Manager Dave Garland has already put on record his admiration of Heybridge as the best team the Robins have played this season and if anyone from the Essex Club was watching this inept performance the hope must be that they will be over-confident in their approach to next week's Trophy fixture.

With Luke Fontana back in the starting line-up and loan signing Jerome Maledon in midfield the Robins made a decent enough start forcing several corners in the early stages, but it was Staines who created the first scoring chances.

Mark Nwokeji, under pressure from David Graves, forced Paul Seuke to make a good save to concede a corner and followed with a miskick with only the keeper to beat.

The momentum was beginning to build up for the home team as they stretched the Robins defence, but Carshalton could have taken the lead.

Craig Dundas made contact with a well-placed free-kick by Mark Marshall from the right, but his firm header crashed against the crossbar before being cleared.

On 33 minutes the Robins fell behind when Dean Thomas emerged with the ball from a tussle on the left touchline and laid the ball off for Ali Chaaban to run in on goal and score with a fierce right foot drive high into the far top corner of the net.

Mark Marshall has worked hard to improve the quality of his set piece deliveries this season and, following his fine goal from a free-kick the previous week, the Robins midfielder produced the only other moment of quality play by the visitors with a free kick that was parried by Staines keeper Shaun Allaway at full stretch.

With a single goal separating the sides at the break the hope was that Carshalton could raise their game for the second period , but the Robins influential ball winner Adrian Toppin emerged from the tunnel with his knee heavily bandaged following a collision earlier and was replaced buy Gary Drewett before the half kicked off.

To compound the Robins misery still further a casual pass across field by the normally reliable Colin Hartburn in the first minute put his fellow defenders under pressure and eventually the ball was lost on the opposite side of the field.

A cross to the near post by Newton found Nwokeji and on this occasion he bundled the ball home to effectively put the game out of reach for the Robins.

Fontana was experiencing the sort of afternoon where nothing he tried was coming off, but shortly before being substituted he managed to get on the end of a through pass to force a save from Alloway.

Howard and Rivers came on as Dave Garland's exasperation mounted, but by this time Staines were playing with confidence and style and their crisp passing left Carshalton chasing shadows. Boxall and Jabbie were continually being caught out of position on the Robins left, but the third goal for Staines came from the other flank where Hartburn caught Nwokeji with a high tackle as he cut in on goal and Chaaban scored from the spot kick.

Just to demonstrate what a simple game football can be, the Robins pulled a goal back with 20 minutes remaining when a free-kick by Boxall was headed goalwards by Dundas and Sean Rivers was on hand to flick the ball past the keeper. Welcome as the goal was, the Robins were a well beaten side by this point and Chaaban and Nwokeji both came close with goal attempts that touched the woodwork late in the game.

Robins: Seuke, Hartburn, Graves, Cartledge, Boxall, Marshall, Toppin (Drewett) , Maledon (Howard), Jabbie, Dundas, Fontana (Rivers).

Next games - Saturday 4 November Carshalton Athletic v Heybridge Swifts FA Trophy - 2nd Qualifying Round Saturday 11 November Carshalton Athletic v Ramsgate Ryman Premier Division