Corinthian-Casuals 2-0 Walton & Hersham
Ryman League Division One South
Attendance 221
Tuesday 19th August 2014
By Darren Pasley
Corinthian Casuals produced a solid performance to comfortably ease past Walton and Hersham and in doing so ending a run of 4 consecutive home defeats against the Stompond Lane side.
Manager Matt Howard made three changes to the side that lost to Burgess Hill at the weekend with Niall Wright replacing the unavailable Danny Green whilst Dave Hodges returned and there was a first appearance of the season for striker Steve Goddard.
Tarome Hemmings was the first to test Danny Bracken in the 3rd minute with a long-range effort which was palmed over as the visitors direct approach dictated the early tempo of the match. Casuals tested visiting keeper Garry Ross for the first time when Lee Hall’s free kick was met by Joe Hicks but his effort was well held by the keeper. The visitors immediately swept upfield and Ogun showed good strength to hold off Niall Wright but his shot was comfortably saved low down by Danny Bracken. The Swans continued to look dangerous with the hosts having to defend well in keeping the lively Jack Battie and Dominic Ogun at bay. After weathering the early pressure Corinthian’s started to build their own attacks and in the 20th minute Dave Hodges showed quick feet to beat Nathan Daly down the left and whipped in a great cross which Steve Goddard headed just over. Hodges, much missed on Saturday was starting to be the home sides main outlet and again after tormenting Daly he looped in a far post cross which met the head of Jamie Byatt. Fortunately for the visitors keeper Ross somehow managed to deflect onto the cross bar and grab the rebound. The pressure continued with Hodges this time having an effort himself but his stabbed shot flew over the bar. With attentions very much on Hodges space opened up in the middle and Mahrez Bettache found the route to goal after half an hour open up after running from the half way line. Ross once again came to his sides rescue deflecting clear with his legs and when the ball was played back in, Byatt turned and flashed his effort just past the post. Despite the chances from Casuals, Walton came close to opening the scoring themselves on 38 minutes when a free kick from out wide was crashed onto the bar via the head of skipper Louis Clarke.
It seemed inevitable that if Casuals could build on their first half performance the opening goal would soon arrive and Hodges again was pivotal to those plans as he again started the half weaving his magic down the left. The goal did arrive on 54 minutes and despite the final touch coming off a visiting player it was a superb team move. After playing the ball out of the back Bettache received the ball from Hall and dinked a reverse pass into Hodges which turned the Swans defence. Hodges first time cross was smashed home at the near post by what initially looked like Jamie Byatt however the less than usual emphatic celebration and later video evidence showed Sacha Mbaye had slid in with the final touch. Either way it had given Casuals a much-deserved lead. In truth once the opener went in the visitors heads dropped and Joe Hicks along with Danny Dudley dealt comfortably with the increasing long balls pumped their way. Casuals doubled their lead in the 70th minute when impressive substitute Reece Placid showed a remarkable turn of pace down the right to leave 2 markers in his wake and after playing in Byatt the fans favourite took one touch to steady himself and another to smash the ball past Ross. Two nearly became three just after but Hodges was denied a deserved goal as Ross saved well at the foot of his near post. Ross was on hand once again to stop Casuals in injury time as good play from the two other replacements Fahm and Wilson-Joseph saw the latter have an effort superbly saved and Byatt smashed the rebound against the post. The visitors finally called Danny Bracken into action deep into stoppage time when another substitute Andrew Dalehouse had an effort, which flashed across the goal but also diverted wide with a fine save.
Speaking after the match Matt Howard said
“The result has been coming to be fair. It’s pleasing to keep a clean sheet and again we kept our shape well. We didn’t ever really look under pressure at all. I can’t ask for more than that.
“I thought Lee Hall was immense tonight. I thought he was absolutely outstanding. The entire back four done well. Maz Bettache on the ball was great.
“It’s clicking into place and hopefully we’ll only get better… the more games we get, the better we’ll become.
“It’s frustrating that we haven’t had the same starting eleven out there this season, but what it does show is that we can throw anyone in the mix and they’re capable of doing a job.”
