Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 1 Folkestone Invicta
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 12th October 2019
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (set here)

Corinthian-Casuals’ Boss James Bracken felt his side deserved more from the 1-0 loss to league leaders Folkestone Invicta on Saturday.
 
Keiron McCann’s first half strike was the only goal to separate the sides, despite being 21 places between the teams in the league. But Casuals cannot catch a break and condemned the Tolworth outfit to their seventh league loss this season.
 
The last two league matches have been against the top two sides, yet Bracken will be scratching his head as to how Casuals haven’t earned points from either.
 
Casuals have the sixth best defensive record in the league but scoring goals has been the major problem and with just five tallied up in ten games, the Amateurs have to resolve that problem sooner rather than later.
 
Keeper Manny Agboola was once again in between the sticks and the return of Andy Mills to central defence eased Bracken’s injury-led selection problems. The big comeback was captain Gabriel Odunaike, who’s lengthy absence has been felt and was immediately thrust into the team to give attacking options.
 
Odunaike looked lively and the most likely to score. He found himself with just keeper Tim Roberts in the to beat but Folkestone’s custodian smothered the effort well. Casuals had far more impetus than the limp FA Cup exit the week before and caused the Seasiders problems.
 
The visitors should’ve taken the lead, but for Agboola’s wonderful double save to prevent them going ahead. However, minutes later, Kieron McCann’s cut inside and low shot was too accurately-placed for Agboola to stop and Folkestone had the lead.
 
Casuals carved out a few chances; Shaun Okojie probably should’ve scored from a powerful free header in the centre of the box. On target, and that would’ve been a certain equaliser. The striker’s fierce shot from the edge of the box did force Roberts into a fine stop.
 
And Casuals continued to advance in the second half. Odunaike’s gone close from a quick corner and even full-back Jack Tucker’s drive from 20 yards was expertly tipped over by the busier of the two keepers. Even the gents from the popular blog ‘Two Men in Search of the Beautiful Game’ commented that you’d never have told who was top and who was bottom of the league.
 
But goals win games and Casuals drew a blank for the sixth time in this league campaign and thus, the solitary strike from McCann was enough to send the Kent side home happy.
 
It’s getting a bit repetitive, isn’t it?,” said Bracken after the match. “I probably said this about five games ago. It is getting repetitive.
 
“I said to the players in the changing room how unlucky they were today and deserved more from that, against a team that’s top of the league. I said there’s nothing between you and them. You get confidence from that knowing we’re there-or-thereabouts. All we can do is keep resetting, keep refocussing, turn up to training with enthusiasm and approach the next game with a positive mindset.
 
“Our goals against is decent. We’re sixth best in the league for conceding. We need to score more goals. We went with four attacking players up top but we have to find the right balance. We made a few changes. Gave a few boys opportunities and they did okay. The likes of Jack Tucker came in an put in a decent performance. Unfortunately, his man has come inside him for the goal, but he could’ve done that to anyone… McCann’s a good player – he scored two last week. Folkestone have been scoring freely – put three past Brightlingsea last week and scored four away at Potter’s Bar. They certainly didn’t run us ragged. There are positives, but until we start putting points on the board and getting that winning feeling back, we need to keep working hard.
 
“We know the league results haven’t been there. We’ve done okay in the FA Cup, even with that performance last week, where we haven’t turned up. But how many times can you say that we didn’t perform on the day? Maybe five times in the last five years. We’ve always performed even when we’ve lost. We had no right to beat Sevenoaks who are flying high at the top of the division below. We had no right to beat Chelmsford City here, but we did. We had an off day at King’s Langley. That’s all. The world hasn’t caved in. But of course, because of the league results, it feels like it’s a bigger loss.
 
“We haven’t got a game scheduled now for ten days which is nonsense. Then it’s a packed schedule for the five following weeks. We’ll have ten games in five weeks yet ten days without a match. The way the fixtures have fallen is crazy. We had four games in September and were due to have eight in October. But maybe that’s what we need. Just to get out there every Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday and within ten days, you pick up three wins and suddenly you have 12 points on the board.
 
