Despite producing a below par performance, City got back to winning ways following the midweek reverse against Weymouth, overcoming the league’s bottom side Carshalton 2-0 at Colston Avenue.

Having had the luxury of a settled side for a number of weeks, City were forced to shuffle their pack for this encounter. Midfield dynamo, Mark Molesley succumbed to his injury picked up against Weymouth and Dale Binns missed out due to suspension. Dave Sadler was restored to the forward line for his first start in over eight weeks, Robbie Simpson moving back to occupy an uncustomary midfield birth. New signing from Dagenham, Lee Flynn, came in on the flank for Binns.

Robbie Simpson gets involved

Carshalton, who were still looking for their first win of the season, got stuck in from the off and Dominic Casciato found himself in the referee’s notebook after less than 60 seconds for a clumsy challenge as Craig Dobson looked odds on to exploit space on the right hand side.

With Carshalton playing only one up front and flooding the midfield, City found it hard to create much going forward in the early stages and it was the home side who first threatened but Marc Simms effort from 20 yards was so badly scuffed, Naisbitt only had to stoop to field it.

City, who looked unsettled by the changes to the side, eventually began to find their feet and carve out some opportunities. Lee Chaffey’s ball down the flank saw Sadler play in Booth with a neat flick from the outside of his boot. Booth gained a yard on his marker and tested Adam Frederici in the home goal with a low cross shot that the home stopper did well to turn behind. Soon after, Sadler just managed to dig out Dobson’s cross from between his legs but could not get any power in his shot and Frederici collected comfortably.

Carshalton threatened rarely and a Craig Dundas pot shot from well out that flew high over the bar was their best effort of the half. Immediately, Dobson made good ground upfield, found Booth who cut across his marker but dragged his shot a couple of feet wide.

Robbie Simpson, although not having the best of times as a makeshift midfielder, did well to battle free of a number of challenges on the half hour to produce a reverse pass that sent Booth racing through the Robin’s backline. He was thwarted by David Graves grabbing a fistful of the strikers shirt. The resulting free-kick came to nothing but was only cleared as far as Chaffey who’s measured header back into the area was seized upon by Booth who’s close-range header was slapped away by Frederici.

Dave Sadler under pressure from Carshalton's Dominic Casciato

City eventually broke the deadlock and took a deserved lead shortly afterwards. It came from a perfect counter attack as a Carshalton free-kick was easily repelled. Matt Langston helped the ball on it’s way and out to Dobson. The fleet footed winger raced away, tormenting York as he switched inside and out, eventually delivering a superb cross to the far post that was headed home by the predatory Booth.

As the half drew to a close, Casciato, who had been booked in the first minute, was lucky to escape a second yellow as he deliberately handled Dobson’s cross, however, the referee decided a free-kick would suffice.

Dobson came within a whisker of doubling City’s advantage two minutes after the restart. The former Lewes man showed great feet to get in between Casciato and substitute, Marlon Patterson, before rifling a shot across the face of goal that took the paint off the far post. Following this, play became niggly as neither side seemed capable of creating chances. It took a full seventeen minutes for the next notable action to occur when Dundas almost pulled the Robins level as he flicked on Patterson’s free-kick from within a ruck of players, forcing Naisbitt into his first serious action of the afternoon.

As the game entered it’s final third, City’s play became more and more ragged and Carshalton began to get on top. City conceded more free-kicks and corners than were healthy as well as bookings to Robbie Simpson, Craig Pope and Matt Langston as they battled to repel a determined Carshalton side. Patterson’s delivery from set plays was of particular worry to City as he caused one or two anxious moments.

Craig Dobson about to take on Casciato

With still six minutes plus injury time remaining, Carshalton almost committed footballing suicide when Frederici came up for a corner. Naisbitt punched clear and with the home keeper hopelessly out of position, Booth was given a the job of running almost the full length of the pitch with an open goal as the reward, however, his shot from some 40 yards was cleared by Casciato before it could cross the line.

The final stages of the half became frantic as the Robins battered City and they could be forgiven for claiming that “when you’re down, you’re down” when in the 85th minute, Patterson’s thunderbolt of a drive from 35 yards flew beyond Naisbitt’s despairing dive but whacked the upright and bounced away to safety.

City survived an almighty goalmouth scramble in the final minute as Carshalton tried desperately to force the ball home. The ball was eventually smuggled away and the visitors countered with Booth’s crossfield ball setting up Dobson for a run on goal and he didn’t disappoint, forcing Frederici into a fine save. Dobson wasn’t to be denied and seconds later, an almost action replay saw him find the bottom corner with a fierce shot that gave Frederici no chance and wrapped up the points for City.