A late fight back wasn't enough to help Carshalton Athletic avoid a second league defeat on Monday night, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

After a disappointing 2-0 loss at Potters Bar Town last weekend, a game in which defender Daniel Pappoe has to don the goalkeeper gloves for over an hour, the Robins next faced early pacesetters East Thurrock United.

But, despite an energetic start, Carshalton found themselves 2-0 down at half-time as the visitors were more clinical in front of goal than their hosts.

The Robins gradually became the more dominate side in the second-half and Omar Koroma's close range strike on 83 minutes gave the home fans hope, but United were indebted to keeper Jack Giddens whom then made two important saves before the final whistle.

"We had them on the ropes for a lot of the second-half but we let ourselves down in the first," said Robins skipper Paris Hamilton-Downes.

"We made two mistakes and got punished, so we need to improve and make sure everyone is concentrating for 90 minutes.

"It's good to get our first goal of the season but we weren't worried about breaking that duck as we know we have goals in this squad.

"But we need to start converting more of our chances as that has cost us both on Monday and at Potters Bar."

Carshalton Athletic's next match is at home against Bishop's Stortford on Saturday 17th August (kick-off 3pm).