“We just need to keep working. There’s no quick fix. There’s no bringing in three players this week that’ll make a difference. These boys have got to keep on showing good attitude. I don’t have a magic wand, so we just need work our socks off every week. If we keep doing that, then we keep believing.” 

Folkestone Inv 4 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 12th March 2016
Attendance: 404
Report: Cameron Smith. Pics. Stuart Tree (full set here)

On a mild Saturday afternoon in Kent, the demoralised Corinthian Casuals were slammed 4-0 by the sensational Folkestone Invicta, who are almost guaranteed to finish as Ryman Divison One South champions.

After the thrilling encounter with Hastings United on Tuesday, Casuals looked to shock the league leaders with the attacking trio of James Cottee, Sekou Kaba and the influential re-signing Jamie Byatt. 

Club captain Danny Bracken returned to the starting lineup after midweek illness saw him sit on the sidelines against Hastings. Meanwhile, the hosts hoped to extend their remarkable unbeaten record to twelve games and bounce back with a win after a 1-1 wobble against the ever-improving Walton Casuals. Seventy-six goals this season, high-flyers Folkestone were likely to utilise Ian Draycott, who had converted twenty-six of those seventy-six. The stage was set as Casuals walked out onto the pristine pitch in the impressive Fullicks Stadium.

Seven minutes in, talisman Kaba produced a trademark, bustling run into the area, which fortunately fell for Jamie Byatt. The no.9 was determined to maintain his ‘a goal a game’ record but a stunning reflex save from Tim Roberts denied the Englishman. 

A promising start from Casuals soon depleted after Invicta reminded everyone why they are the best in the league with a diving header narrowly missing the empty net. On twenty minutes, Folkestone’s speedy left-back Nat Blanks hit the crossbar with a looping effort. It had seemed that the no.3 had actually intended to deliver a cross to one of his lurking team-mates.

The majority thought that Casuals had taken the lead minutes later after a threatening Warren Morgan cross ended in Roberts spilling the ball into the direction of the net. However, centre-back Terry Murray attempted to write his name on the scoresheet with a diving header. The outlandish try was one to forget for the defender as it bounced off the no.5’s head and wide.

Unclear if the chance given was offside, it was still one to rue for the visitors. In the forty-third minute, the valiant performance against the leaders was undone as Ashley Miller dropped his shoulder to round a pink shirt before delivering the first goal on a plate for the clinical Draycott. The 400 or so crowd disassembled for half-time, Casuals 1-0 behind but still in the tight contest.

The half-time team-talk did not manage to inspire the players as a volley into the top corner condemned Casuals. Stylish technique from substitute Ronnie Dolan gave Invicta a two goal cushion. 

Struggling to keep up with the tempo of the hosts, Casuals had keeper Bracken to thank. No chances were created and the combination of Kaba, Cottee and Byatt did not manage to keep the Folkestone defence busy. The third was shortly added, Draycott catching Bracken out of position to slot home the rebound. Despite the score-line, the Casuals faithful behind the goal did not stop singing, and singing and singing! Perhaps shocked by the marvellous support from Casuals, the Folkestone faithful kept quiet, resulting in “Shall we sing a song for you?” echoing around for all to hear. 

For thirty-minutes, No goals were conceded or celebrated as Casuals brought on Sam Robinson, Shaun Okojie and Josh Uzun in the second-half. The score remained at 3-0 before the 90th minute. Centre-back Frankie Chappell scored a header at the death to make it four. With the goal difference battered, the game ended with players applauding the stoic Casuals contingent at the final whistle.

Now, Corinthians lay in ninth, four points off the play-offs while Invicta deservedly added three more to their outstanding point tally. Casuals now face last-placed Whitstable Town at home on Saturday before a trip to Peacehaven the week after.

After the match, James Bracken spoke to Stuart Tree. “I think we could’ve been two or three goals up before we went one-nil down. We’ve missed two absolute sitters. Terry (Murray) has actually headed one off the line that was going in. It was one of those moments where you can’t decide whether to laugh or cry.
 
