Dave Garland's game plan of packing the midfield and leaving Luke Fontana as the lone striker to deny AFC space and time on the ball unravelled as early as the twelth minute when the home team took the lead from their first corner of the game with Robins' keeper Aaron Howe unable to keep out Dsane's close range effort.

AFC piled on the pressure using the flanks to good advantage and on 21 minutes they increased their lead when a long pass out to the left was picked up by Steve Ferguson who shook off the challenge of Simon Cooper before cutting inside and scoring with a curling shot that found its way into the far corner of the net.

The Robins were finding it difficult to make any impression on AFC and their reserve keeper Paul Smith was called on to do little more than collect a series of long balls knocked into the area without any undue pressure from a subdued Robins side.

The closest Carshalton came to upsetting AFC's rhythm was as late as the final minute when a free kick awarded for handball just outside the area bounced around the six yard box with no one able make a clean contact before referee blew the whistle blew for half-time.

Two minutes into the second period AFC came close to a third when a free kick conceded by John Cartledge just outside the area was hammered against the cross bar.

With the need for changes apparent, Charley Side was brought on to give support to Fontana at the expense of midfielder Maledon and the effect was immediate.

Marshall was fouled on the right and Cooper's free-kick was only half cleared to Side who saw his first time shot pass agonisingly wide of the post.

Within minutes roles were reversed and it was AFC looking uncomfortable, their fluent play of the first period being exchanged for anxiety, particularly at the back.

Side was holding the ball up well for Carshalton who were clawing their way back into the game. A corner taken by Jabbie was headed over by Harwood when well placed and Fontana's effort went wide.

Darlington was also cautioned for a poor challenge on Ryan Watts.

With the Robins pressing there remained the danger that AFC would hit them on the break and they were indebted to Cartledge for a goal line clearance late in the game.

A collision between Graves and Harwood resulted in both players receiving treatment, but try as they might the Robins were unable to prise open the home defence and the second half ended without further goals.

The Robins travel to Walton & Hersham for a vital game this coming Saturday and will be wishing AFC every success in their next two games against struggling Hendon and Worthing.

Robins: Howe, Cooper, Jabbie, Graves, Cartledge, Harwood, Marshall (Williams), Toppin, Fontana, Watts (Haworth), Maledon (Side).