Corinthian-Casuals 2 - 0 Carshalton Athletic
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 5th April 2016
Attendance: 160
Report by Cameron Smith. Pics by Stuart Tree

Two goals in two minutes from the in-form Shaun Okojie gave ten-men Corinthian-Casuals hope in landing a place in the play-offs after a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Carshalton Athletic in a lively encounter at King George’s.
 
A memorable late winner against East Grinstead on Saturday was still fresh in the minds of the Casuals supporters as the race for the play-offs heated up. The absence of Danny Dudley was a massive blow to James Bracken’s side. However, after a clean sheet against the Wasps, Ben King was injected with new-found confidence in the unfamiliar position. Meanwhile, Juevan Spencer was replaced in midfield by Brandon Johnson. Emil Salama, who made an impressive impact from the substitutes bench on Saturday, started on the right wing ahead of Josh Uzun.
 
Carshalton were in 10th place, three spots behind Casuals. They were maintaining a four game unbeaten run, where they most notably beat Hastings United 3-1.
 
From the start, Casuals had control of the game. Jamie Byatt had a chance to score inside the first twenty seconds but the ball was cleared on the goal-line. Warren Morgan took advantage of a lapse in concentration from the visitors with a marauding run before being unfairly upended by Captain Tony Sinclair in the area. As the referee pointed to the spot, Shaun Okojie strolled towards the ball, eyeing up the goalkeeper. The striker had ice flowing through his veins as he sent keeper Luke Colquhoun the wrong way and scored in the fourth minute.
 
Perhaps still affected conceding early, Colquhoun received the ball in the six yard box and without thinking, passed it out wide to a marked full-back. Salama was on his toes and intercepted the ball before squaring it to Okojie in the centre. The target-man made no mistake as he slotted past the devastated Robin’s keeper and celebrated.
 
Carshalton lacked attacking inspiration and most of the possession fell in the hosts favour until the stroke of half-time. As midfield engine Niall Wright was heavily involved in a squabble on the half-way line, the referee Andrew Williams awarded Casuals a free-kick. After the pushing and shoving died down, Williams, to the shock of King George’s, showed a straight red card to Wright and only a yellow for agitator Tommy Bradford. The bizarre decision took an even stranger turn when the original judgement of a Casuals free-kick was over-ruled and it became a set-piece for the away side. Expressions of confusion, disbelief and anger rippled through the shell-shocked crowd. The first-half ended with mixed emotions as Casuals faced an up-hill task of protecting their 2-0 lead with ten men.
 
Anxiously, Casuals fans watched on as Danny Bracken made a great stop to deny the speedy Ricky Korboa, who skipped past the Morgan with ease. Byatt knocked down a long-ball for Okojie to turn and shoot just wide of the post.
 
There was an unpleasant moment after Carshalton’s Colquhoun dropped the ball at the near post from a corner, resulting an exchange with fans behind the goal. This led to the keeper seemingly taking matters into his own hands before calm was restored.
 
A lengthy stoppage; it looked less likely that Carshalton would conjure two goals, especially when Korboa was dismissed for a second yellow with ten, tense minutes to go. That was the case as Casuals deservedly took home all three points.
 
Remaining in tenth place, it looks like Carshalton will have to settle for a mid-table spot. Play-off rivals Hastings edged East Grinstead while Molesey were held at Tooting and Herne Bay lost against Ramsgate. One point from the play-off spots, Corinth sit in seventh place with two consecutive trips to Walton on the cards.
 
After the match, Manager James Bracken gave his thoughts.

“Was it a feisty game? Well, I can’t remember us committing a bad foul in the whole game. We’ve had one sent off just before half time for something I honestly can’t see and neither can anyone else in the ground.

“It changed the game even though we were two-nil up by that point. Our game plan certainly worked and counter-acted everything they were trying to achieve, which is why we scored two early goals.

“Second half, I thought we were fantastic.

“There’s different ways to play football. Not one way – and that’s a mistake a lot of people make – they think there’s one way to play football and win. There isn’t. If you know all of the different ways to play and you can apply them at the right times, you’ll always get the upper hand. That’s what we’ve done tonight.

