Chipstead’s under-18s played much better & fully deserved their first home league win of the season in a 4-1 win over Carshalton Athletic at the High Road in their latest match in the Isthmian Youth League Central Division on Wednesday night

Fielding mainly a team of 2nd year scholars, they proved to be a strong group which ultimately overwhelmed their visitors in this battle at the foot of the league table

They could have taken the lead early on, as Harry Pearson went close, but his left-foot shot hit the keeper’s legs & bounced away to safety - Aaron Joseph’s cross was then headed over by Naquarm Clarke-Douglas, who soon went close again, as Pearson passed wide to him, but his shot hit the keeper’s feet too, & went for a corner

Robbie Spain passed the ball out to Joseph, his low cross reached Pearson at the far post, but he shot over the target - yet Chipstead took the lead on the stroke of halftime, as Kobi Asante’s free-kick by the corner flag was turned home by Daniel N’Guessan, & it was no more than they deserved

Into the second half & Clarke-Douglas had an early chance, but put it wide of a post, before Pearson had a header, but the keeper grabbed it at the second attempt - yet the second Chips goal soon arrived courtesy of the same duo as the first - Joseph was needlessly fouled wide on the right, Asante whipped over another free-kick, & N’Guessan headed home, prompting a lot of bickering between themselves in the Carshalton backline

Chipstead kept pressing, & Asante had a shot, which bobbled nastily in front of the keeper, who parried it, but recovered just as Pearson was about to pounce

Carshalton needed to get back into the game, & a vital double block in the Chips’ defence kept them out, before keeper Finnley Davenport had to be at full stretch to deny another attack, but fortunately it was a lot quieter night for him

Josh Burr, thankfully much recovered from injury and illness, had come on as sub for Travas Feneley in the second half, & he showed great tenacity to battle upfield, before passing to Reuben Ashun, who shot home into the roof of the net to make it 3-0

The game was by then carrying on in the teeming rain, but Carshalton got a goal back through their no. 10 with 20 minutes left

Chipstead nearly scored a fourth, after Clarke-Douglas was fouled, but Asante’s free-kick just eluded N’Guessan this time - Joseph then combined well with Clarke-Douglas & sub Farid Salifou, but his shot was pushed wide by the keeper

Burr jinked his way into the box, but the keeper blocked his shot - Joseph made a strong run down the right, but his low cross found Salifou just offside

Burr stung the keeper’s fingers with a low drive, before Spain crossed low from the left, but it was just beyond Burr

The icing on the cake came in added time, as Salifou got clear of the tiring defence, & finished well to complete the 4-1 win, which lifts Chipstead to 8th in the table ahead of their next match at home to 7th-placed Leatherhead on Monday night