Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 0 Lewes
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 26th February 2022
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)
Corinthian-Casuals bounced back from a midweek 5-0 defeat in the League Cup to stifle playoff hopefuls Lewes in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
It was Casuals first league clean sheet since November and was welcomed by Manager James Bracken after shipping a number of goals in recent games.
It was a tough ask against high-flying Lewes who had only lost once in eight league games and with Joe Taylor in their line-up, scorer of 25 goals already this season, keeping the Rooks out looked unlikely.
But taking the game to the visitors never allowed them to settle or impose themselves. At the end of ninety minutes, it would be Casuals supporters who felt more aggrieved that they hadn’t won the game.
It was a delight to see former Casual Juevan Spencer back at King George’s too and enjoyed his individual battles with ex-teammate Ben Cheklit all afternoon. Knowing each other’s game so well, it was intriguing who would get the best of each other. It clearly spurred Cheklit on… the winger looked dangerous all afternoon.
Casuals had the better of the chances in the first half with Elliott Bolton firing a rising shot over the bar and the diminutive Emmanual Mensah seeing his back post header brilliantly tipped over by Lewis Carey in goal. The other Emmanuel – Agboola, in goal at the other end was sharp to keep Lewes out on a couple of occasions too.
Casuals pressed and Alfie Bendle’s cross was turned in by Ollie Sitch from close range but deemed offside by the linesman. Kieron Cadogan also fired into the side netting to end the first half goalless.
The theme continued in the second half when Carey saved low to an oncoming Sitch. Casuals turned up the pressure and in the space of two minutes, saw the bar hit twice and another fabulous save by Carey, this time from Captain Jack Strange’s header.
The last few minutes could’ve seen either side win it with Cheklit and Spencer vying for the ball and what appeared a mis-timed challenge on the former, was not penalised due to the winger’s ‘honesty’ of staying on his feet. At the other end, substitute Ollie Tanner fired narrowly wide.
A point a piece and whilst a clean sheet for Casuals was very welcome, especially against the second-best scoring side in the league. But Bracken and his side would feel they should’ve had more.
“It was important that we reacted the way we have,” said James Bracken after the match. “Nothing but credit to the boys today. They were great. I was very forthcoming with giving them criticism on Tuesday and obviously that stuck. They’ve taken it on the chin and responded today with a performance full of quality.
“Games like Tuesday happen. You concede goals at crucial times and it ends up going in a certain direction. The only thing we can do is to make sure our attitude is good going into the next match. If a result like that doesn’t make you angry and it doesn’t fire you up, then you are not cut out for this.
“We’ve hit the woodwork three times, their keeper made a number of good saves and we should’ve had a penalty at the end, but we remain honest and don’t go down under the challenge. Another day, that’s a deserved win.
“I know I beat the drum but we’re a decent side. If teams think they’ll roll over us, they’ll find that they’ll come up short.
“We’ve turned up even more motivated because of the result in midweek. All week, I’ve had people asking me ‘what happened Tuesday?’, like they’re poking me with a stick. The only way to respond is by putting in a good performance and getting a decent result.
“We weren’t prepared to give Lewes easy goals which is what we’ve done in recent games. We’ve been expansive and sometimes too attacking. When you do that, and you don’t score, you’ll lose. That’s the bottom line. Today, I felt we had a much better balance.
“You also need the individuals to go out there and win their personal battles. You look across the back line and the middle of the park and I think we edged all of them. If you go out there and win more than half of your battles across the pitch, then you’re in the game. Then it’s all about taking your chances, which was a little unfortunate that we didn’t today.
“Results follow performances so as long as we stay at that level, then the results will follow.
“We’ll approach Tuesday before we worry about selections for Thursday. Who I pick for Tuesday are far easier after today.”
Casuals face Haringey Borough on Tuesday and Carshalton Athletic on Thursday, both at home.
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 26th February 2022
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)
Corinthian-Casuals bounced back from a midweek 5-0 defeat in the League Cup to stifle playoff hopefuls Lewes in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
It was Casuals first league clean sheet since November and was welcomed by Manager James Bracken after shipping a number of goals in recent games.
It was a tough ask against high-flying Lewes who had only lost once in eight league games and with Joe Taylor in their line-up, scorer of 25 goals already this season, keeping the Rooks out looked unlikely.
But taking the game to the visitors never allowed them to settle or impose themselves. At the end of ninety minutes, it would be Casuals supporters who felt more aggrieved that they hadn’t won the game.
It was a delight to see former Casual Juevan Spencer back at King George’s too and enjoyed his individual battles with ex-teammate Ben Cheklit all afternoon. Knowing each other’s game so well, it was intriguing who would get the best of each other. It clearly spurred Cheklit on… the winger looked dangerous all afternoon.
Casuals had the better of the chances in the first half with Elliott Bolton firing a rising shot over the bar and the diminutive Emmanual Mensah seeing his back post header brilliantly tipped over by Lewis Carey in goal. The other Emmanuel – Agboola, in goal at the other end was sharp to keep Lewes out on a couple of occasions too.
Casuals pressed and Alfie Bendle’s cross was turned in by Ollie Sitch from close range but deemed offside by the linesman. Kieron Cadogan also fired into the side netting to end the first half goalless.
The theme continued in the second half when Carey saved low to an oncoming Sitch. Casuals turned up the pressure and in the space of two minutes, saw the bar hit twice and another fabulous save by Carey, this time from Captain Jack Strange’s header.
The last few minutes could’ve seen either side win it with Cheklit and Spencer vying for the ball and what appeared a mis-timed challenge on the former, was not penalised due to the winger’s ‘honesty’ of staying on his feet. At the other end, substitute Ollie Tanner fired narrowly wide.
A point a piece and whilst a clean sheet for Casuals was very welcome, especially against the second-best scoring side in the league. But Bracken and his side would feel they should’ve had more.
“It was important that we reacted the way we have,” said James Bracken after the match. “Nothing but credit to the boys today. They were great. I was very forthcoming with giving them criticism on Tuesday and obviously that stuck. They’ve taken it on the chin and responded today with a performance full of quality.
“Games like Tuesday happen. You concede goals at crucial times and it ends up going in a certain direction. The only thing we can do is to make sure our attitude is good going into the next match. If a result like that doesn’t make you angry and it doesn’t fire you up, then you are not cut out for this.
“We’ve hit the woodwork three times, their keeper made a number of good saves and we should’ve had a penalty at the end, but we remain honest and don’t go down under the challenge. Another day, that’s a deserved win.
“I know I beat the drum but we’re a decent side. If teams think they’ll roll over us, they’ll find that they’ll come up short.
“We’ve turned up even more motivated because of the result in midweek. All week, I’ve had people asking me ‘what happened Tuesday?’, like they’re poking me with a stick. The only way to respond is by putting in a good performance and getting a decent result.
“We weren’t prepared to give Lewes easy goals which is what we’ve done in recent games. We’ve been expansive and sometimes too attacking. When you do that, and you don’t score, you’ll lose. That’s the bottom line. Today, I felt we had a much better balance.
“You also need the individuals to go out there and win their personal battles. You look across the back line and the middle of the park and I think we edged all of them. If you go out there and win more than half of your battles across the pitch, then you’re in the game. Then it’s all about taking your chances, which was a little unfortunate that we didn’t today.
“Results follow performances so as long as we stay at that level, then the results will follow.
“We’ll approach Tuesday before we worry about selections for Thursday. Who I pick for Tuesday are far easier after today.”
Casuals face Haringey Borough on Tuesday and Carshalton Athletic on Thursday, both at home.
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