Ryman League Division One South
Attendance 221
Tuesday 19th August 2014
By Darren Pasley
Corinthian Casuals produced a solid performance to comfortably ease past Walton and Hersham and in doing so ending a run of 4 consecutive home defeats against the Stompond Lane side.
Manager Matt Howard made three changes to the side that lost to Burgess Hill at the weekend with Niall Wright replacing the unavailable Danny Green whilst Dave Hodges returned and there was a first appearance of the season for striker Steve Goddard.
Tarome Hemmings was the first to test Danny Bracken in the 3rd minute with a long-range effort which was palmed over as the visitors direct approach dictated the early tempo of the match. Casuals tested visiting keeper Garry Ross for the first time when Lee Hall’s free kick was met by Joe Hicks but his effort was well held by the keeper. The visitors immediately swept upfield and Ogun showed good strength to hold off Niall Wright but his shot was comfortably saved low down by Danny Bracken. The Swans continued to look dangerous with the hosts having to defend well in keeping the lively Jack Battie and Dominic Ogun at bay. After weathering the early pressure Corinthian’s started to build their own attacks and in the 20th minute Dave Hodges showed quick feet to beat Nathan Daly down the left and whipped in a great cross which Steve Goddard headed just over. Hodges, much missed on Saturday was starting to be the home sides main outlet and again after tormenting Daly he looped in a far post cross which met the head of Jamie Byatt. Fortunately for the visitors keeper Ross somehow managed to deflect onto the cross bar and grab the rebound. The pressure continued with Hodges this time having an effort himself but his stabbed shot flew over the bar. With attentions very much on Hodges space opened up in the middle and Mahrez Bettache found the route to goal after half an hour open up after running from the half way line. Ross once again came to his sides rescue deflecting clear with his legs and when the ball was played back in, Byatt turned and flashed his effort just past the post. Despite the chances from Casuals, Walton came close to opening the scoring themselves on 38 minutes when a free kick from out wide was crashed onto the bar via the head of skipper Louis Clarke.
It seemed inevitable that if Casuals could build on their first half performance the opening goal would soon arrive and Hodges again was pivotal to those plans as he again started the half weaving his magic down the left. The goal did arrive on 54 minutes and despite the final touch coming off a visiting player it was a superb team move. After playing the ball out of the back Bettache received the ball from Hall and dinked a reverse pass into Hodges which turned the Swans defence. Hodges first time cross was smashed home at the near post by what initially looked like Jamie Byatt however the less than usual emphatic celebration and later video evidence showed Sacha Mbaye had slid in with the final touch. Either way it had given Casuals a much-deserved lead. In truth once the opener went in the visitors heads dropped and Joe Hicks along with Danny Dudley dealt comfortably with the increasing long balls pumped their way. Casuals doubled their lead in the 70th minute when impressive substitute Reece Placid showed a remarkable turn of pace down the right to leave 2 markers in his wake and after playing in Byatt the fans favourite took one touch to steady himself and another to smash the ball past Ross. Two nearly became three just after but Hodges was denied a deserved goal as Ross saved well at the foot of his near post. Ross was on hand once again to stop Casuals in injury time as good play from the two other replacements Fahm and Wilson-Joseph saw the latter have an effort superbly saved and Byatt smashed the rebound against the post. The visitors finally called Danny Bracken into action deep into stoppage time when another substitute Andrew Dalehouse had an effort, which flashed across the goal but also diverted wide with a fine save.
Speaking after the match Matt Howard said
“The result has been coming to be fair. It’s pleasing to keep a clean sheet and again we kept our shape well. We didn’t ever really look under pressure at all. I can’t ask for more than that.
“I thought Lee Hall was immense tonight. I thought he was absolutely outstanding. The entire back four done well. Maz Bettache on the ball was great.
“It’s clicking into place and hopefully we’ll only get better… the more games we get, the better we’ll become.
“It’s frustrating that we haven’t had the same starting eleven out there this season, but what it does show is that we can throw anyone in the mix and they’re capable of doing a job.”
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