Corinthian-Casuals 1-0 Hastings United
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 28th October 2014
King George's Arena
Att: 138
Report by Darren Pasley

Corinthian Casuals ended their recent run of poor results as they turned in a solid display to beat an ever-improving Hastings United.

On paper it looked a tough prospect with an out of sorts home side coming up against a Hastings side unbeaten in the league under new manager Dominic Di Paola recently recruited from East Preston.

With injuries and suspensions still playing a key part Matt Howard was once again forced to shuffle his pack with Lee Hall filling in at right back. Young defender Dan Bedford retained his place and there was a first start for Jake Gill. Carl Wilson-Denis also made a rare mid-week appearance.

On a pleasantly mild late October evening Jamie Byatt had the games first effort in the 3rd minute when he wriggled free of veteran centre back Marc Pullen and fired off a shot from 20 yards that was gathered low down by Josh Pelling.

The first real chance of the match arrived after 9 minutes when Bettache turned neatly on the right hand touchline and swung a delightful cross-field pass that eluded covering defender Richard Rose. Dave Hodges arrived before Pelling on the edge of the area but his heavy touch lifted the ball over the bar.

The visitor’s first  opening came after a quarter of an hour when Archibald outfoxed Vidal down the right and cut back for Taser Hassan who blazed over with his left foot from 15 yards.

Both sides continued to keep the ball well in what was an absorbing contest. Byatt next to go close but he headed Hodges cross wide.

Hastings continued to offer a threat going forward and Sam Adams played in Evan Archibald whose low shot was superbly tipped round the post by Danny Bracken.

The games opening and ultimately deciding goal arrived in the 36th minute and in truth it was one worthy to win any match. Bettache volleying the ball back into the box saw Byatt superbly bring the ball under control. He showed great composure to turn and play in a reverse pass to Hodges who appeared round the back of his marker. From the byline the left-wingers low cutback was met by Wilson-Denis who arrived before his marker to poke home into the roof of the net from close range. It was a wonderfully crafted goal.
 
Leading at the break is not a position Casuals have found themselves in too many times this season. The U’s set a good tempo to the second half but the home side continued to work as hard shutting down the supply and defending from the front.

Young centre back Dan Bedford so impressive came close to doubling the lead after an hour when he connected with Bettache's cross from the left but his header was just wide of Pelling’s right hand post.
Danny Bracken so commanding throughout was called into serious action for the first time in the half after 71 minutes when he scooped down low to collect captain Sam Adams low drive from the edge of the box.

For all their possession the visitors were struggling to break down an organised home defence.  When they did breach the defence in the 75th minute Bracken was out to palm away Archibald’s effort after being chipped in by Adams.

With 10 minutes remaining Jamie Byatt went close to wrapping up the points when after exchanging passes with Hodges and Wilson-Dennis his fiercely struck left footed effort was brilliant turned away by Pelling at full stretch.

With the home side standing firm there was to be no way more clear cut chances for the visitors although on 82 minutes substitutive Sam Cruttwell saw his deep left wing cross hit Brackens upright before bouncing clear.

Casuals held to record their first clean sheet since the 1-0 win at Carshalton on the 9th September.

After the match a delighted Matt Howard spoke to Stuart Tree

 “I needed that win personally after the run that we’d been on. The team worked their socks off tonight. I couldn’t have asked for any more from them.

 “Every single one of the lads gave everything they had. On another day, we’d have probably scored another couple of goals. It’s very pleasing to keep a clean sheet too.

 “They’re over the moon in the changing room. That meant a lot to them, but as I said, for me personally, I needed the win because you end up questioning yourself a little. “Is this right? Am I doing this right or wrong?”

 “As a management team, the win was a blessing.

 “We had changes forced upon us. The injury list is growing. With Niall Wright, Danny Dudley, Reece Placid, Jason Turley all out and Danny Green not available tonight but the boys that come in put a real shift in. I thought Jake Gill was outstanding.

