Carshalton Athletic slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Tonbridge Angels in the Ryman League Premier Division on Tuesday night.

For the first half hour of this game play switched from end to end as the Robins and fast-improving Tonbridge fought for early supremacy.

The Robins survived a penalty appeal when Adam Burchall crossed the ball into the area and at the other end the Angels could and probably should have been reduced to 10 men when Sonny Miles, clearly the last Tonbridge defender, held back Byron Harrison and escaped with a caution rather than a dismissal

The home team tried to get crosses into the box at every opportunity, but Nic Hamann’s positioning and handling was secure, and for Carshalton, Richard Jolly and Harrison were combining well to try to create something from the Robins attacks that were mostly being built up on the right hand side.

Burchall had the ball in the net for Tonbridge following a run at pace by Sam Long down the right, but the linesman’s offside flag was already raised, and Adrian Toppin was the first to be booked for the visitors for a late tackle in midfield as the game heated up.

On 29 minutes the Robins were punished for poor defending by Justyn Roberts whose mis-kick allowed Paul Booth to gain possession and race away and round Hamann to score.

In the light of Carshalton’s recent scoring record this proved to be a serious blow and their cause was hardly helped when Lewis Gonsalves was booked for a fierce tackle on Kirk Watts. Having taken the lead, Tonbridge were well in control at the break with Long and Watts happy to try their luck with driven crosses from both flanks.

Tonbridge clearly sensed that a second would probably be enough to secure the points and they didn’t have long to wait before Sam Long broke away again ten minutes into the half, leaving Rob Watkins in his wake, before scoring with a spectacular shot from the edge of the area that gave Hamann no chance.

When Tonbridge applied the pressure again, the Robins for the third time in recent weeks found themselves reduced to 10 men when Gonsalves brought down his man just outside the area and that was just about it for the visitors playing in borrowed kit.

The limping Roberts and Ben Clark were replaced by new signing Ricardo Joseph and Karl Murray and the Robins rearranged side, under consistent pressure, probably did well to ensure that Tonbridge were unable to add to their lead.

Byron Harrison, left to play alone up front, came close to pulling a goal back with a run into the area, but a hefty shove by Liam Harwood resulted in him losing his balance as he was about to shoot.

Late in the game a free kick by Kenny Beaney picked out David Ray whose header back across the goal skimmed the bar, but chances for Carshalton were generally few and far between and Tonbridge finished the game as worthy winners.

The pressure is now mounting on Ian Hazel’s side and, with three tricky away games to play in the next ten days, Carshalton will need a total turn round of form and luck if they are to have any chance of climbing out of their present predicament.

Robins team; Nick Hamann, David Ray, Rob Watkins, Justyn Roberts (Karl Murray), Lewis Gonsalves, Adrian Toppin, Barry Stevens, Kenny Beaney, Byron Harrison, Richard Jolly, Ben Clark (Ricardo Joseph) Subs not used: Rashid Kamara, Stefan Cox, Dexter Bart