Hastings United 0 – 2 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Monday 23rd February 2015
Match report: Stuart Tree

Corinthian-Casuals found a potentially tough battle easy going as they comfortably defeated Hastings 2-0 at a chilly Pilot Field on Monday night.

And Boss Matt Howard praised his whole team for their ‘workman-like performance’.

Hastings, who by their own standards have been struggling this term, began the evening one point below Casuals in 19th and having played six games more than the visitors.

Howard made just one change to the starting XI from that which lost to Badshot Lea in the Surrey Senior Cup last Tuesday. In came Dave Hodges, back from a slight injury to replace Reece Placid. There was a place on the bench for new signing Max Austin.

On a surface fit for the higher leagues and a credit to their club, both teams looked to get the ball down and play. The early exchanges were even but Hastings had the first real opportunity; Evan Archibald prodding the ball just wide of the far post after receiving a decent cross from the left flank. At the other end, Maz Bettache’s shot from the edge of the box was deflected just wide of the mark.

Jamie Byatt, looking to get on the scoresheet for the first time since returning from Brazil found himself played through by an incisive Lee Hall pass. With Hasting’s keeper Josh Pelling rushing out and finding himself in no-man’s land, Byatt looked to capitalise. However, his acute angled shot was fired high and wide.

Though the play was open and end-to-end, neither could find the net and the teams entered the break on level terms.

A half-time substitution appeared to make all the difference. Four minutes into his Casual’s debut, Max Austin found himself on the scoresheet. Juevan Spencer, who tormented the Hastings defence all night, produced a run which at first appeared to be going nowhere. However, the ball broke kindly and Spencer drilled a cross/shot which was guided home by Austin.

Five minutes later and it was two-nil. A free kick in a dangerous position was gently laid off by Maz Bettache to Jamie Byatt who fired hard and low into the bottom corner to bag his 20th goal of the season.

From there on in, it was the Amateurs on the ascendency. The 220-strong home crowd barely mustered a cheer except for the ironic applause given to Taser Hassan after his long range effort is the first to warm Danny Bracken’s hands. A lone cry of “what a load of c**p’ rang out across the Pilot Field and summed up the frustrations of many home fans.

Hastings rallied in the final minutes and Hassan came closest to scoring when his header is scrambled clear of the box.

A solid performance from all of the players, both defensively and offensively gave Corinth a much deserved win and made the two-hour coach journey home all the more easier.

After the match, boss Matt Howard spoke,

“It was a great performance tonight… a really hard workman-like performance from everyone. Jamie Byatt defensively was outstanding; Joe Hicks was solid at the back as normal.

“We said ‘if we can get in at half-time nil-nil, we’ll fancy ourselves to win this’ and obviously we did.

“We’ve come out and got an early goal. I thought Juevan (Spencer) had made a mistake and overcooked it, so I turned away in frustration and next thing I know, it’s in the back of the net. 3 minutes into the second half and that’s settled everyone.

“Once we got the first, Hastings had to come at us and we knew we’d get more chances. In fairness we probably could’ve scored more. We’ll take that… 2-0.

“Another clean sheet; that’s the bit that’s pushing me on… the clean sheets.

“A clean sheet against Faversham, a clean sheet against AFC Wimbledon and a clean sheet again tonight.

“Three minutes into his Casuals career and Max Austin has scored and I’ll take that all day long. But there’s more to come from Max. He’s got more in the tank for sure.

“Saturday’s a big game for us. It’s such a shame that our bad spell lasted so long. If we’d have won three of those matches, we’d have been right in the hunt. We’ve got games in hand and they’re coming thick and fast and while we played the way we have tonight, then I say, bring ‘em on!”

Corinthian-Casuals 1-4 Badshot Lea
Surrey Senior Cup 3rd Round
Tuesday 17th February 2015
Attendance: 103
Match report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Andy Nunn

10 man Casuals crashed out of the Surrey Senior Cup, as they were defeated 4-1 by a determined Badshot Lea side.

Carl-Wilson Denis returned to the starting line-up after missing last week’s penalty shoot out victory against AFC Wimbledon.

The early exchanges saw both sides display their attacking intent but it wasn’t until the 10th minute that the games first effort on target was registered. Mason Welch-Turner who had a spell at Badshot last season having an effort straight at ex-Slough keeper Jake Sommerville.

It was unlucky 13 for the hosts as the visitors opened the scoring.  Slack defending and failure to clear allowed Darren Blake two attempts to cross from the right and the ball found an unmarked Gavin Muir at the back post who headed home past the stranded Danny Bracken. (pictured below)

Almost immediately Casuals thought they had levelled. Danny Green lofting the ball into the area where Juevan Spencer arrived before the keeper. With the ball squeezing through the number 1’s legs the winger was left with a routine tap in but his sidefooted effort was magnificently blocked on the line by captain Callum Nimmo. As much as Spencer should have scored credit has to be given to the defender for his determination to keep the ball out.

