Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 2 East Grinstead Town
Bostik League South
Saturday 23rd December 2017
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)
Corinthian-Casuals secured three points in a dramatic finale which saw Nathan Daly’s shot deflected home in the 96th minute against East Grinstead Town.
Twice, the home side were pegged back from taking the lead, but scoring with the last kick of the game ensured that couldn’t happen for a third time.
Whilst James Bracken hasn’t had the easiest run of results in the past month, three wins in the last four matches sees Casuals potentially emerge from a sticky situation relatively unscathed.
The addition of Harry Ottaway and Frazer Walker to Corinth can only bolster a squad ravaged by injuries. 37 games between August and Christmas has certainly taken its toll on Casuals and many other clubs dealing with an arduous schedule.
Harry Ottaway, scorer on his debut in the Velocity Trophy win on Tuesday made his home debut appearance as well as Frazer Walker, taking his place in a makeshift defensive line-up.
Casuals could feel confident of a victory after the 5-0 win at East Grinstead’s GAC Stadium back in August. Matt Longhurst’s side hasn’t really progressed from that point, occupying 3rd from bottom going into the match. As many attest, anyone can beat anyone in this league and the Wasps have proven that already beating Casuals’ Boxing Day opponents Carshalton Athletic back in October.
Any fears of a repeat were allayed in just the seventh minute when Ottaway converted a whipped in Gabriel Odunaike cross to give the home crowd plenty to cheer.
Cheers turned to tears just four minutes later when a defensive mix-up caused Marcus Elliott to score one of the easiest goals he’ll grab this season.
It wasn’t long before Casuals were ahead again. On 26 minutes, a cleared corner fell to Max Oldham 25 yards out and catching the keeper off his line, beautifully-lobbed Dan Smith to re-take the lead. It was one of those shots that you knew was in the moment it was struck.
To calm nerves, Casuals needed a third and continually probed the Grinstead goal. Ottaway came closest when his improvised effort hit the crossbar.
The third never came and on the hour mark, Grinstead were back in it, courtesy of Charlie Postance, who fired home into the opposite corner after a small spell of pressure.
Nerves frayed as time ticked on. A scuffle on the touchline saw one from each side sent to the stands, though the delay in sorting the melee was to prove vital. Six minutes added time was indicated and going into the fifth of those minutes, Josh Uzun whipped in a free kick that was tipped round the post by keeper Smith. The resulting corner saw Jack Strange flick on the ball to Nathan Daly who stuck out a leg to fire home. His effort, possibly going wide was made sure of finding the net when Steven Springett’s outstretched limb deflected the ball past Smith. Scenes followed as Grinstead lay dejected whilst Casuals celebrated their vital last gasp winner.
The win leaves Casuals in third, only on goal difference and three points off top spot. Casuals make the short trip to fourth-placed Carshalton on Boxing Day.
“That was very sweet,” said Bracken after the match. “How we’ve got ourselves in a 2-2 game, I don’t know. Our performance today was far superior to anything we’ve done over the past half dozen games.
“We ground a result out in the week, going through on penalties which gave us a boost. Couple of boys made their debut and done well. Had a couple return too which is pleasing.
“A few of the boys in the changing room have said you’d rather win 3-2 in that manner than win 5-0 and feel a bit flat at the end as if you’ve not been challenged. We’ll take the positives out of it and enjoy that… just before Christmas, too.
“Tough test on Boxing Day at Carshalton but let’s get this right, it’s a tough test for them too. It’ll be a good game. Peter (Adeniyi – Carshalton Manager) likes to play good football on their 3G pitch. It’ll suit us too – we’ve only got good footballers. I don’t have players who’ll just run around kicking people up in the air. That’s not my philosophy. I want us to play the way the game should be played.
“We have enough boys who know what they need to do to perform. It’ll be a good game! Who’ll win? Whoever turns up on the day and takes their chances. I’m confident though. We’re always confident. That can get knocked when you haven’t got the results but we have to remember, our sticky patch included some good draws away. The 2-2 at Sittingbourne and coming from behind at Thamesmead twice isn’t to be rubbished. Okay – it’s not good enough but we have had 11 to 12 players out, consistently, every game for the last eight weeks. We’ve done what we can but now with one or two new lads in and one or two back, you’ll really see us fire again.
“The amazing thing is we’re still right in the mix. We’ve not been as good. Our strength in depth has been severely tested. They’re all doing their best though, as I always will.
“I’m pleased though. When you have a tough run, it can go one of two ways; either roll your sleeves up and get on with it or you shrivel up and die. After the Chipstead game, where they got back to 2-2 and lost, the same could’ve easily happened today. But that was never in danger. If anyone was going to win it, that was us. We’ve left it late but I don’t think anyone could say we didn’t deserve it. If they did, they’d be looking through Grinstead goggles.”