“It’s ended in tears because we haven’t produced in the second half. It was nowhere near good enough.
 
“First half, up until they’ve scored, we were on an even keel. But goals change games. You score the first, we’d have had something to hang onto… change the shape and get a little more defensive.
 
“But we didn’t. Folkestone took their chances and that’s why they’ll probably win the league. They’ve got boys there that get half a sniff and score.
 
“We made a lot of defensive errors today as well and you can’t get away with that here.
 
“We’ll be right in this playoff push until the last game of the season. That’s where we want to take it. This game today I looked at as a bonus; we’ve had a couple of good results in the week picking up four points against playoff rivals. So I never felt there was any real pressure on us to come and win here. It was a case of ‘if we can win, it’d be a fantastic boost ahead of the final seven games’ but it wasn’t to be.
 
“All of the games in the run-in look winnable but then teams that were getting beaten heavily are now losing by one goal or getting draws. None of these games will be walkovers. We won’t blitz anyone for free. Some of the sides we’re playing, they’re fighting for survival and won’t just roll-over. We have to apply ourselves and then the quality will show. If we don’t, we’ll get out-battled.
 
“I’ll be analysing the video footage from today and people will be accountable for their mistakes. I didn’t go mad in the changing room but I’m fed up of saying the same thing to them. Okay, at three-nil down, you make some changes to prevent you conceding again. We got back into it and then they’ve scored from a free header from six yards.
 
“I’m tired of saying the same things. They’re the basics. It doesn’t matter how well we play or how good we think we are, if we can’t defend set-pieces, we’ll lose 1-0 against Whitstable to a corner. So I’ll be addressing things this week and I’ll be expecting a reaction.”

Corinthian Casuals 0-1 Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 5th September 2015
Att: 210
Report by Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree (click here)

Leaders Folkestone showed their early season promotion credentials as they become the first side this campaign to stop James Bracken's side from scoring.

A fine strike from experienced striker Ian Draycott (pictured below)just before the break proved to be the difference between the two sides on the afternoon.

Emil Salama returned to the side along with Juevan Spencer whilst Josh Uzun filled in at left back with Dave Hodges having the afternoon off to get married.

After kicking off Casuals made a nice bright start forcing a corner inside the first minute which keeper Tim Roberts did well to fist away under pressure.

The visitors Ashley Miller had the games first shot in the 10th minute with a drive which was always rising and into the safety of the sizeable number of visiting fans behind Danny Brackens goal.

Centre Back Terry Murray, who has made a brilliant start to his career at the club, came close to opening the scoring in the 18th minute when his volley smacked back off the post following Uzun’s precise delivery. Stealing in at the back post the young defender may have feel he should have opened his account for the club but the game remained scoreless.

James Rogers, signed on loan from Conference South side Maidstone, sent a spinning effort just over as both sides were restricted to opportunist efforts mostly from distance with both defences in command.

It took a brilliant save from Casuals' last line of defence Danny Bracken to deny Matt Newman with the midfielder thinking he had put his side in front with a header that was somehow kept out.

Kevant Serbony and Emmanuel Akokhia both had efforts from outside the area which failed to test Roberts but the Seasiders scored the first and ultimately winning goal 4 minutes before the break.

Nat Blanks fired a ball into the box which was contested by Chappell and Danny Dudley. With the ball looping up in the air, Ian Draycott showed great improvisation whilst off the ground to volley home over his head from 6 yards out.

As in the first half, the home side made a good start and Stef Joseph nearly profited from a mix up between Roberts and Frankie Chappell with the keeper gratefully clutching onto the ball having raced to the edge of his area. The pressure continued as Joseph again caused a threat this time firing just over after Juevan Spencer won the ball back from Blanks.

Niall Wright shot just wide with a shot from 25 yards before the same player again just failed to meet Joseph’s low cross after driving into the area. Ross Defoe and Ben Cotton were introduced in a double change before Bracken kept his side in to once again with 25 minutes remaining after somehow keeping out Draycott’s side footed effort after  Dolan's good work.

