Invicta fell to a 3rd consecutive away defeat on Saturday as a poor display in at the War Memorial Sports Ground saw our run without an away win over Carshalton Athletic since 2008 continue.

Invicta headed into the fixture with news of a new signing: defender Toby Byron from Hornchurch who went straight into the starting XI. The managers sticking to the change of system that saw an improved performance at Hornchurch 11 days earlier, although the personal was very different from that night with only 4 players remaining in the same positions due to a series of injuries and a suspension.

Joe Coleman remained in goal with Freddy Barton at right back, while injury to Ian Gayle and the suspension of Callum Davies saw Will Moses drop into the back 4 alongside Jake Goodman who made his first Invicta start, with Byron coming in at left back. That allowed Kane Penn to push into the midfield alongside Ade Cole operating in a deeper role than at Hornchurch, while Luke Holness and Chris Regis remained in their more attacking roles, joined by Scott Heard. Ibrahim Olutade lead the line with David Smith out with the injury that forced him off in the 1st half at Hornchurch.

The hosts were always in control of the 1st half, hitting the woodwork and forcing a number of saves from Coleman before Oluwabunmi Babajide opened the scoring in the 36th minute.

Before Invicta had chance to rally Carshalton had doubled the lead in the 40th minute through Luke Read.

Deep into first half stoppage time Invicta won a corner with Jake Goodman heading home his first goal for the club to halve the deficit and give some hope to the travelling support going into the break.

Invicta came out with more urgency after the break but failed to really work Will Huffer in that Carshalton goal before Mark Marshall struck in the 63rd minute from a set piece to kill off the game.

Invicta sent on Ira Jackson in place of Scott Heard in an attempt to get back into the match but it proved to no avail as we once again left SM5 without a point as our run of away trips came to and end, with Billericay Town and Haringey Borough set to visit the Alcaline Stadium in the next week.