By Rod Ellis
Carshalton Athletic 0 Leatherhead 2
Tanners extended their pre-season winning run to four matches as they outpaced
Carshalton Athletic with a fine attacking display at Colston Avenue on Tuesday,
producing two goals without reply.
Leatherhead almost fell behind to their Isthmian Premier hosts in the second minute
when a quick break from Tommy Bradford forced a good block from goalkeeper
Serine Sanneh. Bradford’s shot rebounded into the path of Calvin Ekpiteta, but the
Robins’ forward’s goal-bound effort was headed over the bar by covering Tanners’
centre back Jerry Puemo.
Trevan Robinson missed a chance to put the visitors ahead on six minutes with a
quick break from the halfway line. Robinson attempted to chip goalkeeper Will
Huffer from outside the box, but his dipping shot curled over the bar.
Tanners further demonstrated their attacking pace with a break down the right to open
the scoring on nine minutes. Wing-back Alpha Diallo picked out Robinson in the
middle who delivered an inch-perfect cross to an advancing Tyler Cox on his left,
who stabbed the ball home from close range.
Cox almost extended the visitors’ lead on the half hour mark, taking the ball across
the hosts’ penalty area before unleashing a shot from twelve yards which was cleared
off the line by defender Quade Taylor.
Play was held up for five minutes early in the second half after Sanneh bravely rushed
off his line to head the ball clear from outside his penalty area, but in so doing
collided with Carshalton’s Kwaku Frimpong. Both players received treatment on the
pitch before the Leatherhead keeper was able to walk to the visitors’ dug-out to be
replaced in goal by Casper Danielewitz.
Tanners doubled their lead on 82 minutes when some quick-paced one-touch interplay
between Kenny Beaney, Robinson and Fabio Saraiva was finished off by Michael
Elechi, who thumped the ball home from 12 yards out.
This accomplished performance will give Tanners all the confidence they need as they
prepare to face a Brentford XI at Fetcham Grove on Saturday, in what promises to be
one of the highlights of Leatherhead’s pre-season campaign.