Grays Athletic 0-0 Corinthian-Casuals
FA Trophy 3rd Round Qualifying
Sunday 29th November 2015
The Mill Field
Att: 150
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)
Corinthian-Casuals find themselves in the draw for the first round of the FA Trophy for the first time in their history, but they’ll have to get past Grays Athletic on Wednesday night after the two sides played out a stalemate at The Mill Field on Sunday.
The replay, set to be played at Corinthian-Casuals’ King George’s Arena in Tolworth will decide whether the amateur sole survivor of the Ryman League Division One South makes it to the next stage.
Casuals lined up with the same first XI that defeated Gray’s playoff rivals Leiston in the last round. A performance of similar standards would surely give the Gravelmen a tough test.
Windy conditions put pay to any real slick football being played and the game was hardly littered with chances. The first half chance fell to Casuals who had the wind in their favour for the first period. Kevant Serbony whipped a ball in from deep and Juevan Spencer was inches from connecting at the back post.
Grays’ Captain, Sean Croninhad the first real chance for the home side; from a free kick Cronin found himself unmarked at the far post but could only slice his chance wide.
Casuals looked lively for the most part of the first half but without any real end product. It was a case of ‘play to the whistle’ as the ball fell kindly to Emmanuel Akokhia but thinking he was offside, didn’t follow up his chance despite no call from any of the officials.
Grays looked threatening when they pushed forward and Jay Leader had keeper Danny Bracken at full stretch as his rasping shot passed just wide of the post.
Casuals probably ended the half as the stronger side. Dave Hodges, who was excellent all game, found space in the box but his shot was tame and easily saved by Lamar Joseph-Johnson.
The biggest call of the half came when Juevan Spencer produced a dazzling run, and despite being fouled in the area, kept his feet and curled a shot narrowly wide of the goal. Spencer was praised by the man in the middle for staying on his feet despite the challenge and although his ‘Corinthian Spirit’ was to be commended, it indicated that had he gone over, the referee would have pointed to the spot rather than playing the advantage.
Into the second half and the wind was becoming noticeably stronger. Sekou Kaba had a good opportunity to open the scoring early on; Dave Hodges fired a ball in from the byline, and Kaba at the near post could only divert it wide.
However, as the half went on, Casuals became more and more encamped in their own half. Though Grays had most of the possession, they were unable to carve out any real chances. The only notable effort was from a free kick which clipped the top of the bar and over to safety.
Cherno Mendy could feel aggrieved that he wasn’t awarded a spot kick late on but as time ticked by, it was clear that a replay was going to be needed to settle this tie.
After the match, Manager James Bracken spoke to Stuart Tree.
“That was difficult conditions, difficult pitch and difficult opposition that we’ve face today. To come here and get a draw, even for a Ryman Premier club would have been a good result, so to come here as a Ryman South club is a great result and keeps us in the hat for the draw.
“I’m sure a better pitch will suit them so we’ll have to look at what we do come the replay at ours.
“We came here today with a game plan and it worked. We could’ve nicked it so I’m pleased with them.
“I think it was a penalty. Juevan’s been honest and tried to stay on his feet. The ref has called him to play on and he’s shot from the corner of the box. If he goes down, you know the referee gives it. But that’s football, isn’t it?”
FA Trophy 3rd Round Qualifying
Sunday 29th November 2015
The Mill Field
Att: 150
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)
Corinthian-Casuals find themselves in the draw for the first round of the FA Trophy for the first time in their history, but they’ll have to get past Grays Athletic on Wednesday night after the two sides played out a stalemate at The Mill Field on Sunday.
The replay, set to be played at Corinthian-Casuals’ King George’s Arena in Tolworth will decide whether the amateur sole survivor of the Ryman League Division One South makes it to the next stage.
Casuals lined up with the same first XI that defeated Gray’s playoff rivals Leiston in the last round. A performance of similar standards would surely give the Gravelmen a tough test.
Windy conditions put pay to any real slick football being played and the game was hardly littered with chances. The first half chance fell to Casuals who had the wind in their favour for the first period. Kevant Serbony whipped a ball in from deep and Juevan Spencer was inches from connecting at the back post.
Grays’ Captain, Sean Croninhad the first real chance for the home side; from a free kick Cronin found himself unmarked at the far post but could only slice his chance wide.
Casuals looked lively for the most part of the first half but without any real end product. It was a case of ‘play to the whistle’ as the ball fell kindly to Emmanuel Akokhia but thinking he was offside, didn’t follow up his chance despite no call from any of the officials.
Grays looked threatening when they pushed forward and Jay Leader had keeper Danny Bracken at full stretch as his rasping shot passed just wide of the post.
Casuals probably ended the half as the stronger side. Dave Hodges, who was excellent all game, found space in the box but his shot was tame and easily saved by Lamar Joseph-Johnson.
The biggest call of the half came when Juevan Spencer produced a dazzling run, and despite being fouled in the area, kept his feet and curled a shot narrowly wide of the goal. Spencer was praised by the man in the middle for staying on his feet despite the challenge and although his ‘Corinthian Spirit’ was to be commended, it indicated that had he gone over, the referee would have pointed to the spot rather than playing the advantage.
Into the second half and the wind was becoming noticeably stronger. Sekou Kaba had a good opportunity to open the scoring early on; Dave Hodges fired a ball in from the byline, and Kaba at the near post could only divert it wide.
However, as the half went on, Casuals became more and more encamped in their own half. Though Grays had most of the possession, they were unable to carve out any real chances. The only notable effort was from a free kick which clipped the top of the bar and over to safety.
Cherno Mendy could feel aggrieved that he wasn’t awarded a spot kick late on but as time ticked by, it was clear that a replay was going to be needed to settle this tie.
After the match, Manager James Bracken spoke to Stuart Tree.
“That was difficult conditions, difficult pitch and difficult opposition that we’ve face today. To come here and get a draw, even for a Ryman Premier club would have been a good result, so to come here as a Ryman South club is a great result and keeps us in the hat for the draw.
“I’m sure a better pitch will suit them so we’ll have to look at what we do come the replay at ours.
“We came here today with a game plan and it worked. We could’ve nicked it so I’m pleased with them.
“I think it was a penalty. Juevan’s been honest and tried to stay on his feet. The ref has called him to play on and he’s shot from the corner of the box. If he goes down, you know the referee gives it. But that’s football, isn’t it?”
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