Despite plenty of huff and puff Casuals couldn't force any real openings against a defence that's been breached only four times in the Ryman league this season so far.

Emil Salama had a late shout for a penalty waved away whilst the visitors perhaps could have worked the ball better on a couple of occasions when breaking but there were no further goals.

However, Casuals Boss James Bracken wasn’t downbeat about the performance as they remain in the top four of the Ryman League Division One South. Bracken said,

It was a tight game which could’ve gone either way, but it’s gone theirs and that’s life. Next week might bring another tight game and it might go our way. 

“It was good to be in a game against a decent side that have started well and yet be so competitive. After the game, their manager has been very complimentary of us which is a nice touch.

“We try to base everything we do on keeping clean sheets and if you try to go out every match and win 4-3, you’ll end up near the bottom of table. You’ve got to try to go out and win 1-0 or 2-0.

“To win this league, you’ve gotta score close to 100 goals and you’ll need to keep clean sheets for 50% of your games. 

In a tight game, Casuals’ captain and goalkeeper Danny Bracken pulled out two first-class stops to prevent the scoreline from flattering the visitors. Sibling James spoke of his brother’s performance.

“We all know how good Danny (Bracken) is; I know more than anyone how good he is. It’s been a different start to the season for him because last year, when I watched him, some games he’d be called to save eight or nine one-on-ones. This season, I think I can count on one hand the good saves he’s made in the first six games. Today he’s shown how good he is again and it’s a case in point that he’s had less exposure this year as we’ve been defending slightly better. But when he’s needed to pull out the saves, he has and that’s what he’s there to do.

“I’ve got my views on the fixtures and how they’ve been compiled; we play Dorking Wanderers who are a decent side twice in space of two weeks, which is ludicrous. Teams change so much over the course of a season, but if you play sides twice in such a short space of time, they might be flying high and doing really well, yet in the tail end of the season, they might not be. And of course, you want to play teams when they’re not performing so well. But we have to make do with that and I’m sure we’ll bounce back from today.”

Corinthian-Casuals 0-0 Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 7th March 2015
Match report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree

Corinthian-Casuals held high flying Folkestone Invicta to a goalless draw at King Georges Arena as Matt Howard’s men continued their impressive form.

And former AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian defender, now Casuals’ First Team Coach, Wayne Finnie thinks this crop of players is the best he’s seen at the Tolworth-based side.

“As a group of players, individually are really good...  I’ve been here a while and they’re the best. Better than anything I can think of in that time.

“There’s a real feel good factor both on the pitch and off it. The boys acknowledge that and seen how we’ve performed out in Sao Paulo against a fantastic team. We now ask ourselves ‘why can’t we do that every single week?’

“Since returning home, we’ve played five league games and are unbeaten in that time. We’re hoping we can carry that form.”

Skipper Joe Hicks returned after a two game absence whilst Carl Wilson-Denis reclaimed his place after missing the midweek draw at Walton Casuals.

With a strong overhead wind behind them, the visitors made the brighter start with Casuals set-up to get as many men behind the ball as possible in an effort to frustrate their opponents.

There was an early shout for a penalty waved away as skipper Joe Hicks rose above Ian Draycott with Invicta claiming the Casuals skipper was climbing on the back of the dangerous front man who has hit over 30 goals already this season.

On 10 minutes Matt Newman picked out the lively Jon Pilbeam down the right hand side who found himself in space but his low centre was gathered at the second attempt by Danny Bracken.

Returning skipper Hicks nearly paid the price for being caught on the ball 3 minutes later but after robbing the defender Draycott attempted to lift the ball over Bracken from some distance and only succeeded in sending the ball bobbling wide of the unguarded net.

It was all Invicta with Casuals at times having 11 men behind the ball. This seemed to have the desired effect with the visitors restricted to opportunist efforts. Draycott again this time curling a free kick just wide from 25 yards.

The striker felt perhaps he should have done better as James Everitt’s long ball found head of the ex-Leatherhead poacher but his effort was straight at Bracken.