 “Luke Garrard and I said before the game that if they put the effort in, the rewards will come. We’ve got 27 points from 17 games and sit 7th in the league. That’s not a fluke or luck. If you’re prepared to work, you’ll get the pay off.

 “I think we deserved that tonight. Hastings had a lot of the ball but Danny Bracken has made one great save in the first half, but other than that, he hasn’t been troubled all night. He marshaled his defence well and hasn’t had to make a save.” 

Corinthain-Casuals 1-3 Leighton Town
FA Trophy Preliminary Round Replay
Tuesday 21st October 2014
Attendance 70
Report by: Darren Pasley
Pics: Andy Nunn

Corinthian Casuals woeful recent record in FA competitions continued as they crashed out of the Trophy to Leighton Town.

It was no more than the Southern League side deserved, as they were excellent on the evening.

With a few walking wounded from Saturdays epic match Matt Howard rang the changes with Bowra, Turley and Placid all earning rare starts.

Despite all the recent heavy rain the pitch was in excellent condition and Mahrez Bettache hooked the games first effort over in the 3rd minute after receiving the ball from Hodges.

The visitors followed soon after as Phil Draycott picked the ball up mid-way in the Casuals and smashed an effort straight at Bracken from distance.

Bettache had an even better opportunity in the 10th minute when Byatt, despite slipping managed to find his teammate but despite being well placed on the edge of the box his effort failed to threaten Green in the goal with the ball flying over the stand.

Casuals were threatening to get into their groove and in the 12th minute should have opened the scoring. Reece Placid after winning the ball showed great vision to release Hodges down the left. The wingers first time cross-sat up invitingly for Steve Goddard but from 8 yards he side footed wide.

Leighton Town nearly took the lead themselves in the 14th minute when a 40-yard shot from Michael Lyons nearly caught out Bracken who was forced into action. From the resulting corner skipper Goodman saw his near post header gathered by the keeper and with a quick release the home side broke. The ball was fed out to Reece Placid on the right who skipped past Ridgeway and into the box. His low effort deflected off a covering defender and wrong-footed Green to give Casuals the advantage.

Both sides were guilty of wasteful possession at times, as they seemed to cancel each other out. However Christian Lester nearly equalized after half an hour when he volleyed just over from outside the box. It was a brilliant effort

Casuals were nearly punished two minutes later when Bracken attempting to instigate a move following a back pass saw his kick spin on the surface catching out Bowra. Watson seizing on the loose ball knocked it to the onrushing Draycott but his effort was deflected clear by the legs of Bracken.

It came as no surprise when the leveler arrived 5 minutes before the break. After working the ball well down the right the ball was switched out to the left and Draycott turned neatly deceiving Bowra and Hall before curling an absolute beauty with his right foot into the top corner.(pictured below)

The second period saw Casuals press early for another breakthrough and this time it was the legs of Green who came to the rescue after Goddard and Byatt linked well with the latter getting his shot off inside the box.

Disaster stuck in the 53rd minute however as a poor clearance from Bracken saw Hicks caught on the ball by Tyrone Taylor. The home defence appealed for offside as Watson raced on his strike partners pass and calmly slot past the Casuals keeper.

The home side having what appeared to be an off night was struggling to make any headway in their pursuit of an equaliser. In fact matters got worse in the 73rd minute when substitute Farmer’s low range effort was parried by Bracken into the path of Watson who fired home his second of the evening.

Watson who hit 44 goals last season at step 5 came close to the hat-trick on 79 minutes but after the ball from a corner found its way to his right boot the effort flashed just past the far post.

Almost immediately Casuals launched an attack of their own and after Hodges low cross across the box reached Goddard it seemed inevitable that the home side would be back in the match. Keeper Dan Green had other ideas however and he flung himself to his right to somehow keep out the effort. It was a quite brilliant save but also one that summed the hosts night up.

Casuals continued to huff and puff in the closing stages but despite some good positions the end product was lacking and Leighton confirmed their place at Leiston in the next round.

 After the match a club historian rounded off the night by declaring that since 1896 the club have only ever won once on a Tuesday night in a cup replay.

