With the imminent arrival of Carshalton FC at Oakfield the question to be asked was were we going to be playing Carshalton FC of the SAL in a league match, or would Carshalton FC of Ryman Division 1 get lost on their way to Enfield Town in the FA Cup preliminary round? Were the mighty minnows of Old Parks, about to get their chance at the big time? The chance to play against the might of the Ryman League with the possibility of drawing Dagenham and Redbridge in the next round?? Alas, as the green and white outfit piled out of the changing room, my vision of FA Cup glory disappeared and was promptly replaced by the need for 3 vital points against a team who we did the double against last season.

The game started both sides jostling for the ball in midfield. Raven made the first mistake at the back of the Parks defence. After chasing the ball into the right hand corner of the pitch, and beating one man, the ball seemed to find its way to a Carshalton attacker on the edge of the box. Their attacker lifted the ball over Ali, but with his professional training in the High Jump, a perfect leap and arc of the back allowed Ali to tip the ball onto the crossbar and out for a corner.

After the corner Parks started to take the game to Carshalton with the midfield dominating. Sharkey had a looping effort go just wide of the post and Knappy had a long range effort go just over…. the fences behind the pitch – new ball please!

The next slip up was just around the corner. The evergreen Cook played a perfect through ball to the Carshalton striker who dinked the ball over the keeper and had the goal beckoning from 12 yards. Just as the team were about to turn away and accept a 1-0 deficit, we saw something. Was it a bird, was it a plane, no its PSYCHO!!!! Psycho burst across the pitch and managed to get his extended big toe to the ball and push it wide.

Shortly after parks, took the lead. Knappy picked the ball up on the left hand edge of the area cut inside his defender and fired a low shot, which the keeper could only parry into the net. 1-0. Half time came and the troops were fired up.

The second half brought the usual onslaught of the opposition. The Parks defence were resolute and Ali didn’t have too many saves to make. Parks were reduced to hitting on the break but with good effect. Sammy was put through and lifted the ball over the keeper but the goal was ruled out for offside. Sharkey managed to find the target from 25 yards but again the keeper tipped around the post.

The game was starting to get scrappy, and the opposition were starting to get frustrated with Parks stout defending and quick breaks. With 10 minutes to go, Parks got another corner which Knappy delivered at pace to the near post. Gaughan (fresh with adrenaline from his yellow card 2 minutes earlier), broke away from his marker and sent a bullet header into the bottom right hand corner of the net. 2-0. Carshalton were broken and the final whistle rang minutes later.

Parks first win this season. A deserved win, for a fine team performance!! Roll on the newly promoted Old Parms next week, for the third home game on the trot and hopefully another 3 points.

Scorers: Knapman, Gaughan
Man of the Match: Cook
Team: MacCallum, Cowell, Raven, Bostock, Cook, Miller, Gaughan, Collins, Sharkey, Murdoch, Knapman.

Report by Jon Raven