Spencer continued to look lively and this time after latching onto Lee Hall’s searching pass he skipped past James Osler but saw his left footed effort flash just wide of the far post.

At the other end with the game in full swing James Ayres was inches away from connecting to Osler’s lofted pass with Bracken committed at the edge of his box.

Casuals continued to press looking for the leveller. Jamie Byatt having a superb effort from outside the box, which curled over Sommerville but clipped the top of the bar. With Casuals pushing further forward it was leaving gaps at the back and Danny Turner (pictured left) who was a thorn in the home side’s backline all night fired off a warning shot which Bracken did well to parry clear.

The final five minutes of the half saw Casuals pin their opponents back and Wilson-Denis was next to hit the upright as his header from Reece Placid’s cross rebounded clear before being scrambled away.

Out of nothing however the visitors doubled their lead a minute before the whistle. There seemed to be little danger as Turner received the ball out wide on the left but after cutting inside and twisting Green who smashed his effort into the corner of Bracken’s net.

Casuals made the perfect start to the second half as they reduced the deficit within the first two minutes. Wilson-Denis showing good intelligence to hold off his man and tee up Lee Hall who rifled home from the edge of the box via a slight deflection.

Casuals poured forward as at the end of the first half with the visitors having to defend well from a series of corners.Despite this it was Badshot who came closest to a third as sub Mike Siemak saw a looping header tipped over by Bracken following a deep free kick.

 The game continued with Casuals looking to load the box and the visitors happy to break with Turner at the forefront.

With 20 minutes remaining the games pivotal moment arrived as Turner found the run of James Ayres who though on goal as adjudged by the assistant to have been clipped by Danny Dudley. 

Despite Casuals protests the defender received his marching orders and Turner sent Bracken the wrong way from the spot to put his side 3-1 up.

It was now all the visitors with Turner rampant and only the legs of Bracken denied the striker his hat-trick.

At the other end it appeared not to be Casuals night as Byatt when in on goal lobbed high of Sommerville and over the bar. Turner duly completed his hat trick when he slid home after Nick Thumbwood’s effort had rebounded back off the post. It was his 24th goal in 21 appearances; a stat that will surely alert clubs higher up the pyramid.

In the end a deserved victory for the Combined Counties side who showed more desire and a will to win on the evening.  Casuals although disappointed will turn their hand to the most  important matter of continuing to distance themselves from the lower end of the league table.

Matt Howard spoke after the game

“We were poor tonight. It’s the same story as before; attack their box better, defend our box better.

“In fairness, coming in at half time, I thought we were doing alright without scoring.

“Their first goal, we didn’t react to the loose ball. We had chances to clear it but the fella’s crossed it to the only place he could’ve and we didn’t read that and they’ve tucked it into an empty net.

“The second goal, Greeny, who in the last couple of weeks has been superb, has made a poor decision to let them cut back in and cross it in. He knows better… and he’s held his hands up for that.

“We’ve come out second half, score after a minute and 28 seconds and it was game on.

“I’m massively disappointed but we have to wipe our mouths and go again Saturday. Hopefully, we can bounce back right away. If we play how we know we can do and the lads work how they should work, why can’t we get all three points?

Corinthian-Casuals 0-0 AFC Wimbledon
(Casuals win 4-3 on penalties)
London Senior Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 10th February 2015
Attendance: 137
Match report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree

On a night of high drama Casuals progressed to the quarter-finals of the London Senior Cup by knocking out current holders AFC Wimbledon at King George’s Arena.

The hosts made 4 changes to the winning line up from Saturdays win over Faversham whilst the visitors fielded their unbeaten academy side including a few first team players such as keeper Ross Worner, Jack Smith and Ben Harrison.

The young Dons side displayed their energy and pace inside the first minute as David Fitzpatrick broke from half way and feeding Billy Frost the cross was met by Chace Jacquart at the back post but the striker hit the post from yards out.

Fitzpatrick continued to cause problems down the right and this time he was the provider for Dan Agyei who was foiled by Danny Dudley. The striker who has hit 30 goals already this season electing to take a touch giving the Casuals defender time to clear.

It was all the visitors in the opening stages and Jacquart looking to make amends for his earlier miss curled an effort just wide of Brackens left hand post.