Speaking after the match Matt Howard gave his brief thoughts

 “Tonight was a big disappointment. We came into the match after the 3-3 draw on Saturday full of confidence that we could book a place in the next round.

“Unfortunately, we had to shuffle things around as injuries from Saturday forced our hand.

“We started brightly but overall, that was probably the worst performance from us all season. Conversely, I overheard them saying it’s the best that they’ve played in a long time and they relished playing on our decent surface.

"We were guilty of not taking our chances. If we’d had added another after going one-nil up, I’m sure the result would have been very different. Their keeper also made a fantastic save which could easily have turned the game.

“Now we have to concentrate on the League. We travel to Merstham on Saturday and we’re looking to get back on track.”

 Andy Nunn's match pictures can be viewed here 

Leighton Town 3-3 Corinthain-Casuals
FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 18th October 2014
Attendance 78

Report by: Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree


Casuals were denied a route through to the next round of the FA Trophy as a header 3 minutes into stoppage time earned spirited Leighton Town a late draw at Bell Close.

Full backs Nial Wright and Mason Welch-Turner returned in two of the three changes to the side that where thrashed by Whyteleafe 8 days prior. There was also a welcome start for Jamie Byatt his first since the injury at Herne Bay 3 weeks ago.

It was surprisingly mild October day but from the off it seemed Casuals would need to adapt their game to suit the difficult pitch. Juevan Spencer in the opening stages twice found himself with space down the right but both times his poor deliveries were cleared with ease.

Danny Bracken was the first to be called into action after 5 minutes when a long diagonal ball found Claude Senla on the edge of the box. The striker’s first time effort on the half volley saw Bracken at full stretch to keep the shot out.

It was the home side setting the early tempo and this time Christian Lester was allowed time and space inside the area to bring the ball down but Casuals once again were thankful to Bracken who got down low to his right to hold onto the drive.

The visitors seemingly out of sorts were struggling to find any fluency or rhythm and only desperate defending from Dudley prevented another goal scoring chance as the hosts broke with pace. Bracken was by far the busier of the keepers and on the half hour mark he again did well to hold onto another low effort, this time defender Chris Crook with the snapshot from the edge of the box.

Senla was finding more and more space but to the visitor’s relief lacking the finishing touch. On 36 minutes this time after peeling off at the back post following a deep cross his wayward effort flew harmlessly over. Moments later ex Ampthill Town star Phil Draycott sent in the cross of the match but Senla arriving between Dudley and Hicks got his bearings wrong and the header endangered the corner flag more than the back of the net.

Casuals showed signs of improvement as the half drew to a close and as the interval  beckoned Joe Hicks took matters into his own hands turning in the box and drew the save from Danny Green in the goal after powering through two defenders.

None of the 78 crowd after witnessing the first half spectacle could have predicted the drama to follow in the second 45.

The period started much as the first half before with Senla again in a good position but this time after arriving from Watsons cross he mistimed his shot and the ball rolled off the other leg before comically falling over. Up to this point it clearly wasn’t his afternoon.

Casuals first foray into the opposition half saw Carl Wilson-Denis hold off his marker and play in Dudley. The defenders low effort deflected off a defender and Green did well to keep the ball out despite going the wrong way. Almost immediately the home side broke and Michael Lyons cross found Danny Watson inside the 6-yard box. Remarkably though the striker who hit 44 goals last season for Ampthill Town in the Spartan South Midlands League spooned his effort over.

The home side continued to ask questions with the impressive Lester peppering the box with dangerous crosses.

Out of nothing Casuals took the lead with their first meaningful attack of the match in the 58th minute. A neat interchange of passing involving Bettache who up until that point had struggled on the heavy pitch saw Spencer allowed to perform his trickery down the right. After fooling his marker he dinked in the perfect cross for Byatt to nod home from 6 yards out(pictured below). This was to spark a remarkable period of 4 goals in 8 minutes.

