By James Barrett

Carshalton Athletic manager Tommy Williams says his side is finally gathering the momentum needed to take them up the Ryman League Premier Division table.

The Robins beat a floundering Cray Wanderers 2-1 at Colston Avenue on Saturday thanks to a wonder first goal of the season by defender Luke Nolan, and a Hakeem Adelakun strike.

Despite the win, Williams' men remain bottom of the table but only on goal difference - although the teams immediately above them have up to six games in hand.

The Robins travel to one of those teams, Hastings United, this weekend, with the manager confident his team can stay up.

“It is certainly on now as other results this weekend went our way too, so it is becoming very interesting,” he said.

“I’ve said it would take time to get to a regular high standard of performance, but our recent results prove we are getting there.”

Carshalton conceded the first goal when Cray striker Leigh Bremner won, and promptly dispatched, a rather contentious penalty awarded on 26 minutes.

But the Robins equalised four minutes later when Adelakun’s 30 yarder deceived Cray keeper Andy Walker and squirmed over the line.

“I told the lads at half-time that I felt we’d started slowly but Hakeem’s goal spurred us on and we grew in confidence from that point onwards,” Williams said.

“However, I felt it would take something special to win as the game went on.”

And he was proved right as, after Cray spurned two good chances to take the lead through Tyrone Sterling and Michael Power, up stepped left back Nolan to power home the winner from 30 yards that beat Walker all ends up.

“Everyone was pleased for Luke and it was a great strike,” Williams said.

“He’s been out the side a lot this season but he has kept working hard and his overall display today was capped by the goal.

"Both Luke Evans and I were impressed by him even before he hit the back of the net.”

Carshalton Athletic host Chipstead in a Surrey Senior Cup match at Colston Avenue tomorrow (Tuesday - kick off 7.45pm) before the weekend's big game.