magical run from Louis Barron-Pell. Mo Fafona then went close with a shot that went the wrong side of the post, before Jack Keable added a fifth from close range. Elm Grove pressed forward, but either lacked penetration or were caught offside. Three minutes from time Louis Barron-Pell dribbled half the length of the pitch down the left wing, before finding the quicksilver Mo Fafona, who turned two defenders inside out, before shooting past the keeper from twelve yards.

Reporter's man of the match: Mo Fafona.

Team: Robert Marsden; Jack Keable, Adam Marie, Jack Malin, Spud Bradley; Daniel Johnson, Jezz Williams, Jamie Streat, Nicholas Holley; Ben Gyamfi, Louis Barron-Pell. Subs: Mohamed Fafona, Julian Osei-Gyimah.

Mike Malin