The home sides response was immediate. After winning a corner Christian Lester rose above the Casuals defence to head home off the post to level the match. The drama continued two minutes later as Lester this time turned provider. His cross from the left met the head of Senla and the ex Tottenham youngster who has also made first team appearances for Watford powered home his effort back across Bracken. It was a magnificent goal and out of keeping with his earlier attempts.

With the game seemingly turned around Casuals went hunting and drew level themselves on 66 minutes. A corner to the near post was scrambled away and after Wilson-Denis fed the ball back to Bettache the young playmaker weaved past his marker and sent in a low cross, which was palmed away by Green. Jamie Byatt lurking turned and fired home the rebound despite the efforts of the defender on the line.

At 2-2 the tie was there for the taken as both sides looked to attack at every opportunity. Watson was the next to be denied by Bracken as his low shot was beaten away. At the other end substitute Reece Placid arrived on time to meet Dave Hodges cut back but his side footed effort struck the base of the post with Byatt this time firing the loose ball at Green who clung on.

It was only a matter of time before one side took the lead and that honour fell to the visitors. On 78 minutes Lee Hall showed good composure to win the ball and then look up, releasing a lovely left footed lofted pass that split Crook and Goodman at the heard of the home defence. The grateful Byatt raced onto the ball and with Green approaching poked the ball through the keeper’s legs to record his hat trick.

As predicted the home side through everything forward but when Bracken tipped Draycott’s last minute free kick onto the bar it seemed Casuals had done enough to claim the victory and £2500 prize money, however the hosts had other ideas.

A free kick into the box with everyone up including keeper Green was headed away but with the ball slung back in left back Gary Ridgeway found himself onside and his header from 15 yards deceived Bracken and crept inside the right hand post. The goal sparked joyous scenes from the home bench and as a result the two sides meet again on Tuesday evening.

Manager Matt Howard commented after the match:

“It was a proper cup game to keep the crowd entertained, that’s for sure! I was pleased with the boys first half and as we normally are in the second half, we’ve done well.

“However, the three goals we’ve conceded were poor and at the minute, we’re having to score four or five goals to win a game of football and that’s not right. 

“We’ve conceded three headed goals and we’ve got to defend better than that. The first goal was direct from a corner; second goal was a secondary move from a corner and the third goal from a free kick. The lads are adamant the third was offside but I couldn’t see from where I was.

“We’re confident going into Tuesday’s match… our pitch, our home and I asked them are you confident going into the tie? It was a resounding yes. It’ll be a completely different game.

“We’ve got a couple walking wounded at the moment which is a little bit of a worry but we’ll see where we are come Tuesday. Jamie’s hattrick was fantastic. We left him out against Whyteleafe, purely through our concern with his hamstring injury but what a way to come back and say ‘don’t leave me out again!’”

Stuart Trees collection of pics can be viewed by clicking here

Corinthian-Casuals vs Whyteleafe FC
Ryman League Division One South
Friday 10th October 2014
King George's Arena
Final score: 1-5
Att: 207

Casuals suffered their worst defeat since the 2013 August Bank Holiday Monday as they went down 5-1 to high-flyers Whyteleafe.

The visitors came into the match in decent form having won five out of seven matches on the road. John Fowler’s promoted side was littered with talent and Matt Howard was under no illusion that the encounter between the two sides was going to be easy.

Casuals by contrast were looking to turn around a run that’s seen the Amateurs win only one of their last six matches. Casuals had suffered a 3-0 loss in the week to a strong Kingstonian side and although many changes were made for this encounter, Corinth were missing regular Niall Wright and Jamie Byatt could only make the bench after being sidelined with injury for the last two weeks.

Casuals could have got off to a decent start when Juevan spencer fired in a wicked shot in the first minute. But it was the visitors who opened the scoring early on. In the 11th minute, Roscoe DSane headed home as the striker found himself unmarked from a cross from the flank. Danny Bracken was left with no chance as DSane had the time to perfectly pick his place. Rattled from the first goal, Greg Andrews doubled the lead in the 14th minute after he broke through the Casuals back line to slot home uncontested. Corinth strongly protested with both referee and assistant as to the validity of the goal, remonstrating that there was more than a hint of offside. However, the goal stood.

