Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 2 Hastings United
Bostik League South
Saturday 21st October 2017
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)

​Corinthian-Casuals made it six points in three days as they added a 3-2 scalp of Hastings United to the gripping 1-0 win at Lewes in midweek.

Though behind twice, Casuals fought back through goals from Mu Maan and a brace from Max Oldham, finishing in relative comfort despite the harsh conditions.
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Following the 4-2 loss at Cray, albeit with a depleted squad, on paper, the next two fixtures – away at unbeaten Lewes and home to last season’s playoff semi-finalists Hastings United ensured James Bracken’s side would be tested to the max.

But Gabriel Odunaike’s 88th minute strike sunk the Rooks and Corinth were looking to build upon that dramatic finale against mid-table placed United.

Going with the same starting line-up as the one that featured at the Dripping Pan, Bracken would add Kevant Serbony and Reyon Dillon to the bench, both of whom had missed midweek.

Storm Brian wasn’t as fierce as first predicted but nevertheless wouldn’t make for ideal footballing weather. Coupled with a playing surface longer than Bracken would’ve wanted, slick interchanging passing might have been a tough ask. Though fair play to both sides as they made for an entertaining encounter regardless.

Before some had even taken their seats, Casuals found themselves behind; Danny Bracken could only punch a cross out to Simon Johnson and the Hastings Captain, with the wind behind him, crashed home a well struck shot that left the keeper no chance.

Hastings looked to add to Casuals woes early, taking advantage of the downwind gusts. Bracken forced to make a fine save from Sam Adams.

The home side looked to keep the ball on the deck and slick work mixed with darting runs saw Hamilton Antionio played through on goal but his effort was well saved by Charlie Horlock. The Hastings custodian was called upon again, brilliantly saving with his fingertips from Danny Cunningham’s 20 yard curling shot.

It wasn’t long before Casuals were level; Bracken had bemoaned that his side don’t score enough from set-pieces. Since then, they’ve executed free kicks and corners to greater effect. Josh Uzun’s dead-ball was whipped in to find the head of Jack Strange. Horlock may have got a vital touch to push it onto the crossbar but the rebound found Mu Maan who made no mistake in finding the target.

The second half saw the wind advantage change though it was Casuals who were slow out of the blocks. Defensively switching off for a minute, the Amateurs allowed too much time for Hastings to build their attack and it was no surprise when Sam Adams drove his shot low into the bottom corner to once again give the advantage to United.

However, that was as good as it got for Hastings for the rest of the match. Casuals attacked with pace and vigour and United’s back line struggled to contain Max Oldham, Jordan Clarke and Danny Cunningham for the last half hour.

Casuals almost equalised in audacious fashion when Josh Uzun spotted Horlock off his line and powered a free kick from the half way line, beating the keeper but striking the crossbar. Eat your heart out Beckham!

With 25 minutes remaining, the breakthrough finally came courtesy of Oldham. Cutting into the box, his cross-come-shot could only be diverted by Ollie Rowe into his own net.

Two minutes later and Oldham struck again. This time, he met a Cunningham cross at the near post and no defender intervention was needed on this occasion. Casuals had the lead for the first time.

The last twenty minutes saw Casuals push for a fourth and squandered numerous chances including a one-on-one from Cunningham. Wasteful perhaps but the task was complete and Casuals had their victory. The win takes Bracken’s side up to third in the table.

“Happy with six points from the last two games but I expect that from my team.” said Bracken following the win.

"The Cray result was a strange one. The impact of the injuries and illness was telling. Even on the players that did play, they felt that perhaps we had too many missing. As I said at the time, that side was still good enough to go and win, but didn’t perform.

"But we learned from that and built on it come Wednesday and then today, in difficult conditions and picked up another three points.

"When the first goal goes in, often you’d be a little worried that we haven’t started well, but funnily enough, I thought for the first couple of minutes, we’d started very well. But we gave away a free kick, don’t mark two of their players and between them, they end up scoring. So you fear the worst.

"We’ll look back at that and especially if we’d have lost, people would be culpable. We’d scrutinise it and players would perhaps lose their positions over it. But we rectified it and got the win. We’ll still look at it and improve. One or two individuals who haven’t done what they should be doing will be told and it’s up to them to take it on board.

"Josh’s effort from the halfway line was a wonderful effort. Uzun’s technique is unbelievable. We’ve put him in the middle for the last couple of games and given him a bit more licence to get on the ball.

"He has that quality and he’s very alert. Once he saw the keeper off his line and wind at his back, he’s probably the one player within this squad that you’d encourage to take that on. Very unlucky not to score. Would’ve been goal of the season without a doubt." 

Casuals travel to Margate in the Velocity Trophy on Tuesday.

