Robins progress in cup

With memories of last season’s early exit at Whitstable still fresh in the minds of many Robins supporters, everyone was aware that this was a banana-skin in the making.

None more so than manager Mark Butler who would undoubtedly have cautioned his side against any complacency.

And, true to type, the Wells raised their game to put in a well-organised, disciplined performance and were rewarded with a surprise goal mid-way through the first half to lead at the break.

Fortunately Carshalton kept the pressure on to level the scores and, as the Tunbridge resistance faded, eventually won through to the next round with a stunning goal two minutes from the end of normal time.

The game started slowly with both sides seeking to get the measure of unfamiliar opposition, but it finally came to life on the quarter hour when Joel Ledgister went on the first of what turned out to be numerous runs down the right to win a corner.

Ledgister’s next cross flew across the face of the goal with Chris Henry unable to stretch enough to make contact.

Any illusions that the Robins may have had to suggest that this would be an easy game would have been dispelled when Alex Rich’s cross was inches away from Benji Agana and the game was on.

Carshalton created an excellent chance when Tommy Williams and Luke Pigden combined to release Chris Henry who scampered into the area with defenders snapping away at his ankles, but with Paul Johnson and Byron Harrison both free to receive a pass the Robins winger chose to shoot and Michael Czanner was able to beat the ball clear.

Tunbridge shocked the home team on 22 minutes when Joseph conceded a free kick just outside the area. Jon Pilbeam’s short kick lined the ball up for Tom Davey and his low shot found its way through the wall and into the net, despite a touch by Carshalton keeper Craig Ross.

The Robins tried to hit back immediately and Czanner did well to block a fierce drive by Pigden from Paul Johnson’s pass.

The Wells were under pressure and Perry Spackman became the first player to be booked for kicking the ball away when Carshalton won another free kick, but with the home team caught pushing forward Agana failed to make the most of a chance to increase the lead when he beat the offside trap to bear down on goal.

Fortunately the speedy Michael Boateng dashed back in time to block his shot at the expense of a corner.

The booking count rose to three when Agana and Carshalton’s Tommy Williams were both cautioned and to four when Scott Whibley was spoken to late in the half, but this was never a violent match and both sides were merely playing in just the sort of competitive way that would normally be expected in a Cup tie.

On the field of play Carshalton enjoyed far more possession, but too often the final pass proved to be wayward and the Wells defenders did everything needed to hang on to their slender lead to the interval.

A good start was essential if the Robins hoped to make progress and the equaliser came 3 minutes into the half.

Tommy Williams free kick into the danger area found Johnson by the far post and the midfielder’s header back across the front of the goal gave Joel Ledgister the chance to finally beat Czanner with a neat header.

This proved to be the tonic the Robins needed and play was increasingly confined to the visitors half.

Ledgister continued to look like the player most likely to open up the Tunbridge defence as he advanced down the right, but as was the case earlier in the game Carshalton were slow to get players forward and scoring chances were frustratingly slipping away.

Agana limped off to be replaced by Carl Cornell for Tunbridge and shortly after, Keelan Mooney, probably the visitors’ outstanding player, went on a fine individual run through the Robins defence only to hit his final shot wide of Ross’ left hand post.

Midway through the half, Pigden was replaced by Karl Murray in midfield as the Robins went looking for the winner, but Tunbridge were proving a hard nut to crack with their stubborn resistance to everything Carshalton could throw at them.

Tunbridge’s Davey became the fifth player to be cautioned as the pace of the game began to take its toll, but when Johnson’s curling free kick clipped the outside of the post and Henry’s goal-bound header from yet another Ledgister cross, the prospects of a replay began to grow.

On a rare Tunbridge breakaway a dangerous cross from Jon Pilbeam was put behind for a corner by Boateng with Mike Lord closing in on goal.

Tunbridge’s fifth booking took place with five minutes left on the clock, but with added time approaching the Robins finally broke through to score an outstanding winning goal, courtesy of an exquisite cross by Ledgister that was headed home by the in-form Byron Harrison.

There remained just enough time for the booking total to increase to increase to 8 when Carshalton’s Boateng and Henry were both booked for what would normally be regarded as ball-winning tackles and a heart-in-the-mouth moment when Cornell was inches away from a cross and a chance to keep Tunbridge in the Cup.

Much credit was due to Tunbridge for their spirited performance, but it’s Carshalton who can eagerly anticipate the next round in two weeks time.

Carshalton team; Craig Ross, Michael Boateng, Ricardo Joseph, David Ray, Justyn Roberts, Tommy Williams, Paul Johnson, Luke Pigden (Karl Murray), Joel Ledgister, Byron Harrison, Chris Henry Subs not used; Rishi Nankani, Brett Cooper, Lloyd Blackman, Jimmy Hearne, James Duncan, Liam Stone