“I don’t know what the laws are when the keeper leaves the field of play and confronts fans and puts his hands up, but if he does that on the pitch to a player, he walks. I don’t see why he should be able to do that to our fans who were again, fantastic tonight.

“Four wins down and three to go. That’s the way we’re looking at it.

“Going into Saturday we’re very focussed. We’ve had pressure for the last four games because I’ve told them that we have to win them all and we’ve won four out of four. So there’s no more pressure now.

“There’s pressure on one or two teams around us who should have a look at what we’re doing and realise we were six points adrift and now we’re a point outside the playoffs with three games to go. So maybe they’ll feel a bit of pressure.” 

Carshalton Athletic 1 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 2nd January 2016
Att: 387
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (photos here)
Video Highlights courtesy of Fox in the Box (click here)

Corinthian-Casuals came away from Colston Avenue with an unlikely point after substitute Shaun Okojie struck in the 83rd minute to share the spoils with Carshalton Athletic.

In a game bereft of chances for the visitors, a mixture of superb goalkeeping and the home side’s wasteful chances enabled James Bracken’s side to get back into the contest and grab a vital point.

Bracken reshuffled his defence, which included an appearance for Rhys Coleman – his first since the opening day of the season. Cherno Mendy was unavailable and so Matt Reece was given a central striker’s role with Emmanuel Akokhia and Juevan Spencer providing the width. Ex-Corinth management duo, Matt Howard and Luke Garrard’s Carshalton side included familiar face, Lee Hall.

On an artificial surface which Carshalton have come accustomed to, the Robins started the livelier and perhaps should have taken the lead after Moses Ashikodi headed over from a well-judged cross.

The continuing rain helped to create a slick surface but one that Casuals just couldn’t find their feet on. As the half continued, it looked to be a subdued performance from the Amateurs. Akokhia had rare glimpses of the ball and could only muster half chances from his wide positions.

Carshalton’s Bobby Price came closest to opening the scoring after a wicked cross wasn’t dealt with in the most comfortable manner. Danny Bracken in goal had to be alert from shots via Tommy Bradford and Adam Thompson. Ashikodi also saw his close range volley sail over the crossbar, when perhaps he should’ve scored.

In what would’ve been a harsh twist, Juevan Spencer was inches from meeting an Akokhia cross at the far post, where surely any touch would’ve resulted in a goal. However, it wouldn’t be far from the truth that Casuals went into half time lucky that they weren’t out of the game.

After the break, Tommy Bradford nearly broke the deadlock, firing viciously towards the top corner, however, Bracken at absolute full stretch, spectacularly palmed away the effort.

Despite being in fine form, there was nothing the keeper could do about Carshalton’s opener; with the defence going missing, Tommy Bradford was put through on goal and slotted past Bracken’s left side to give the home side the lead.

Far from allowing the game to be decided by what had gone before, James Bracken made attacking changes, bringing on Steph Joseph and Shaun Okojie. Buoyed on by the non-stop chanting from the Casuals’ faithful behind the goal, Corinth finally grew into the game and started to impose themselves a little more.

On 83 minutes, in what could be described as the first real attempt on goal in the half, Okojie levelled the scores. From a free kick delivered from wide, Okojie met the cross at the far post and guided it past Colquhoun in goal.

It was now Corinth who looked the more dangerous, with Kevant Serbony making imposing runs from the midfield. However, progress was a little stifled after Joseph was dismissed for a second yellow card following a two-footed challenge.

Thus, the scores remained level and the home side could feel aggrieved that they didn’t get more out of the game. James Bracken will surely take positives once again in the fact that his side doesn’t know when to quit and showed resolve which has earned them a fair few points in this league campaign.

Corinthian-Casuals 3-1 Carshalton Athletic
Robert Dyas League Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 6th  October 2015
Attendance: 75
Match report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Andy Nunn (view full set here)

‘We’re in it to win it’ was the message from Manager James Bracken after seeing his side win their 4th match in a row with a 3-1 home win over Carshalton Athletic in the Robert Dyas League Cup.

