Carshalton Athletic 1 Boreham Wood 0

Manager Hayden Bird has made clear his intention to improve the strength of his playing squad to cope with the demands of a competitive league and to provide competition for places, and for this vital game the Robins were deprived of the services of five first-team squad players as injuries and suspensions take their toll.

In the event, however, the team that took the field worked hard to secure three points that, even at this relatively early stage of the season, are crucial to the Robins ambitions to start moving up the table.

Recent signings Dean Carpenter and Michael Johnson made significant contributions and a particular cause for pleasure will have been the performance of Ben Wright who showed skill and good movement in leading the line and scored an excellent goal early in the second half that ultimately proved to be the difference between the teams.

The Robins started brightly and dominated the proceedings for much of the first half.

The emphasis was clearly on quick, accurate passing and possession and the Robins came close with their first serious attack which ended with Dundas' low cross from the right being nicked off the toes of Luke Fontana.

Harwood's header from the resulting corner was scrambled off the line.

Play was concentrated in the Wood half and meaningful attacks by the visitors were sporadic, although Robins' keeper, Aaron Howe, had to be literally on his toes to tip over a long-range shot by Gregson.

Barry Stevens should have made contact with a fine cross from the left by Michael Johnson and Jack MacLeod tested Noel Imber with a shot that the goalkeeper pushed wide for another corner.

Bearing in mind their domination the Robins will have been frustrated not to be in the lead at the end of the half, but they only had to wait until five minutes into the second period before they were ahead.

Another good ball from Johnson picked out Ben Wright in acres of space and the former Basingstoke striker lost no time in bringing he ball under control with his first touch before driving it past Imber with his second to give the home side the lead they deserved.

Carshalton were on top of their game at this stage and Wood were penned back for long periods but Moran and captain Smith somehow ensured that the Robins failed to increase their lead me with some last ditch defending.

Phil Ruggles replaced Fontana 20 minutes into the second half, but it was Wood's double substitution with twenty minutes left that proved to be the signal for a mini-revival in the latter stages.

Bangura put his header wide of the far post when the ball reached him from a corner and almost immediately caught the attention of the referee with a clumsy tackle on Cooper that could easily have ended with him seeing red rather than yellow.

Howe did well to smother an effort by Elliot Onochie when the former Harrow striker was put through on goal.

Carshalton keeper Howe was busier then at any time in previous 75 minutes and the Robins had a let-off when a misunderstanding between Graves and Howe presented Onochie with a clear sight of goal, but the Wood player put his effort wide.

Carshalton came back late in the game as they tried to snatch a second to put some distance between themselves and their opponents, but Ruggles was way off his best and Wright was tiring, before having to leave the field with a groin strain.

Graves and Harwood were their usual outstanding selves at the heart of the Robins defence and the home team had little trouble in ensuring that they held on for the victory that their overall play fully deserved.

Robins: Howe, Cooper, Carpenter, Graves, Harwood, Stevens, MacLeod, Dundas, Wright (Rayner), Fontana (Ruggles), Johnson Sub not used: Spencer, Wheeler.Next gamesSaturday, November 3 (3pm): Yate Town v Carshalton Athletic, FA Trophy second qualifying roundSaturday, November 10 (3pm): Tonbridge Angels v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman League Premier Division