Carshalton Athletic suffered a second league defeat last weekend but there was late controversy during their trip to hosts Bishop's Stortford, writes James Barrett-Sterling.

With the home side 2-1 up as the game entered added time, forward Jerson dos Santos converted a deep Peter Adeniyi cross and wheeled away in celebration.

But a linesman's flag curtailed that joy, a decision hotly disputed by all associated with the Robins after the match.

Stortford rubbed salt in the wound by going up the other end and grabbing a third but it meant Carshalton, following defeat in the Velocity Cup first round last week, have now lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

"Of all my years within football, I didn’t understand that decision (to disallow the goal) at all,” said Robins assistant coach Keith Boanas after the game.

“Jerz checked back and came from behind both the ball and his man, but the linesman called it offside. I found that to be a strange decision.

“But we can’t just use that as an excuse, we need to look at ourselves and our decision-making on the pitch hasn’t been good enough recently. Too many mistakes are costing us at the moment and we need to cut them out.”

The first-half ended goalless on Saturday but for different reasons – Stortford missed several good chances, including a 21st minute spot-kick that Jake Cass thumped against a post, while Carshalton could only manage one attempt on target.

Alfie Mason eventually gave the home side the lead from 18 yards on 52 minutes, but striker Mike Dixon got Carshalton back in it just three minutes later - his smart finish from six yards bulging the back of the net.

But the Robins conceded another goal from distance on 67 minutes and then found Calum Kitscha in good form as they finally began to test him.

The home keeper pulled off two good saves before all the drama in stoppage time, which saw ex-pro Jamie Cureton nod home a cross to cap a good afternoon for the home supporters.

“Mike’s goal was pleasing as finishing was something we’d been working on in training, but we need the players to show that kind of hunger and desire across ninety minutes,” added Boanas.

“We are putting in good deliveries but I think we currently lack the aggression and awareness to make them count. We have to stop waiting for things to occur and get on with making things happen ourselves. I know we have the players that can do that and we'll work hard together to get back to winning ways.”

Carshalton Athletic’s next match is away against Merstham on Saturday 29th September (kick-off 3pm).