Robins can't kill off 10-man East Thurrock

The Robins' poor run goes on with a draw against fellow strugglers East Thurrock.

One point is less than satisfying for either side and both have much work to do to hang on to their Premier Division status come the end of the season.

The Robins were by far the most enterprising of the sides in what was generally a dreary first half but again the failure to convert chances into goals proved Carshalton's Achilles heel.

A good build up on the left ended with a ball to Phil Ruggles, but his shot on the turn was safely held by Gore in the visitors' goal.

Shortly after Luke Fontana's ball in from the right was returned into the area by Johnson and, after side-stepping his marker, Rob Ursell's drive brought a fine save by Gore.

The next attack from the Robins saw Johnson send in a long cross from the left.

Fontana was well placed on the other side of the area and his intelligent well placed lob found Ruggles who completely missed the goal with his close range shot.

The Rocks attacks were few and far between, but the experienced Steve West was at the heart of their best moves with his strength in the air and ability to hold on to the ball and to bring his colleagues into the game.

Ruggles can count himself unfortunate not to have scored with a fierce shot that clipped the bar following Fontana's corner, but Thurrock came close to taking a shock lead when White's run and cross from the right picked out Barrett on the opposite flank.

His close range shot looked goal-bound , but Howe just managed to turn in mid-air and push his effort round the post.

Late in the half tempers boiled when Barrett and Lewis Gonsalves tangled near the touchline and after the dust had settled both players were booked together with Thurrock's White who travelled from one side of the field to the other to get involved.

With half-time in sight Thurrock were reduced to 10 men when substitute Gary Ansell ensured that his appearance was a brief one when he followed through with a late challenge on Aaron Howe.

The referee was less than impressed and the red card was out of his pocket as soon as he had blown for the foul.

With 10 men to overcome in the second half, it looked as though the Robins only needed to keep going to wear down their opponents.

Ruggles lob over Gore and into the net was disallowed for a marginal offside decision, but the Robins finally scored the goal they had been threatening when another good ball from the right by Fontana produced a stooping header by Ruggles that wrong-footed Gore.

Minutes later the game should have been over when Ursell crossed the ball into the area, but this time Ruggles drove over with the goal at his mercy.

Play immediately switched to the other end and when Howe's attempted punched clearance fell to a Rocks player, his ball back in was cleared on the line by Liam Harwood.

Sadly for the Robins, the referee judged that Harwood had made contact with his hand and the result was a penalty and a red card.

Steve West made no mistake from the spot and Harwood was on his way to the dressing room.

Play deteriorated from this point on with Thurrock, led by central defender Ohakan, able to repel the Robins efforts, but lacking the guile to push for the winner with the sides level in terms of goals and number of players.

Several Robins free-kicks from just outside the area spelt danger, but a distinct lack of composure saw them largely wasted and the Robins could have paid a heavy price when Martin broke away on the left only to put his shot wide.

The prize for the most stupid piece of play of the afternoon was claimed by Thurrock's Barrett on time when he found himself on his way back to the changing room marginally ahead of his team-mates for kicking the ball away after a free kick was given against him. And that was it.

Robins: Howe, Graves, Watts, Gonsalves, Harwood, Harte (Wilson), Fontana, Carpenter, Ruggles, Ursell, Johnson (Graham). Subs not used: Cooper, Bridgeman.Next gamesMonday, February 25 (7.45pm): Chelmsford City v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman League Premier DivisionSaturday, March 1 (3pm): Ramsgate v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman League Premier DivisionSaturday, March 8 (3pm): Carshalton Athletic v Folkestone Invicta, Ryman League Premier Division