Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 3 Margate
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 23rd February 2019
Report: Cameron Smith & Joshua Doherty. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Whilst the clinical Margate ran rampant at the sunny King George’s Field, Corinthian-Casuals chalked up another defeat that makes five on the bounce; conceding three goals and dropping to 17th in the Bostik Premier Division.
This spell of poor form was encapsulated last week when Warren Mfula’s late goal could not spark a comeback versus Merstham and James Bracken’s words after the game were bittersweet. Willing the players to push past a rough patch that might have occurred through injuries or the bettering of teams around them, Bracken knew that a clash with lowly Margate was important.
The grass was green, the sky was blue and, for a change, the sun was shining in Tolworth as the pink and brown locked horns with the blue and white (or in this instance, the change strip of yellow).
The first 34 minutes was full of key moments that, in hindsight, could have changed the game. Majed Osman showed the Casuals contingent his class early on with a powerful effort directed wide of the post by the alert Louis Wells. This chance was after multiple set-pieces that Casuals were gifted due to their work on the flanks but they could not seem to convert. Mfula had an effort comfortably collected after finding space and the occasional attacks by Margate were dangerous but dealt with.
That was until Kadell Daniel slotted the ball into the bottom corner of Bracken’s net and it was 1-0 to Margate. A commendable turnout from the Gate got to celebrate again in the 39th minute- Noel Leighton’s run and finish was too much to handle for the Casuals defence that was without Reece Hannigan at the back. At half-time, it was 2-0 to Margate.
Mu Maan was replaced by Warren Morgan at half-time, but the full-back/winger’s pace could not be utilised as every Casuals attack was stomped on by the firm Margate. They knew what they wanted to do and via Leighton, a third and decisive goal was dispatched wonderfully. Most of the 337 in attendance on the beautiful February afternoon would have wanted a more open game, but the remainder was dominated by Margate. Debutant Benjamin Aghadiuno was substituted for Hannigan and Uzun for Antonio. As far as luck goes, Corinthians had zero but it should not be said that Margate were anything less than brilliant. Falling short of their five goals they scored against Casuals at home in the season opener, the Gate left Tolworth with three goals and three points.
Thank you to Margate and we wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season. Jay Saunders’ victory makes it five consecutive losses for Casuals, which is far from a pretty statistic to look at. A trip to second-in-the-league Haringey Borough is not the best to follow up with, but with Casuals’ underdog attitude, incredible support and Corinthian Spirit… who knows what could happen?
“It wasn’t a lack of character today. I think we just lacked the know how," explained Assistant Manager Dan Pringle after the match.
"I don’t think man-for-man they were a better team than us, but we could just hear them talking throughout, always communicating. They knew how to play the game. They played to their strengths and fully deserved their win.”
He continued, “We kept running, all the way to the end. Even at three nil, we were trying to get back into the game. We could have easily let them gone on and score 4, 5 or 6 and been embarrassed but we didn't.
"I can’t question the character today, and with the situation at the club, we know it its all about character. We are still very much looking up, rather than down, seeing whats ahead. We are not downbeat at all, we never are. We always stay level after a defeat and we never go in shouting and balling as it is not constructive.
“We have however highlighted some things we need to improve. We’ll watch it back, train next week and work out where we are short. We are all learning; James (Bracken) and I are still learning and we need to look at ourselves before the players. When you are in the position we are now, the only thing you can do is work hard. I don’t think we are here due to a lack of quality, or effort.
“We need to start keeping clean sheets - we've conceded too many goals. We need to get back to basics, keep the ball out of our net. Then we only need one to win the game, rather than conceding two or three and looking to our forward to get more. That is not sustainable way of playing unless you are top of the league with strikers on £6-700 a week. We need some clean sheets and build from there. With no budget, we should be bottom, I think people forget that.
“We lost 3-0 to Margate today, but it wasn’t so long ago we were losing by three or four to the teams in the leagues below and fighting relegation. It's good that we have changed the mentality, but at the same time we are working with no budget. James and I couldn’t put an ounce more work in if we wanted. We have the players we have and try and improve and go from there.
"However, we look at the teams in front of us and think we are better, we can climb up the table and now we just need to go on a run and finish strong, which we both think we can do.
“I’m fully confident that we could be sat here next week with six points on the board from the two games, and suddenly we are a bit more comfortable in the table."