Corinthian-Casuals 2 – 2 Hastings United
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 8th March 2016
Attendance: 130
Match report: Stuart Tree. Photos from Andy Nunn can be viewed here.
 
Second half goals from Warren Morgan and Jamie Byatt rescued a point for Corinthian-Casuals as they battled back from 2-0 down to earn a draw with playoff rivals Hastings United.
 
And Casuals Boss James Bracken believed they were ‘unlucky not to come away with three points’ and hailed his side’s fighting spirit.
 
The two sides had played out a thrilling 3-3 draw just a few weeks back at the Pilot field and the 130 in attendance would be in for a treat should that be replicated.
 
Before kickoff, Casuals were dealt two big blows; Captain Danny Bracken was to miss his first competitive game in 185 starts due to illness. Reserve keeper Ricky Bowry was called up at the eleventh hour to deputise. At the other end of the pitch, in-form frontman Shaun Okojie, with eight goals in eight starts also succumbed to a sickness bug. James Cottee was promoted from the bench to start alongside Jamie Byatt, playing his first home game of the season.
 
Casuals began lively and after only three minutes, Sekou Kaba’s quick feet found space in the box but his shot was deflected over.
 
Hastings took the lead in the eighth minute when Billy Medlock let fly with a 25 yard effort that beat stand-in keeper Ricky Bowry with no chance.
 
They doubled the lead on 20 minutes after Zac Attwood was allowed to turn and shoot past Bowry.
 
Casuals fought back with Sekou Kaba hitting the post and Hasting’s keeper Harry Doherty made a superb last ditch save to deny returning hero Jamie Byatt.  At the other end, Medlock fancied his chances again but his dipping shot was fired over.
 
The comeback began after the break when on 57 minutes, Warren Morgan made an impressive burst into the box and fired from an acute angle past Doherty.
 
In a half dominated by the home side, Byatt went close again with a trademark swivel and volley that had Doherty scrambling.  Casuals continued to press and pinned Hastings in their own half. The pressure paid off; Byatt latched onto a looping Warren Morgan ball and in typical fashion, slotted home to level the scores.
 
James Cottee had a golden chance to sneak three points at the end but his snap shot went agonisingly wide with Doherty stranded.
 
The draw lifts Casuals up into seventh, two points from Hastings who remain in fifth place, taking up the final playoff spot.
 
“One thing we never lack is fighting spirit. We showed it on Saturday and we’ve shown it again tonight,” said Bracken after the match.
 
“But let’s not forget there was an awful lot of quality out there today. We’ve dominated that game for the majority of it. Hastings scored two goals in the first half against the run of play and then sat deep.
 
“Second half, we’ve almost taken them apart and we’re unlucky not to come away with three points.
We’ve got eight games to go and we’ll have a right good go and see if we can get to the playoffs.
 
Speaking of the loss of Captain Danny Bracken and in-form striker Shaun Okojie, Bracken said, “It gives you a little concern in the back of your mind when you miss your goalkeeper who’s played 185 consecutive games. It’s never easy. I’ve got faith in everyone in the squad including Ricky (Bowry) who’s stepped in tonight and done really well.
 
“Shaun’s scored eight goals in eight games and that’s a big miss for us. But other players step up to the plate, including Warren Morgan who’s got a goal and Jamie Byatt who’s bagged another.
 
“I want the boys to get points out of every game. We’ll turn up at Folkestone on Saturday motivated. Every single game I turn up to, I seem that little bit more focussed, that bit more motivated as we get to the business end of the season. I hope that’s rubbing off on the players.
 
“We travel to Folkestone knowing that they’ll win the league – they’re the best team in it this year, as the table tells you. But we’ll go there and try and cause another upset because we like to make a habit of that. 

Hastings United 3 - 3 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 2nd February 2016
The Pilot Field
Attendance: 249
Match photos here.

Corinthian-Casuals left Hasting’s Pilot Field feeling aggrieved they weren’t walking away with three points after leading twice, only to be pegged back on each occasion.
 
In a feisty affair, both sides shared six goals and two penalties to each take a vital point, yet not concede any to their opponents as both clubs strive for the playoffs.
 
The game was marred by the sudden illness of referee John Pike who had to be treated by Paramedics. A delay of nearly half an hour saw the resumption of the game with Ryman League Chairman, Nick Robinson taking the far line as Assistant Referee to ensure the completion of the tie.
 
Corinth’s preparations for the match were hampered after a road closure left the M25 gridlocked. Arriving just half an hour before the allotted kick-off time, Casuals had little time to warm up on the fresh winter’s evening.
 
The first half played out without much drama and was frankly a bit of a stalemate. Hastings had a good measure of possession but were unable to break down a resolute Casuals defence. Juevan Spencer had the best chance of the half for the visitors when his 25 yard effort whistled inches past the upright.
 