Following on from Saturdays inspired individual display Maz Bettache was looking to pull the strings for Casuals and in the 18th minute his trickery allowed him to elude two of his opposition and play in Byatt. Keeper Ross Worner who has recently returned from a spell at Woking was out sharply to block the strikers effort.

Another of Saturdays impressive players Juevan Spencer was next to try his luck when after latching onto Reece Placid’s precise cross he lifted his effort well clear of Worner’s upright.

Casuals pressure continued as they sensed the early tide from the visitors had curtailed.

Just before the half hour mark Bettache latching onto poor clearance drove into the box and weaved past 3 men allowing Dudley a shot at goal. Once again however Worner came to his sides rescue with a brilliant reaction save.

As the game swung from end to end Bracken this time came to his sides rescue as he blocked Agyei’s fierce drive with his legs as Casuals nearly paid the price for being caught in possession higher up the pitch.

Similarly to Saturday the keeper made a brilliant save just before the break to keep his clean sheet intact.

After Casuals made a mess of a high ball into the box the ball broke to Agyei 6 yards out central to goal but amazingly Bracken diverted the shot away with his outstretched toe despite going the other way.

The last kick of the half saw the visitors once again come inches from scoring as Jacquart's corner was met by the head of Jack Smith and his flicked header rebounded off the base of the far post and into the arms of a grateful Bracken.

Aware of the threat the young side posed at the start of the game Casuals sat deep at the start of the second and it seemed to hold back the visitors from exploiting any space.

Indeed it was Casuals who had the first effort themselves when Jake Downs had an effort from distance yet failed to trouble Worner.

Taylor Roles hooked effort from a corner on the hour mark was Wimbledon’s first effort, as it seemed both sides had figured each other out.

Jacquart went close once again when after winning himself a free kick he took the shot himself and was narrowly over the bar.

Casuals were now starting to push their opposition back with Spencer on the left hand flank causing all sorts of problems.

On 66 minutes after stumbling into the box and somehow keeping hold of the ball his low cross-found Byatt but the strikers mishit shot was gathered with ease by Worner.

The keeper was thankfully to his defenders for hacking away off the line after he fumbled Byatt’s corner with 20 minutes remaining whilst on the break at the other end Bracken was down smartly again to deny Agyei.

Worner made a superb flying save to keep out Byatt in the 75th minute as the pressure continued and then was inches away from converting Spencer’s cross as the winger once again beat Callum Wilkinson.

With the game approaching its conclusion there was one final glorious chance for Casuals. Byatt’s right wing cross found Spencer at the back post and with Jake Gill unmarked two yards out ready for a tap in the winger elected to shoot with Worner blocking. It ment the game finished scoreless and headed to a penalty shoot out.

The two number 9’s were up first with Agyei and then Byatt dispatching with little fuss.

Jacquart was then foiled by Bracken low down before Bettache calmly lifted over Bracken to give Casuals the advantage.

Kaja was next to be denied by Bracken as this time he got down to his right to keep the effort out. Lee Hall however hit the outside of the post to leave Casuals 2-1 up with 2 penalties each left.

Fitzpatrick and then sub Steve Barilli for Casuals both scored as the shoot out went down to the final kick each.

Having to score Taylor Robes sent Bracken the wrong way leaving Mason Welch-Turner with the chance of glory. Worner came to his sides rescue with a superb stop to take it into sudden death.

Right back Wilkinson who had been tormented by Spencer all evening capped off a poor evening by becoming to the 3rd player to be denied by Bracken.

It was up to the keeper to become the hero and he duly dispatched the spot kick into the corner (pictured below) to earn Casuals a tie at Hendon in the next round.

After the match, Manager Matt Howard spoke.

“The penny's dropped with the boys. They've bought into how we started the season. Perhaps we all got a little carried away with being top of the league at one stage. They took things too easy and moved away from what got us there in the first place.

To be honest, the Brazil trip was good because I had a lot of time with the players… practically living with them for a week. I had the chance to really talk to them, address a few things and I think they’ve now bought back into the idea of what got us to where we were.

That’s two games now… 180 minutes without conceding a goal. And apart from the world-class save Danny Bracken has made on Saturday against Faversham, he hasn’t really had a save to make. That’s credit to Danny as he’s organising his back four better.
Why’s he the best goalkeeper in the league? He hasn’t had a save to make, but when he’s called upon, he makes it.


The way we played in Brazil against Corinthians is the way we started the season. We all knew our jobs defensively… how we work with one another and we’ve thought ‘if we can do it against them, we can do it against anyone’.”

Stuart Tree' s pics are here and Andy Nunn's pictures can be viewed here

 Corinthian-Casuals 1-0 Faversham Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 7th February 2015
Attendance: 123
Match report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree

Casuals made it the best possible return from Brazil as they defeated title chasing Faversham Town 1-0 on Saturday. 

