The League Cup is not necessarily considered to be high on the list of prestigious competitions, but Carshalton put on an entertaining display and thoroughly deserved their victory over a highly placed Angels side.

It also turned out to be a memorable evening for Robins defender Simon Cooper, who gave his side the lead and spent the last ten minutes in goal to deny any prospects of a late Tonbridge comeback.

Tonbridge figured well in the early exchanges and Phil Wilson did well to beat Olerunda to a long through ball and to deny Carl Rook’s close range shot.

In between Dwain Clarke blazed the ball over after good approach work and Paul Honey was just wide with a shot from the edge of the area.

As the half progressed the Robins, playing without the League’s leading scorer Richard Jolly who was given an evening off by Hayden Bird, started to impose themselves with their usual passing football and Tonbridge’s Rook and defender Leon Legge were booked for reckless tackles.

The Robins took the lead on 33 minutes when Simon Cooper stormed forward taking maximum advantage of the space that opened up before him and, after exchanging passes with Junior Kadi, he beat Tonbridge keeper Worgan with a low shot into the far corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Power’s fierce shot was saved after he had been set up by Carpenter and Kadi volleyed wide from Ryan Martin’s pass.

Late in the half Tonbridge should have levelled, but Michael Phillips header from a right wing cross lacked power and Wilson saved easily.

The visitors had cause to regret the miss when the Robins increased their lead just before the break, Dwain Clarke finding the back of the net with a first time effort from Kadi’s cross to open his scoring account for Carshalton.

The Robins were forced into a change at the interval with Adrian Toppin coming on to replace David Graves who had pulled a hamstring late in the first half and Tonbridge, no doubt stung by a half time talking to by their manager, show renewed purpose. Wilson failed to holds a deep cross under pressure and the ball fell to John Westcott, but his shot flew wildly over.

Carshalton safely weathered the early pressure and came back well with Clarke driving his shot at Worgan from Power’s pass and Power himself dwelling just too long on the ball with several of his team mates in scoring positions.

Tonbridge made some tactical adjustments as they struggled to make their aerial dominance pay and Legge was thrown forward as his side fought to get back into the game.

The tiring Jamie England was replaced by Karl Beckford as the Robins thoughts turned to seeing out time, but with 10 minutes to go a moment’s madness ended with Legge being dismissed for a late challenge on Wilson as he went down to smother a through ball and Wilson joining him in the long walk off for his retaliation.

Without a keeper on the subs bench, Simon Cooper took over between the posts and the orders went out from the Tonbridge bench to get the ball into the Carshalton area at every opportunity.

The Robins response was to keep possession and this was done in impressive style, to the extent that with five minutes remaining Michael Power rounded off an excellent evening’s work when he took a pass from Kadi with his back to goal before turning and sending a low shot past Worgan to put the result just about beyond doubt.

It looked as though Cooper might survive without being called upon to make a save, but with full time approaching he did well to hold a free kick from the left and even better to save with his outstretched leg when a late chance fell to Phillips.

Carshalton will now meet Eastbourne Town or Chipstead in the fourth round, the likely date for the game being next Tuesday, 27 January. Robins team: Phil Wilson, Simon Cooper, Dean Carpenter, Lewis Gonsalves, David Graves (Adrian Toppin), Paul Honey, Dwain Clarke, Jamie England (Karl Beckford), Michael Power, junior Kadi, Ryan Martin Sub not used: Richard Jolly, Barry Stevens, James Evans