Carshalton climb- whilst Millers and Borough triumph in the Velocity Cup

Carshalton Athletic gave their supporters early excitement- and despair- but boosted their spirits by holding on to defeat Folkestone Invicta one-nil at Colston Avenue.

The last time Invicta arrived in Carshalton, last November, they left on the end of a five-nil thrashing- and they were behind again on just six minutes, Matt Vigor finishing a Tom Beere cross. But then their night became more difficult, as on fifteen minutes Kurtis Cumberbatch received a red card for a challenge on Matt Newman. Invicta pressed, and they pressed some more, although the Robins were dangerous on the break. The equaliser didn't arrive, and the Robins climb to twelfth, whilst Invicta are sixteenth.

Carshalton have now won their last three home games by one goal to nil.

The Velocity Cup saw Aveley, third in the Premier Division, welcome North Division Tilbury. The Dockers conceded five at Heybridge Swifts on Saturday, but it was much closer last night- although the final outcome was much the same. The Millers went ahead on eighteen minutes through Kayne Diedrick-Roberts, who found the back of an empty net after a pass from George Sykes for his first ever Millers goal. Sykes was them himself on the scoresheet, only three minutes later, the first to react after a Benas Vaivada free kick came back off the post.

Former Miller Alex Clark tried to get the Dockers back into the game, hitting a post and then having a goal disallowed for offside, and eight minutes after the break he got the goal his efforts deserved, halving the arrears from the spot. Sadly for the visitors, that was as good as it got- and the Millers progress.

Haringey Borough, defeated at Aveley on Saturday, had an early chance to get back to winning ways as they made the trip to the Len Salmon to take on Hashtag United. This is, we believe, was the first time the clubs had ever met- and both had defeats to recover from, after the Tags were thrashed four-nil at Felixstowe & Walton United on Saturday. Prior to Saturday both sides had been going well- the Tags had won four in a row, whilst Borough were also on a four match unbeaten run.

United got their noses in front just before the break, Max Cornhill opening the scoring- and it looked, despite the visitors efforts, that they would hold on for victory. And then, right at the end, a volley from Kaylen Hinds crashed home off the underside of the bar and we were off to penalties. The shootout hero was Borough keeper Luke Mewitt, who saved three of the hosts spot kicks to take his side through to the next round- and is pictured, courtesy of Lucy Copsey.

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