As well as a welcome 3 points it was also a clean sheet against the divisions top scorers.

Fielding near enough the same starting XI that faced their Brazilian counterparts a fortnight ago the hosts started well against a Faversham side that came into the game on the back of a shock 2-1 defeat at Hythe.

The games first serious effort arrived in the 9th minute when Maz Bettache hit a fierce daisy cutter from fully 30 yards which keeper Robert French had to be alert down to save.

A confident opening to the game for the hosts was rewarded in the 14th minute when Casuals took the lead through Dave Hodges.
Juevan Spencer showing good pace and skill to beat two men and drive though the middle and after his pass found Byatt, the strikers right wing cross was only headed into the path of the arriving Hodges who calmly sidefooted past French.

Faversham were showing plenty of promise themselves and Josh Stanford was keeping his marker Danny Green on his toes with various displays of trickery on the ball.
Despite plenty of possession however in the final third the visitors were struggling to make inroads against a Casuals backline that had conceded 5 goals against basement boys Redhill in their last league game.

Casuals themselves were neat and resourceful in possession and Carl Wilson-Denis nearly found himself in on goal following Hodges through ball but the big striker stumbled and forced himself wide.

On 33 minutes there were shouts for a penalty as Stanford jinked inside Green and sent in a low cross to the left. Jack Harris the on-loan Maidstone striker was sent flying but referee Neil Morrison adjudged that Danny Dudley had won the ball.

Looking back perhaps the games pivotal moment arrived in the 37th minute when Kieran Oliver turned and shot inside the area. Bracken pulled off a magnificent flying save but the ball dropped to Harris who it appeared had a tap in. Somehow his goalbound effort from 6 yards was gathered and clung onto by Bracken who had astonishingly got back up from the initial save. It was a miraculous piece of goalkeeping and ultimately worthy of securing all 3 points.

At the other end Casuals were looking to add a second before the break and Spencer again at the heart of things saw a curling cross towards Byatt hooked away by visiting skipper Matthew Bourne at the last second.

The visitors emerged for the second half immediately looking to force the equalizer. Their intentions were shown almost from the kick off as Charley Robertson forced Bracken into action once more with a low effort.
The frantic start to the half continued as Wilson-Denis was inches away from volleying Hodges cross home having initiated the move.

The game was then halted for over 5 minutes as Jamie Maxted was forced off inured for the visitors. From the restart Robertson again caused Casuals problems as he weaved through the backline but with the ball breaking to Standord the little winger curled wide and over when well placed inside the box,

Jamie Byatt came close to doubling the lead midway through the second half as Spencer again being the provider sent over a cross for the hitman to just head over.

Debutant Jack Sullivan for Faversham nearly leveled the scores when his intended cross to the back post just evaded Brackens upright.

With Faversham pushing forward and holding a high line Casuals looked to breach via midfield runners and Bettache nearly did exactly that. With 20 minutes remaining the young midfielder found Spencer breaking from deep and through on goal only the outstretched toe of keeper French denied the winger a clear route inside the area.  From the ensuring scramble 10 yards outside the area the award was eventually drop ball to the defending teams relief.

Moments later French again denied Casuals this time brilliantly tipping over Lee Hall’s first time effort from the edge of the area.

Inside the last 10 minutes and it was the home side looking the more likely to add to the score. French showing good hands to cling onto Byatt’s goalbound effort after the ball fell invitingly inside the box.

With the Casuals backline in commanding form the visitors were restricted to efforts from distance or set pieces and in the 8th minute of stoppage time Bracken once again showed his worth as he clung onto Robertson’s fiercely struck drive.

The final whistle was soon to sound and a victory for a Casuals side who responded to their defensive critics by shutting out a side that averages nearly 3 goals a game this season.

A delighted Matt Howard was full of praise after the match

“I saw that result coming – to be honest we all did. The Brazil trip has left them buzzing and its given the whole club a lift.
We’ve beaten one of the best sides in the league, infact taken 4 points off them overall. There was a new found hunger out there and one or two looked different players. They played well in Brazil and have brought that form back over here.”.

Commenting on Danny Bracken Howard added, “ Bracks made a double save on 40 mins and quite frankly it was world class and that inspired the lads for the rest of the match. It certainly backs up mine and Luke’s (Garrard) belief that he is the best keeper in the league.”
“We’re defending well and hopefully that is the start of a run now for us. One we need and we are really looking forward to Tuesday (AFC Wimbledon) and Three Bridges next Saturday.

Stuart Tree's full set of pics can be viewed here 
 The goal can be seen here