The second half was in complete contrast to the first. Both sides ramped up their aggression and awoke the 250-odd in attendance. Just three minutes after the re-start, Niall Wright broke the deadlock – his low drive from the edge of the penalty box skidding under Harry Girling in goal and finding the bottom corner.
 
Casuals doubled their lead on 54 minutes when Sam Cole was adjudged to have fouled Warren Morgan in the box. Ever reliable Josh Uzun stepped up and hit home from 12 yards for his fifteenth goal of the season.
 
Hastings pulled one back just four minutes later when the Casuals’ defence parted like the Red Sea and let Zac Attwood latched onto a Sean Ray header and calmly slotted under Danny Bracken in goal.
 
Parity was restored in the 76th minute when a cross was handled by Terry Murray and forced the official to point to the spot. Sam Cole fired into the bottom corner without trouble.
 
However, the game took an unpleasant turn when Referee John Pike looked to be in serious trouble with his health. In what was a feisty affair, matters turned to more important things than football and both sides looked concerned for the wellbeing of Mr Pike. The emergency services were on hand in quick time to aid the stricken official and after a delay of 25 minutes, play was to resume. Ryman League Chairman, Nick Robinson, who was in attendance on behalf of the league, donned suitable attire to run the far side line.
 
The drama was to continue; Juevan Spencer, who’d been relatively quiet all game, cut in down the left and squared his pass to Brandon Johnson who squeezed his shot inside the post, much to the jubilation of himself and his teammates.
 
The celebrations were cut short just three minutes later when Girling sent a long free kick into the area and with the ball cleared only to defender Simon Johnson, he duly cracked a stunning effort into the top corner to bring alive the home crowd and take a share of the points.
 
The result leaves Casuals in 12th position, eight points off the playoffs but with two games in hand on most of their rivals.
 
From all at Corinthian-Casuals, we wish John Pike a full and speedy recovery. Get well soon!

After the match, Manager James Bracken had these words.
 
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow. Yet again, it’s another game that we’ve come away from saying that we should’ve got more from.
 
“That’s been the story of our season. We’ve had good spells, good wins, good performances but too many games, we’ve come away from where we’re saying ‘how have we not won that?’
 
“I can’t knock the boys though. Again, they’ve put in everything tonight. After the stoppage, we’ve done what we’ve always done; we’ve been positive. We’ve gone for it, changed the shape, put more up front and tried to win the game away from home against probably the second biggest budget in the league at a guess.
 
“Hastings have decent players and they don’t play for free. We’ve come here tonight and given them a right run for their money and they’re delighted to get away with a draw against my team who haven’t even had a pre-game warm-up. But we just got on with it.
 
“I said before Christmas, when the pitches have been as bad as they have and the ten or so games in the windiest conditions you’ll ever play in, it makes games a lottery. When you come across a team with sluggers that just compete, it becomes an even game.
 
“When the pitches firm up, like it was today and at the start of the season when we were top, it will favour us.
 
“It’s just about keeping in the mix – which is hard now – right down to thirteenth place, everyone’s still fighting for it. Every week, half of those sides will pick up wins, so we need to make sure we are in that half more often than not. Then come the last ten games of the season, if we’re three to six points outside the playoffs, we’ll have a right good crack at it. It’s definitely achievable.
 
“With the club we are and the way things are, if we can hit the playoffs then the lads deserve all the credit in the world.
 
“We played Niall Wright and Brandon Johnson as two holders today and they’ve both hit the edge of the box at different times and they’ve scored two very good goals. I’m delighted with them. I’ve spoken to the lads recently about not scoring enough goals.
 
“For boys like Mani (Akokhia) who’s 21 years old, it can be a lot of pressure on a young man’s shoulders. Playing at this level as a 21 year old would usually involve them being a substitute forward who chips in goals coming off the bench, does bits and pieces and learns the game. With Mani, we threw him in from the beginning, where he had a blistering start and then there’s been pressure on his shoulders since.
 
“We’ve managed to relieve that a little bit recently with Shaun Okojie and Stef Joseph getting game time. They’ve both led the line well. I’m delighted with all three players and have no problems with our strike force but if the midfielders and wingers can start chipping in again along with the defenders coming up for set pieces then scoring won’t be a problem.
 
“We’ve scored three away from home tonight at a hard place to come. Guernsey came here a couple of weeks ago and lost 2-0. Tonight, we’ve bagged three goals but it’s just unfortunate when the geezer hits a shot like that at the end which goes right in the top corner right at the end.
 
“I hope the referee is okay and makes a full recovery. He got the big decisions right in the game. There was a bit of a mix up when he’s been taken off and the assistant has taken over during an incident which I believe should’ve resulted in a red card, but it hasn’t. But that’s football and we won’t dwell on that as we now concentrate on Saturday.”

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!”