Lowestoft Town went to the top of the Ryman Premier League after recording this 4-1 victory at Colston Avenue, although Carshalton Athletic did create enough chances which, on another day, might of lead to them claiming something, writes James Barrett.

In a very physical and high tempo affair, the visitors scored a quick fire double at the start of the second half to increase their 1-0 advantage and essentially gave Carshalton a mountain to climb.

Tom Davis returned to The Robins’ midfield after serving a one match suspension in place of the injured Jimmy Hearne, Anthony Joseph kept his place on the right of the front three and, due to five regular first teamers still out injured, manager Paul Dipre gave some of his reserve players another chance to gain some big match experience on the bench.

The fast paced action started from the first minute, both sets of players crunched into tackles and readily contested high balls while trying to retain possession and move the ball around on the floor.

The first real chance of the game fell to the visitors. Their number nine, Matt Nolan, curled a shot in from the left apex of the Carshalton box which bobbled in front of Nick Hamann, the German shot stopper doing well to parry it around his far post.

Carshalton were trying to utilise the pace of Anthony Joseph down the right, but a combination of the linesman’s flag and over-hit passes meant he just failed to get a real run on the visitors’ defence.

The visitors almost took the lead on 13 minutes. Robins captain David Ray was booked as he brought down Erkan Okay as he threatened to burst into The Robins’ box. Lubo Guentchev, son of ex-Ipswich Town player Buntcho, stepped up and crashed the free kick against Hamann’s bar.

Then it was the home side’s turn to almost score the first goal. Laurent Hamici picked up a flick-on from fellow striker Paul Vines and drove a powerful 20 yard shot at goal. Lowestoft goalkeeper Andrew Reynolds could only beat the ball out to his left and Tom Davis, sensing the chance of a rebound, conspired to put the ball past the wrong side of the post under pressure from a scrambling Reynolds.

Lowestoft went in front on 24 minutes, with Matt Nolan neatly took a Joe Francis through ball on the volley and powered it into the top corner of Hamann’s goal. It was a finish that would’ve graced any game in any league worldwide.

Carshalton were continually being frustrated by Lowestoft’s offside trap and couldn’t quite get beyond the visitors’ defence. Tempers frayed too as Davis picked up a yellow card for winning a free kick (his reaction to a follow through by Andrew Fisk was enough to earn him the caution, Fisk not even received a talking to).

The home side finished the stronger of the two teams. Billy Crook picked up a through ball from Anthony Joseph on 42 minutes and seemed to be bundled over by a Lowestoft defender, but the linesman flagged for a corner. And, on the stroke of half time, Vines met a Crook cross but his header lacked the power to trouble Reynolds.

HALF TIME Whatever game plan The Robins may have discussed at half time was given no time to bear fruit after Lowestoft scored two quick-fire goals to go further in front. On 47 minutes a near post corner wasn’t dealt with and the ball sailed through and hit the unfortunate Justin Roberts on the shin and diverted into the back of the net.

Two minutes later Francis worked the ball into Michael Frew whose run found some space in behind the home defenders. His pull back was met by Francis who had continued his run and the midfielder sidefooted the ball past the dive of Hamann.

Carshalton responded and brought on Joe Dipre for Kieran Murphy, while Vines held up a long ball and fired in a shot from 25 yards which drifted past the far post.

Dipre took on and beat Andrew Cave-Brown just before the hour mark and whipped in a dangerous cross. The Lowestoft defence could only head the ball out to Davis, who won a free kick 20 yards out. He picked himself up and took the kick, bending the ball to Reynolds’ left and reducing the arrears.

The goal buoyed the home team and they started to press Lowestoft, but the visitors went three goals in front again on 61 minutes with a classic training ground set-piece. Guentchev played a short corner out to Adam Smith, who took one touch and sent over a curling cross that was met by a firm header by Francis.

The frustration was palpable from the home team, but they continued to probe and work openings for potential attacks. Anthony Joseph picked up a yellow card for dissent after another run was ended by the referee penalising his part in a 50-50 challenge.

Davis almost scored what would’ve been a wonder goal on 72 minutes. The midfielder was just inside his own half when he spotted Reynolds way off his line and he launched a perfectly weighted ball at goal. Reynolds was scrambling back and, just as the home fans were going to erupt in celebration, he somehow got a fingertip onto the ball and diverted it onto the crossbar. A ripple of appreciation for both players went around the whole of Colston Avenue.

Hamici followed that piece of quick thinking by hitting a half volley just over after good work by Michael Kamara and Anthony Joseph down the right.

On 80 minutes Dipre had the ball in the back of the Lowestoft net, but his neat sidefoot finish was disallowed for an apparent offside after he moved onto an Anthony Joseph through ball and was one-on-one with Reynolds.

That decision summed up Carshalton’s afternoon, and they had Hamann to thank for not losing by a bigger margin as he pulled out two magnificent saves in the last five minutes, particularly from a close range header by Jamie Godbold that everyone thought was in.

"We were beaten by a better team today and, although we were missing a lot of players through injury, I had expected better from us even against the league favourites. Unfortunately it was probably the worst time for us to face the division's best team," said manager Paul Dipre.

"Our injury crisis has prevented us from putting out a settled team and build up some consistency. Up until today we’ve handled the situation ok and we've won our two previous games and scored six. But without a full strength squad most teams would struggle against a team like Lowestoft.

"There's no taking anything away from Lowestoft though, they will be the team to beat this year.

"We had a chance to get back into the game in the second half, but two school-boy mistakes in those first five minutes killed us. Lowestoft had eleven players working as a unit, we didn't and the difference showed.

"Wednesday's game against Met Police will be just as difficult, and Hamici injured his calf today so is unlikely to feature. McDonald, Quarm, Hearne and Pigden will not be ready to play either. Our back is up against the wall at the moment and we need all hands on deck."

Carshalton travel to play Metropolitan Police on Wednesday 28th September before embarking on their trip to Dover Athletic to play in the second qualifying round of The FA Cup on Saturday 1st October. The Robins then host East Thurrock United on Tuesday 4th October.

Carshalton Athletic: Hamann; Kamara, Ray (c), Roberts, R Joseph; Crook, Murphy (Dipre), Davis; A Joseph, Vines, Hamici. Unused subs: Badialli, Hill, Ayers.

Goal: Davis (59)

Lowestoft Town: Reynolds; Cave-Brown, Mitchell, Gaughran, Smith (c); Guentchev (Godbold), Okay, Fisk, Francis; Nolan (Forshaw), Frew (Forbes). Unused subs: Ainsley, Henderson.

Goals: Nolan (24), Roberts OG (47), Francis (49 and 62)