Casual’s first real foray into the opposition half came after half an hour when Hicks took matters into his own hands linking well with Juevan Spencer. However after receiving the ball following a one-two he stumbled inside the area with the ball rolling into the hands of keeper Tim Roberts who had a relatively trouble free opening period.

The home side comfortably saw out the latter stages of the first half, which saw both sides even going into the break.

With the wind behind them Matt Howard’s side set out making an instant improvement to their offensive stats as the half began. Indeed inside the first few minutes they recorded their first shot of the match when Jamie Byatt volleyed wide of Roberts goal following Brackens long punt downfield.

A few minutes later and Casuals nearly opened the scoring with the best chance of the match.

Down the right following Spencer’s trickery the ball broke to Ross Defoe and his low cross evaded both Byatt and the covering Frankie Chappell. Mason Welch-Turner arriving at the back post saw his sidefooted effort blocked by the legs of Roberts and away for a corner.

Invicta tested Bracken for the first time in the half when Pilbeam’s free kick was grabbed at the second attempt after bouncing in front of the home stopper.

The home side introduced Max Austin for Carl Wilson-Denis on the hour mark and then saw the striker just fail to get onto Danny Dudley’s header following a Byatt corner,

The Seasiders made a change of their own with Ronnie Dolan coming on for Pilbeam and after robbing Lee Hall down the right his ball across the box saw Jordan Wright sidefoot over when well placed at the edge of the area,

With 18 minutes remaining both sides came close to breaking the deadlock. Firstly Michael Everitt headed Dolan’s free kick down into the ground and just wide whilst at the other end following Bettache’s nutmeg of James Everitt and Defoe’s subsequent cross Reece Placid saw a low volley at the back post well held by Roberts on the line.

Casuals sensing maximum points could be on offer continued to ask questions of the visiting backline and Max Austin drove a fierce effort the wrong side of the post and into the side-netting.

At the other end James Everitt was inches away from heading Wrights cross into the back of the net. With 5 minutes remaining Lee Hall’s in-swinging free kick was met by Byatt who failed to divert his effort goalwards. In the dying stages both Ashley Miller and then Draycott worked themselves half chances but both times Bracken was down comfortably to save.

A well-earned point for both sides that will aid their relative causes going into the final stage of the season.

After the match, ex-Casuals Captain turned first-team Coach, Wayne Finnie spoke of the performance and the belief that’s around the football club.

“I think today was a fair point. In terms of possession, Folkestone dominated but in terms of chances, you could argue we edged it. The conditions were difficult; very windy and with the sun right in player’s eyes.

“Folkestone are a very good side. They’re third in the league and after thirty-something games, it’s not by accident that they’re in that position. So the fact that we can compete with these clubs and even be a little disappointed at the end shows how far we’ve come.

“A lot of the players here have played at a good youth level but maybe haven’t got the experience at senior level and as some of the older guys will know, you play at this level, you’ll get plenty of games where you just can’t get the ball down and play… where you can’t do all the things you want to. You have to grind out results and on Wednesday against Walton, we didn’t seem to be at the races. Matt and Luke (Garrard) have addressed that before today’s match and reinforced that message to them. As a result, today was much much better.

“I know not everyone went to Brazil and that was unfortunate that they all couldn’t go, but those who did travel, it’s given them a kick up the backside. It’s evident that it has revitalised everyone.

“There’s a real feel good factor both on the pitch and off it. The boys acknowledge that and seen how we’ve performed out in Sao Paulo against a fantastic team. We now ask ourselves ‘why can’t we do that every single week?’

“Since returning home, we’ve played five league games and are unbeaten in that time. We’re hoping we can carry that form. The playoffs, notwithstanding other results, are probably just a little too far but certainly, we’ll avoid relegation… though I don’t want to speak too soon!

“We’ll look to the remainder of the season and break whatever records we’ve got and finish as high as we can in the league.

“As a group of players, individually are really good...  I’ve been here a while and they’re the best. Better than anything I can think of in that time.”

Stuart Tree's photos from the match can be seen here.