Bostik League South
Saturday 23rd December 2017
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)
Corinthian-Casuals secured three points in a dramatic finale which saw Nathan Daly’s shot deflected home in the 96th minute against East Grinstead Town.
Twice, the home side were pegged back from taking the lead, but scoring with the last kick of the game ensured that couldn’t happen for a third time.
Whilst James Bracken hasn’t had the easiest run of results in the past month, three wins in the last four matches sees Casuals potentially emerge from a sticky situation relatively unscathed.
The addition of Harry Ottaway and Frazer Walker to Corinth can only bolster a squad ravaged by injuries. 37 games between August and Christmas has certainly taken its toll on Casuals and many other clubs dealing with an arduous schedule.
Harry Ottaway, scorer on his debut in the Velocity Trophy win on Tuesday made his home debut appearance as well as Frazer Walker, taking his place in a makeshift defensive line-up.
Casuals could feel confident of a victory after the 5-0 win at East Grinstead’s GAC Stadium back in August. Matt Longhurst’s side hasn’t really progressed from that point, occupying 3rd from bottom going into the match. As many attest, anyone can beat anyone in this league and the Wasps have proven that already beating Casuals’ Boxing Day opponents Carshalton Athletic back in October.
Any fears of a repeat were allayed in just the seventh minute when Ottaway converted a whipped in Gabriel Odunaike cross to give the home crowd plenty to cheer.
Cheers turned to tears just four minutes later when a defensive mix-up caused Marcus Elliott to score one of the easiest goals he’ll grab this season.
It wasn’t long before Casuals were ahead again. On 26 minutes, a cleared corner fell to Max Oldham 25 yards out and catching the keeper off his line, beautifully-lobbed Dan Smith to re-take the lead. It was one of those shots that you knew was in the moment it was struck.
To calm nerves, Casuals needed a third and continually probed the Grinstead goal. Ottaway came closest when his improvised effort hit the crossbar.
The third never came and on the hour mark, Grinstead were back in it, courtesy of Charlie Postance, who fired home into the opposite corner after a small spell of pressure.
Nerves frayed as time ticked on. A scuffle on the touchline saw one from each side sent to the stands, though the delay in sorting the melee was to prove vital. Six minutes added time was indicated and going into the fifth of those minutes, Josh Uzun whipped in a free kick that was tipped round the post by keeper Smith. The resulting corner saw Jack Strange flick on the ball to Nathan Daly who stuck out a leg to fire home. His effort, possibly going wide was made sure of finding the net when Steven Springett’s outstretched limb deflected the ball past Smith. Scenes followed as Grinstead lay dejected whilst Casuals celebrated their vital last gasp winner.
The win leaves Casuals in third, only on goal difference and three points off top spot. Casuals make the short trip to fourth-placed Carshalton on Boxing Day.
“That was very sweet,” said Bracken after the match. “How we’ve got ourselves in a 2-2 game, I don’t know. Our performance today was far superior to anything we’ve done over the past half dozen games.
“We ground a result out in the week, going through on penalties which gave us a boost. Couple of boys made their debut and done well. Had a couple return too which is pleasing.
“A few of the boys in the changing room have said you’d rather win 3-2 in that manner than win 5-0 and feel a bit flat at the end as if you’ve not been challenged. We’ll take the positives out of it and enjoy that… just before Christmas, too.
“Tough test on Boxing Day at Carshalton but let’s get this right, it’s a tough test for them too. It’ll be a good game. Peter (Adeniyi – Carshalton Manager) likes to play good football on their 3G pitch. It’ll suit us too – we’ve only got good footballers. I don’t have players who’ll just run around kicking people up in the air. That’s not my philosophy. I want us to play the way the game should be played.
“We have enough boys who know what they need to do to perform. It’ll be a good game! Who’ll win? Whoever turns up on the day and takes their chances. I’m confident though. We’re always confident. That can get knocked when you haven’t got the results but we have to remember, our sticky patch included some good draws away. The 2-2 at Sittingbourne and coming from behind at Thamesmead twice isn’t to be rubbished. Okay – it’s not good enough but we have had 11 to 12 players out, consistently, every game for the last eight weeks. We’ve done what we can but now with one or two new lads in and one or two back, you’ll really see us fire again.
“The amazing thing is we’re still right in the mix. We’ve not been as good. Our strength in depth has been severely tested. They’re all doing their best though, as I always will.
“I’m pleased though. When you have a tough run, it can go one of two ways; either roll your sleeves up and get on with it or you shrivel up and die. After the Chipstead game, where they got back to 2-2 and lost, the same could’ve easily happened today. But that was never in danger. If anyone was going to win it, that was us. We’ve left it late but I don’t think anyone could say we didn’t deserve it. If they did, they’d be looking through Grinstead goggles.”
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