Casuals faced an uphill battle to get back into the contest; Maz Bettache’s long ball into Steve Goddard perfectly found the forward but Goddard’s shot whistled just wide of the mark. Bettache also saw his mazy dance through the Leafe defence end with his shot passing Sheikh Ceesay’s right hand post.

In truth, Whyteleafe looked fired up for the encounter and the 207 in attendance witnessed a display of dominating first half football. On the run of play, Casuals would’ve been relieved to go into the break only two down, but on the stroke of half time, Danny Dudley was adjudged to have fouled DSane in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Jason Thompson fired his penalty straight down the middle and gave the visitors a dominating 3-0 lead.

To get back into the game, Casuals needed to score early… and did just that. Before most had taken their seats from the break, Carl Wilson-Denis was on hand to prod home from close range to give hope. As has been seen for much of this season, Matt Howard’s half time team talk looked like it had awoken the Corinthian players and the next twenty minutes saw Casuals on top. Steve Goddard's deft flick narrowly missed and Dave Hodges and Juevan Spencer also had chances to score. In an effort to get something out of the game, Jamie Byatt came off the bench much to the delight of the Casuals’ faithful.

With Casuals pushing further forward, the game opened up and although, possession wise, they were very much back in the contest, it was killed off when Rosco DSane scored a fourth as Casuals heads finally dropped. With supporters continuing to sing, Corinth didn’t stop trying but it was largely felt it was all for a consolation. Leafe added a fifth in the 86th minute through Tom Pratt who was gifted the opportunity to make it a miserable night for Matt Howard and his men.  

The Friday night switch appeared to have paid dividends commercially with over 200 through the gates but based on this performance, Matt Howard and Luke Garrard might take some more convincing.

Small set of pictures from Stuart Tree can be seen here.

Corinthian-Casuals 0-3 Kingstonian
Robert Dyas League Cup 1st Round
Tuesday 7th October 2014
Attendance 151
Match report by Stuart Tree

Casuals suffered their second defeat in three matches as Kingstonian ran out comfortable winners in this Robert Dyas League Cup first round fixture.

Matt Howard made wholesale changes from the side that drew with Faversham Town in order to give game time to his whole squad. In came Danny Green, Ben Bowra, Bammousa Cisse, Michael Fahm and Jordan Vidal whilst resting a host of first XI regulars including Dave Hodges, Jamie Byatt (injured), Carl Wilson-Denis, Maz Bettache, Danny Dudley and Juevan Spencer.

Tommy Williams, on his return to King George’s Arena also gave his squad a reshuffle but fielded a side full of talent including Rob Tolfrey, defenders Page and Drage, Dan Sweeney, Elvis Hammond and Nathan Pinney.

Both sides started lively and early signs indicated this was going to be an open game with plenty of chances. Dan Sweeney gave Danny Bracken an early tester as his wicked shot was expertly matched by the Casuals’ keeper.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to open the scoring; Elvis Hammond completed a neat move to deftly lob the ball over an oncoming Bracken who could do nothing about the finesse of the striker’s effort from an acute angle.

Immediately looking for parity, Jordan Vidal, playing in a more forward role fired a shot straight down the throat of Rob Tolfrey, who could only deflect it away. With Steve Goddard looming large, K’s cleared their lines from the resulting rebound.

Casuals then passed up a golden opportunity to level when a neat cross from Vidal on the left found an unmarked Cisse who’s feet entangled with the ball and kindly rolled into the very grateful arms of Tolfrey. Corinth started to pass up other opportunities to score; Steve Goddard went close with a header from a deep cross provided by Michael Fahm.

On 26 minutes, Nathan Pinney made it 2-0 to the K’s in a similarly taken goal to Hammond’s, with another deft lob over Bracken. The quality of the finish left the Casuals’ keeper cursing but in truth, there was nothing the Corinth Number One, nor Mason Welch-Turner who’d retreated to the goalline, could do about it.