It was a very wet night at King Georges Arena with both sides making a three or four changes  to their regular line ups. Despite the fine surface, it looked to be a tricky night in store as several players lost their footing in the opening stages.

This was not just restricted to the outfield competitors with keeper Danny Bracken nearly fumbling a long range effort from Bobby Price in the 7th minute but the skipper was relieved to see the ball drop the other side of the post and out for a corner.

Kingsley Aikhionbare was the apparent threat to the hosts early on and he had a 30 yard effort just over as the visitors seemed to settle and press forward.

Casuals first foray into opposition waters saw Cherno Mendy skip past Hamilton-Downes but the low cross was excellently handled by keeper Matt Willard.

Aikhionbare continued to cause problems and in the 24th minute after slipping inside Ross Defoe, his goal-bound effort beat Bracken but not the covering Danny Dudley who cleared to safety off the line.

Ex-Casuals midfielder Lee Hall popped a low skidding effort just past the far post as the Robins seemed the much more likely to open the scoring in the early stages. Indeed it was Aikhionbare again who came even closer this time seeing his 32nd minute effort come back off the post after he had spun his marker inside the box.

Out of nothing Casuals took a 34th minute lead. Kevant Serbony being brought down on the right wing and the resulting free kick from Josh Uzun wasn't attacked by the defence and Danny Dudley lofted a side-footed effort from 10 yards into the top corner.

The lead was quickly doubled 4 minutes later when after Stef Joseph chased down a clearance his physical presence un-nerved visiting skipper Sinclair and after powering through he rounded Willard and slid home left footed into the net.

Carshalton hit back almost immediately and on the balance of play it was the least they deserved although the goal came in fortunate circumstances. Debutant Rommel Hunte-Christie who has been promoted from the academy saw a cross-cum-shot on the right deflect off Defoe and loop into the top corner for a 40th minute reply.

Barely 3 minutes after the restart Casuals were handed the chance to go two goals back in front. Luke Pigden handling inside the box and although he was unlucky, with his arms out wide, the referee was left with no choice.
The trusty Josh Uzun emphatically smashed home his 3rd penalty in 4 days to put the hosts back in the ascendancy.

The second period saw a much more controlled display from James Bracken's side and Stef Joseph was unlucky not to add to his tally with an hour gone as a low left footed effort flew across goal and out of play.

Niall Wright was unlucky with a 67th minute drive from the edge of the box that brought a great handed save from Willard before Bracken at the other end was well placed to foil Aikhionbare when it seemed the striker was through on goal.

Former Casuals manager Matt Howard threw on Josh Phillips and Ricky Korboa in a bid to get back into the tie and his changes did have an impact with the latter a threat down the flanks. It was Phillips that saw a 77th minute shot charged down by Terry Murray and the game had its second spot kick. This time however there was no goal as Danny Bracken foiled his teammate from last season Lee Hall with his legs after the midfielder had blasted straight down the middle.(pic below)

This seemed to knock any remaining hope out of the visitors and it was a comfortable ending to the game with both sides mustering up a couple of half chances but no serious threat on goal.

James Bracken commented after the match.

“We made a few changes tonight. A few of the boys were due a run out and it gave us an opportunity to look at those who’d been on the bench for a few games. They didn’t do themselves any harm at all; Stef (Joseph) has come in and done what I know he can do. He’s different to Mani (Emmanuel Akokhia) but in good ways. It was nice to get him out there and get him a goal for his confidence.

“I didn’t go with a weakened team tonight – just a changed side. We’ve got a good squad and we can afford to leave one or two out and it doesn’t weaken us, just changes our style slightly.

“First half I thought we were a bit sloppy and we were probably fortunate to be leading at half time. That was the only real positive to take from the 45 minutes.

“But second half, we’ve played well and been in control. It could’ve been one or two more goals with the possession we had and overall we deserve to be in the next round and that’s what counts.

