Waltham Abbey 2 Carshalton Athletic 1

Carshalton’s current woes increased with their second Ryman League Premier Division defeat in three days, this time to the bottom team.

Confidence is often the difference between teams and the Abbotts came into this game with theirs sky-high after coming back from two goals down to win at Wealdstone in midweek

This was on show from the kick-off, with the home side closing down and making life difficult for the Robins players at every opportunity and fighting for every ball in all parts of the field.

The tactic paid dividends as early as the third minute, when Joe Dolan’s poor pass out from the back was easily intercepted in midfield.

A quick attack saw the ball being crossed from the left and, when Justyn Roberts was beaten in the air by Marc Sontag, the ball was seized on by James Elmes to drive his shot past Nick Hamann low into the far corner.

Stefan Cox, back in the side down the left flank for Carshalton, managed to get in a couple on dangerous runs down the wing, the first of which produced a corner that was headed wide by Michael Lee Charles.

But it was the home team that produced another excellent chance, when the Carshalton defence was caught out of position by a ball through the middle to Billy Holland, who looked odds-on to score before Hamann came out to block his shot.

Charles managed to find space to run at the Abbotts defence and, when he was brought down in the area, the linesman’s flag was immediately raised to signal a penalty, but the referee had other ideas and play carried on.

Roberts headed a set-piece just wide, but the Abbotts were worth the half-time lead for their determination if not for the quality of their football.

The trick of the first half was repeated two minutes into the second period, when the Robins defence was pressed back.

A cross from the left across the face of the penalty area seemed to have passed outside the danger area, but Sontag was happy to chase what might have been a lost cause and his return ball from the right into the area found Ricci Crace, whose shot beat Hamann to double the lead.

Craig Faulconbridge was brought on for Cox to add a little more of an aerial challenge and the energy levels of the home team, unsurprisingly, began to fade, with the Robins at last beginning to enjoy some sustained periods of possession.

Hope was restored on the hour, when Richard Jolly was fouled on the right and Beaney’s free-kick was headed back across the goal by Faulconbridge, with goalkeeper Harry Ricketts and defender Jordan Bostock failing to keep the ball out.

The free-kick tally in favour of Carshalton mounted as the Abbotts were forced back and whether the Robins failure to score was down to bad luck or poor finishing is a matter for conjecture.

Jolly’s header from a good cross from Barry Stevens was straight into the arms of Ricketts and the Robins striker failed to get a good enough touch on a cross by substitute Gerry Gonella.

Charles was also presented with a good chance after some trickery by Stevens in the area, but again the finish was short of the standard needed.

Again it was all too little too late and, with so many teams trying so hard to pull out of the danger zone, a distinct improvement will be required if a difficult end to the season is to be avoided.

Robins: Nick Hamann, David Ray, Justyn Roberts, Dave Woozley, Joe Dolan, Kenny Beaney (Gerry Gonella), Barry Stevens, Karl Murray, Michael Lee Charles, Richard Jolly, Stefan Cox (Craig Faulconbridge)

Subs not used: Rashid Kamara, Orlando Smith, Craig Davies.

Attendance: 112

Forthcoming games

Tuesday, February 16 (7.45pm): Carshalton Athletic v Horsham, Ryman League Premier Division

Saturday, February 29 (3pm): Carshalton Athletic v Tonbridge Angels, Ryman League Premier Division

Tuesday, February 23 (7.45pm): Hendon v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman League Premier Division