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 23rd February 2019
Report: Cameron Smith & Joshua Doherty. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Whilst the clinical Margate ran rampant at the sunny King George’s Field, Corinthian-Casuals chalked up another defeat that makes five on the bounce; conceding three goals and dropping to 17th in the Bostik Premier Division.
This spell of poor form was encapsulated last week when Warren Mfula’s late goal could not spark a comeback versus Merstham and James Bracken’s words after the game were bittersweet. Willing the players to push past a rough patch that might have occurred through injuries or the bettering of teams around them, Bracken knew that a clash with lowly Margate was important.
The grass was green, the sky was blue and, for a change, the sun was shining in Tolworth as the pink and brown locked horns with the blue and white (or in this instance, the change strip of yellow).
The first 34 minutes was full of key moments that, in hindsight, could have changed the game. Majed Osman showed the Casuals contingent his class early on with a powerful effort directed wide of the post by the alert Louis Wells. This chance was after multiple set-pieces that Casuals were gifted due to their work on the flanks but they could not seem to convert. Mfula had an effort comfortably collected after finding space and the occasional attacks by Margate were dangerous but dealt with.
That was until Kadell Daniel slotted the ball into the bottom corner of Bracken’s net and it was 1-0 to Margate. A commendable turnout from the Gate got to celebrate again in the 39th minute- Noel Leighton’s run and finish was too much to handle for the Casuals defence that was without Reece Hannigan at the back. At half-time, it was 2-0 to Margate.
Mu Maan was replaced by Warren Morgan at half-time, but the full-back/winger’s pace could not be utilised as every Casuals attack was stomped on by the firm Margate. They knew what they wanted to do and via Leighton, a third and decisive goal was dispatched wonderfully. Most of the 337 in attendance on the beautiful February afternoon would have wanted a more open game, but the remainder was dominated by Margate. Debutant Benjamin Aghadiuno was substituted for Hannigan and Uzun for Antonio. As far as luck goes, Corinthians had zero but it should not be said that Margate were anything less than brilliant. Falling short of their five goals they scored against Casuals at home in the season opener, the Gate left Tolworth with three goals and three points.
Thank you to Margate and we wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season. Jay Saunders’ victory makes it five consecutive losses for Casuals, which is far from a pretty statistic to look at. A trip to second-in-the-league Haringey Borough is not the best to follow up with, but with Casuals’ underdog attitude, incredible support and Corinthian Spirit… who knows what could happen?
“It wasn’t a lack of character today. I think we just lacked the know how," explained Assistant Manager Dan Pringle after the match.
"I don’t think man-for-man they were a better team than us, but we could just hear them talking throughout, always communicating. They knew how to play the game. They played to their strengths and fully deserved their win.”
He continued, “We kept running, all the way to the end. Even at three nil, we were trying to get back into the game. We could have easily let them gone on and score 4, 5 or 6 and been embarrassed but we didn't.
"I can’t question the character today, and with the situation at the club, we know it its all about character. We are still very much looking up, rather than down, seeing whats ahead. We are not downbeat at all, we never are. We always stay level after a defeat and we never go in shouting and balling as it is not constructive.
“We have however highlighted some things we need to improve. We’ll watch it back, train next week and work out where we are short. We are all learning; James (Bracken) and I are still learning and we need to look at ourselves before the players. When you are in the position we are now, the only thing you can do is work hard. I don’t think we are here due to a lack of quality, or effort.
“We need to start keeping clean sheets - we've conceded too many goals. We need to get back to basics, keep the ball out of our net. Then we only need one to win the game, rather than conceding two or three and looking to our forward to get more. That is not sustainable way of playing unless you are top of the league with strikers on £6-700 a week. We need some clean sheets and build from there. With no budget, we should be bottom, I think people forget that.
“We lost 3-0 to Margate today, but it wasn’t so long ago we were losing by three or four to the teams in the leagues below and fighting relegation. It's good that we have changed the mentality, but at the same time we are working with no budget. James and I couldn’t put an ounce more work in if we wanted. We have the players we have and try and improve and go from there.
"However, we look at the teams in front of us and think we are better, we can climb up the table and now we just need to go on a run and finish strong, which we both think we can do.
“I’m fully confident that we could be sat here next week with six points on the board from the two games, and suddenly we are a bit more comfortable in the table."
RSS Feed