Chelmsford City 3 Carshalton Athletic 0

The prospect of a Monday night trip to Essex to play the league leaders is hardly an inviting prospect at the best of times, but with the team short on form and confidence this was always going to be a difficult evening.

In the event, although the result could have been predicted, the pattern of the game went through some unexpected twists and turns and was dominated by two individuals, the first being City's flying winger, Ricky Holmes, and the other being the match official, Mr Hatzidakis, who occupied centre stage for a large part of the game.

City were ahead as early as the sixth minute when Holmes pin-point cross from the left picked out the right foot of Mario Noto on the opposite side of the area and his fantastic vollied shot gave Howe no chance as it flew into the net.

Holmes, a target for a number of Football League clubs, was causing all sorts of problems for the Robins defence and another turn and shot produced a flying save by Howe.

Carshalton's overstretched playing resources took another blow fifteen minutes into the game when Stuart Harte sustained an ankle injury challenging for the ball and had to be carried off the field with Ryan Watts came on to take his place in a rearranged defence.

Only minutes after coming on Watts was judged to have impeded one of the City players as he burst into the area and a penalty was awarded.

Howe superbly blocked Holmes first shot, but Holmes was first to follow up his kick to knock the ball into the net.

James Evans was the first to find his way into the referee's book, but plenty followed throughout the half.

In one particular fracas on the edge of the city area, following the award of a free-kick to Carshalton, Evans appeared to be manhandled to the ground and after consulting his assistant four players appeared to be cautioned.

Gonsalves had the Robins first scoring attempt with a shot after 35 minutes and followed this with a glancing header that passed narrowly over from a free-kick by Ursell late in the half.

Half-time arrived with City comfortably in control and seven names in the referee's book, in a game that was being played in a reasonable spirit and never in danger of boiling over.

Things went from bad to worse early in the second half when Evans was punished for his challenge for the ball with a second booking and a dismissal.

The Robins did their best to stay in the game and it was ironic hat City's third goal came when the Robins were on the attack for a corner.

With players pushed forward the ball was quickly cleared to Holmes who burst down the left, holding off several challenges on a brilliant run before killing off the game with a cross shot that went in off the far post.

Names were going into the book at regular intervals, but Watts received the first straight red when he brought down Holmes on another run and after Holmes had added several rolls and with a booking expected, the red card appeared.

By this stage it was a case of damage limitation for the Robins and Reece Wilson came on to help out the midfield in place of Fontana.

To their credit the Carshalton nine held out without conceding further goals, due in no small part to some good saves by Howe and City's decision to take their foot off the pedal with the game won.

And the final count for the match official appears to have been twelve bookings and two sendings off.

Quite a night, but not one that Carshalton will want to see repeated.

Robins team: Howe, Cooper, Carpenter, Gonsalves, Graves, Harte (Watts), Fontana (Wilson), Evans, Ruggles, Ursell, Johnson. Sub not used: Graham.Next gamesSaturday, March 1 (3pm): Ramsgate v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman League Premier DivisionSaturday, March 8 (3pm): Carshalton Athletic v Folkestone Invicta, Ryman League Premier Division