The match continued as an open contest with plenty of free flowing football entertaining the 151 in attendance. The only point separating the sides was the quality of finishing. K’s were taking their opportunities where Casuals weren’t.

Skipper Joe Hicks was replaced at half time in order to rest for the important game versus Whyteleafe and with Tom Williams (not Tommy) slotting in at right-back, a reshuffle was required once again. Andre McCollin was also put into action coming off the bench for K’s. McCollin, who began his career at Casuals caused the defence problems with his pace and guile.

The second half didn’t live up to the first in terms of pace or quality but it was still felt that at 2-0, the next goal would be crucial. Casuals, who’ve consistently put in top class performances after the break this season couldn’t match previous efforts. The defensive partnership of Sam Page and Matt Drage were relatively untested and even with the addition of Michael Salako for Casuals, the duo soaked up spells of good pressure from the home side.

Steve Goddard had two efforts go close in the space of a minute; the first, well saved by Tolfrey and the second beat the K’s keeper but flashed just wide of the post. At the other end, Ben Bowra’s goal line clearance kept the Casuals in the match.

But the tie was sealed in the 84th minute when a slip from Danny Green allowed Nathan Pinney to break into the box and smash a shot of forceful power past Bracken. Heads dropped and any hint of a comeback was demolished.

Kingstonian were rightful victors and the difference between the two sides was the finishing firepower that Tommy Williams has at his disposal. Casuals can hold their heads high in the fact that many of the fringe players put in a decent performance against a squad who are tipped for playoff places in the Ryman Premier. Williams will see this as a good warmup to their important FA Cup tie against Eastbourne Borough on Sunday and their reward for winning this Robert Dyas League Cup encounter is a trip to Walton Casuals in the next round.

After the match, Assistant Manager Luke Garrard spoke, “Tonight was an opportunity for the players that haven’t been playing to get game time. It's also a chance for Matt and I to look at those players with the result of them giving us a bit of a headache for who we select on Friday, and for the rest of the season.

“I thought we done reasonably well. We’ve played against a good side tonight and their forwards were outstanding. Their midfield was particularly strong and we’ve come a little unstuck with their movement but all-in-all, the exercise that we’ve set out, we’ve achieved it; to look at players was the main objective for us tonight.

“It was nothing that I didn’t expect from Tommy (Williams) to put out a strong side tonight as they don’t have a reserve side. They have a core squad of 18-20 quality players and you know they have to move them around and fit them in just the same as we have to. Just that they’ve only got a first team squad, whereas we have a first team and a reserves side to look at players, so they’re always going to have a strong side.

“Friday (against Whyteleafe) will be normal service resumed and is a massive game for us.” 

 

Faversham Town 1-1 Corinthain-Casuals
Ryman Division One South
Saturday 4th October 2014
Attendance 179


By: Darren Pasley


Casuals became the first side this season to leave the Shepherd Neame Stadium with something as they held Faversham to a 1-1 draw.

It was a deserved point and certainly gives Casuals a platform to build on with nearly a third of the season gone.

It felt like the new season albeit 2 months into it had finally arrived on a wet cold and miserable day in East Kent.  Casuals without Jamie Byatt who came off injured last week handed a first start to Jason Turley.

The slippery surface was causing difficulty for both sets of players as they struggled to adjust to the conditions. Referee Bentley gave Hall and then more so Turley the benefit of the doubt for two early heavy challenges.

A scrappy affair was lit up in the 13th minute with the games opening goal. A corner from the right for the home side wasn’t cleared and with the ball still in the box Keiran Oliver managed to squeeze in a shot from 12 yards which appeared to take a deflection as it went past Bracken.

Naturally this gave the hosts confidence and the initiative to push on and the Casuals backline were being tested as the Lilywhites mixed up their game in an attempt to capitalise on their early dominance.