“Danny (Bracken) will beat himself up with the start that he had. He can make ten one-on-one saves yet make one little error and he’ll punish himself for that. He’s very critical of his own game because he wants to be the best that he can be. One or two slips tonight didn’t cost us any goals and the pitch was slippery and it isn’t easy for any keeper.

“But he’s done well on the penalty save. He had to wait a little while for the penalty kick to be taken – probably a little while longer than he’d want to. But Lee Hall hasn’t stuck it in the corner… he’s planted it straight down the middle and Dan’s done well to stop it.
​
“We want to win this competition. I want to win everything. We showed in pre-season that we can compete with teams from the league above. I feel like we’re getting stronger with every performance. We’ve won six out of the last seven including four on the bounce and we’re on a nice little run.

Carshalton Athletic  0-1 Corinthain-Casuals
Ryman Division One South
Tuesday 9th September 2014
Attendance 165

By Darren Pasley
Pictures: Stuart Tree

Corinthian-Casuals moved to the summit of the Ryman South table with their first clean sheet of the season on their travels.

Jordan Vidal and Steve Goddard returned to the starting line up as Matt Howard’s men looked to extend their winning run in the league to four matches.

The opening exchanges in truth were sloppy with both sides giving the ball away despite the Colston Avenue pitch being in great early season condition.

The home side looked the more lively but it wasn’t till the 17th minute that the games first meaningful effort on target was registered. Adriano Moraes up from full back hit an effort from the edge of the box that deflected off Wright and over. From the resulting corner taken by Greene, skipper Tony Sinclair saw his goalbound volley hit Dudley as the Robins pressed for the opener.

Casuals had their first effort after 21 minutes when Lee Hall hit a speculative effort from distance but despite having power the shot lacked the direction to trouble Jack Eden in the home net.

Carshalton were looking increasingly threatening with the  attacking trio of Aikhionbare, Thomas and Miller all interchanging and causing problems with their movement up top. Despite this however the visitors took the lead in 25th minute.

With a throw only heading its way back out to the left hand side Dave Hodges crossed superbly for Joe Hicks to rise above the attentions of two defenders and head home superbly into the top corner. It was another great goal for the skipper on the back of his volley against Redhill three days earlier.

The hosts continued to posses a menace inside the visitors box and Bracken was called into serious action for the first time as he got down low to tip Kingsley Aikhionbare’s low effort past the post. From the corner the ball fell to Jamal Alexander who had a drive tipped over by Casuals number one.

On 33 minutes Eden was forced into his first save of the night when Bettache attempted a dipping volley from just outside the box, which was well held.

Dwayne Marshall had the best chance for an equaliser 3 minutes before the break but from Nicky Greene’s free kick he headed wide of the near post.

After the break it was Casuals who made the early running and on 49 minutes they should have doubled the lead. A free kick from halfway was headed clear and with Hodges looping the ball back into the box, Jamie Byatt unexpectedly found himself onside in acres of space 12 yards from goal. Perhaps surprised, he rushed his effort and hooked a shot wide.

Marshall in a carbon copy of his first half effort went close again this time heading over although the assistants flag was raised from a free kick.

It was a frustrating period for both sides, which followed. The final ball lacking the quality at both ends of the pitch.

In spite of this it was the visitors who fashioned the serious chances. The hardworking Byatt on 66 minutes found himself down the left 12 yards from goal after good work from the battling Goddard. This time though he snatched at his shot and it spun wide of the near post.

Bettache on 74 minutes who had come more into the game in the second period showed a good turn of pace to ride two challenges and feeding Wilson-Dennis. However the striker who in the past had a spell at Colston Avenue took an age to get set and Sinclair had time to recover and deny the strike.

At the other end the home side seemingly having run out of ideas threw on a number of replacements and Tommy Bradford showed promise with direct running. Any foray into the opposition box though was dealt with by the excellent Dudley and Hicks. Apart from a wild effort by Sean O’Toole in the allotted injury time there were no further efforts on Brackens goal and Casuals had reached the top of the table albeit on a temporary basis


Thanks to Steve Wigg the goal can be viewed here