After three games against Blue Square South opposition, Whyteleafe presented a more modest test, but it still required half an hour of hard work before Carshalton began to make the difference in class tell in this pre-season clash.

Even then, good goalkeeping, good fortune and the woodwork combined to keep the Robins victory down to a single second half goal.

The uneven playing surface did little to assist the Robins passing game and Whyteleafe put on a determined display to deny the visitors any serious scoring opportunities until the half hour mark when Carpenter’s break down the left ended with a pass to Jolly whose rising shot was impressively turned over the bar by Rob O’Hara.

The Whyteleafe keeper was in the thick of the action for the rest of the half as the Robins bombarded the home goal.

Carpenter’s header from a cross by Matt Gray drifted just wide of the far post and a pass by Ide presented Jolly with a shooting chance that thumped against the underside of the bar and back into play.

Whyteleafe struggled to create chances and it was left to Kindanga to pose their only attacking threat with some neat control and trickery on the right.

Late in the half another corner by Gray gave Graves a headed opportunity that just cleared the bar.

The Robins finally took the lead five minutes into the second half when Gray’s cross from the right picked out Carpenter and his cushioned header enabled Adrian Toppin to finally beat O’Hara with a drive into the far top corner.

Multiple changes to both sides did little to change the pattern of the game and the Robins should have been out of sight before a late rally by Whyteleafe almost enabled them to claim an unlikely draw.

Kindanga’s effort was cleared off the line by Simon Cooper and when Richard Stroud fouled Joel O’Hara on the edge of the Robins penalty area late in the game, the Robin’s keeper produced an outstanding save to turn away Butler’s fierce free kick.

A good work out for both teams and some much needed match practice as the season ticks a little nearer.

Carshalton squad; Mark Reed, David Graves, Scott Cousins, Liam Harwood, Lewis Gonsalves, Adrian Toppin, Matt Gray, Bashir Alimi, Charlie Ide, Richard Jolly, Dean Carpenter, Simon Cooper, Frankie Sawyer, Antonio Gonnella, Karl Beckford, Adrian Stone, Richard Stroud.