In spite of this early pressure the visitors came close to equalising on 22 minutes when Dave Hodges right wing corner was met by the towering Danny Dudley but home keeper Simon Overland flung himself to the left to keep the header out.

Faversham’s two strikers Kieran Oliver and Dean Grant were proving a real handful and it was the latter who was next to have an attempt at goal after weaving through the challenges of two defenders but to Casuals relief he slipped whilst shooting enabling Bracken to gather with ease low down.

There was a hairy moment for Brackens opposite number Overland in the 32nd minute when he fumbled Juevan Spencer’s right wing cross but the home custodian was able to recover and catch the ball on the line much to his relief.

The visitors were seeing more of the ball in the final 10 minutes of the half and creating a spell of pressure for the first time, the main outlet was Hodges with a series of superb crosses but each time they were defended brilliantly by the home side

Corinthian’s should have equalised 6 minutes before the break. After winning the ball in his own half Dudley broke forward and fed Hodges down the left. His low cross was blocked on the 6-yard line and scrambled away but fell to the arriving Bettache. Somehow though the young midfielder shot wide with his weaker left foot with the keeper beaten.

Into first half stoppage time and the hosts went close twice to doubling their lead. Firstly skipper Jason Scarborough arriving at the back post from a set piece saw his effort deflected past his own post by Spencer. Bewick went even closer with a low side footed effort, which skimmed past Brackens far post after good work from Grant.

Casuals emerged for the second period looking to press the home side further up the pitch. Bettache was the first to find an opening on 54 minutes after a neat passage of play but he elected to shoot harmlessly over with others well placed. The home side continued to offer a threat of their own and ex-Hythe man Sam Bewick headed narrowly over from Maxted’s fizzing cross.

Grant still proving a real handful saw another effort beaten away by Bracken in the 56th minute as the game ebbed and flowed. Bracken again was called into action on the hour mark, making a superb point blank range stop following a corner. Hicks on hand to clear the danger.

On 65 minutes the visitors drew level. Welch-Turner’s ball to Bettache appeared to zip of the surface and away from Algerian playmaker. However home captain John Scarborough who had been superb all afternoon slipped on the surface allowing Mahres to take control of the ball and play in Dave Hodges who arrived before the onrushing Overland to poke the ball home.

The set back rocked the home side and suddenly Casuals started finding space that had eluded them in the first half. With the game seemingly open it was the visitors with their abundance of pace who looked most likely and 15 minutes from time they fashioned a glorious chance to take the lead. Referee Ian Bennett played the advantage as Gill was crunched in the centre and down the right Juevan Spencer raced towards goal. His low cut back found Bettache 12 yards out but his first-time effort was magnificently blocked by the legs of Overland despite the keeper going the other way.

Matt Howard threw on Reece Placid who returned after 7 weeks injured sensing the points were there for the taking.

There was a final scare for each side in injury time. Firstly Joe Hicks came within inches of heading into his own net with Bracken stranded following a corner. Scarborough nearly did the same at the other end as he sliced Spencer’s low cross but the ball spun into the chest of a grateful Overland.

Honours finished even which was probably the right result over the 90 minutes although both sides will feel they could have won on another day.

         After the match Matt Howard commented 

I’m not going to be greedy; we’re happy with a point. It’s Faversham’s first points that they’ve dropped at home this season… played seven and won seven, so it’s good to come here and get what we got.

“On another day, maybe we do nick it and to be fair, the last ten minutes it could’ve ended 4-4, but we’ll take the point and go into Friday’s league game against Whyteleafe and stopping the rot.

“We played really well as a team and it’s nice to see Reece Placid back after being out for seven weeks.

“Friday is our fifteenth game in the league and that’s a third of the season gone, and we’re pleased with where we stand at the moment.

“We’ll more than likely mix it up a little on Tuesday for the cup game and in theory it’s a brilliant idea to have the game on a Friday but it might come back to haunt us having two games in three days. But we have players chomping at the bit to be playing so we can move it around quite comfortably.”


Highlights of the game are available to view courtesy of the Favershams C K Kent Youtube channel
Please click here