Emirates FA Cup 2021/22 Second Qualifying Round (Part 2)

Carshalton Athletic FC v Ebbsfleet United FC (Saturday 18th September 2021)

Onto the Philadelphia-leg of my Saturday FA Cup double-header and it was over to the 3G pitch at Carshalton Athletic for the meeting of The Fleet and Carshalton's Robins. 

Carshalton Athletic has an impressive focus on community with several junior teams, an extensive community programme and awards galore including a UEFA European Community Club silver award. The community and family ethos is clear around the ground and the tie had a real family-friendly feel. Formally registered in 1905, the club moved to their current home after World War I, dedicating The War Memorial Sports Ground to members of the club who lost their lives in the conflict. 

Roy Hodgson has connections with both clubs, from 1969 to 1971 playing for Gravesend & Northfleet (Ebbsfleet's previous club name until 2007), and from 1974 to 1976 ending his playing career with The Robins. His management career then took in a zoological smorgasbord including Throstles, Little Zebras, Grasshoppers, more Robins, a big Grass Snake, Lions, Eagle Owls and Three more Lions before calling it a day in 2021 after 4 years just down the road with The Eagles. Not the band.

To the delight of most of the 497 crowd Danny Bassett opened the scoring for Carshalton in the 7th minute after a smart move down the left hand side and a couple of neat touches in The Fleet's box. It was 1-0 to The Robins,  but the lead lasted a mere 5 minutes until a defensive mix-up and mis-timed tackle resulted in a penalty to Ebbsfleet. Lloyd Thomas pulled off a quality save but The Fleet's skipper, Rakish Bingham, knocked the rebound home to make the scoreline 1-1. It always felt like there was another goal coming with action at both ends in a lively first half, but at the break it remained all square. 

The second half followed in the same vein. Both sides were pressing for the win with half-chances, near-misses and some decent saves keeping the scoreline at 1-1. An 85th minute free-kick saw Carshalton come close with a header just past the post. Some vigorous defensive clearances put the windows of the nearby girls' school in danger.

But it was Ebbsfleet who struck the decisive winner in the 88th minute just when it seemed likely a replay was on the cards. A quick break through midfield and some one-touch play in the box saw Elliott Romain slot home the winner. A late flurry from The Robins couldn't rescue the draw and it was Ebbsfleet United through to the third qualifying round.



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