THE old adage that a good pre-season means nothing when the season starts came true again on Saturday as Lowestoft fell to defeat in their inaugural step three fixture.

THE old adage that a good pre-season means nothing when the season starts came true again on Saturday as Lowestoft fell to defeat in their inaugural step three fixture.

Goals in both halves by Carshalton Athletic saw the Trawlerboys return home empty-handed.

The Blues failed to adapt to a bumpy pitch which made ball control difficult, resulting in them playing a long-ball game which played into the hands of the home side.

Lowestoft started the game quite brightly with Jamie Godbold and Jamie Forshaw exchanging passes but Dan Young nipped in to take the ball off Forshaw's toes as he prepared to shoot.

Carshalton were adopting a direct approach and Andy Reynolds stretched to collect a high cross from Anthony Joseph under pressure from Byron Harrison and Chris Henry.

David Ray's foul on Lee McGlone gave the Blues a free kick some 35 yards out but Adam Smith's direct effort saw keeper Craig Ross fly across his goal to tip the ball over the bar.

A snapshot from Paul Johnson was held by Andy Reynolds and a McGlone header from Stuart Ainsley's corner was just wide of the mark as neither team could make a real impression on the game.

Lowestoft suffered a blow in the 32nd minute with Joe Francis pulling up with a hamstring problem to be replaced by Craig Bussens.

Lowestoft's woes doubled seven minutes later as Carshalton took the lead. Chris Henry went past both Andrew Cave-Brown and Craig Bussens before slipping the ball inside to Paul Johnson to slide it past Andy Reynolds.

Carshalton had an early chance at the start of the second period but there was no-one up to take advantage of a dangerous Anthony Joseph cross which flashed across the face of the goal.

Lowestoft searched for an equaliser and a Godbold corner was partially cleared to Ainsley whose 20-yard curler was just off target.

Another Godbold corner picked out Scott Mitchell but his header was a foot too high.

Carshalton effectively killed the game off with a second goal in then 64th minute.

A long ball forward saw Byron Harrison take advantage as Greg Crane slipped on the turf before moving inside Curtis Haynes-Brown and hitting a 25-yard drive wide of Andy Reynolds into the bottom corner of the net.

Lowestoft never looked like getting back into the game with their only threat coming from a Greg Crane header which went narrowly wide following a Godbold corner.

Carshalton played out time comfortably in control as the Blues became increasingly frustrated.

TEAMS:

Carshalton: Ross, Boateng, R Joseph, Ray, Young, Williams, Johnson (Murray 86), Pigden, A Joseph (Nankani 73), Harrison, Henry. Subs not used: Cooper, Blackman, Stone

Lowestoft Town: Reynolds, Cave-Brown, A Smith, Ainsley, Crane, Haynes-Brown, Godbold, Mitchell, McGlone, Forshaw (Bloomfield 64), Francis (Bussens 32). Subs not used Halliday, Gaughran, Marsden.

Attendance: 350