Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 0 Carshalton Athletic
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 30th March 2019
Report: Cameron Smith. Photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Jack Rudoni’s exceptional run on the right flank before his perfect assist to midfield maestro Majed Osman, who delightfully tapped the ball home in the 85th minute, ended Corinthian-Casuals’ run of ten games without a win as Bracken’s Army edged Carshalton Athletic for the third time this season.
From trips to Hornchurch, Tonbridge and Folkestone that ended with zero points to disappointing home losses to Bognor, Margate and Lewes, the past ten games have been tough for the Corinthians. A test of mentality for the players and devotion for the fans, twenty goals conceded and seven defeats in those ten games was forgotten after last week’s clash versus top-of-league Dorking Wanderers. No goals scored, but no goals conceded as the 0-0 draw had the Casuals supporters in fine spirits due to the five points that separated them from relegation. But safety was still far from achieved; Corinth’s sixth last game was a clash versus play-off hunters Carshalton Athletic.
A Monday night in September saw Clarke, Mfula and Hannigan get on the scoresheet at Coleston Avenue in the Velocity Trophy win- two months later, Clarke and Mfula scored at Carshalton again, but it was Odunaike’s winner that sealed a satisfying 3-2 victory in the league. A hat-trick of wins against the Robins was on the cards for James Bracken and his team. Travelling to King George’s Arena in 6th and a point off the play-off spots, Adeniyi’s side had a thirteen game unbeaten run and a starting eleven that was familiar to many at Casuals. Danny Dudley was a solid centre-back for many seasons in pink and brown whilst more recently, heroic striker from last season Harry Ottaway was donning the no.12 jersey up-front.
Four changes for the Casuals saw a debut for Oliver Sitch, who was in ahead of the injured Max Oldham. Meanwhile, Adelakun was out for Warren Morgan, Osman was on for Odunaike and Antonio played ahead of Mfula. Mirroring the Dorking game, the first half was scrappy and both teams seemed to cancel each-other out. Any set-pieces for the hosts was taken advantage of as bodies piled into the box on multiple occasions. Reece Hannigan out-jumped and out-strengthened no.5 Dudley three times in fifteen minutes, with one bouncing dangerously in-front of keeper Ohman before being cleared. Ottaway had a first-time effort from outside the box that swerved over the bar early on. Antonio’s trademark low centre of gravity and classy footwork came in handy; in one instance white shirts were falling all over the place to try and retrieve the ball. Both keepers did not have lots to do in the first 45, but it was still intriguing and entertaining for the 404 spectators at the sunny King George’s.
In the second-half, Carshalton were on the back foot. Casuals were really pressurising the rattled Robins’ back four, specifically the impressive and relentless Oliver Sitch. Squeezing through any gaps and chasing the ball like a lion finding its prey, and he made a great companion to Rudoni, who proved his Man-Of-The-Match performance vs Dorking was not a one-off. Sitch was situated on the right flank when he curled a shot just over the bar. The attacking performance was commendable, but Carshalton threatened as the half progressed. Ottaway was looking most likely to score against his former team and a diving header had Casuals supporters with their hearts in their mouths, but it flew over. The striker was on a yellow card for simulation that seemed to anger everyone in white as a penalty was waved away. Time flew by and before you knew it, Casuals and Carshalton were in the final ten minutes. Would the game be a replica of the Dorking draw? Or would a team be able to nab a goal? Majed Osman had the answers to both of those questions.
On eighty-three minutes, James Bracken made an inspired decision that shows just how good of a manager he is. On the side-lines for months, fan favourite Reyon Dillon was a surprising inclusion on the bench and Bracken’s faith in his return showed when he was subbed on. A wishful but clever boot up-field was held brilliantly by the physical Dillon, who chose to try and round Athletic defenders instead of feeding Rudoni. He had no choice in the matter and his essential contribution to the move was over when he was tackled. The tackle was clean, but it fell perfectly for Rudoni on the right flank. Dribbling carefully but with unpredictable speed, no.8 Rudoni was reminiscent of Leo Messi when he demonstrated his intelligence and patience and somehow chose not to pull the trigger until he was extremely close to the keeper on the by-line. When he did, he spotted Majed Osman peel away from a defender and the first-time tap in across goal was glorious. The midfield ace had been annoying the white shirts the whole game, and the fantastic flick would annoy them even more. A knife could have sliced through the tension behind the goal as Rudoni squared it for Osman, but there was an incredible wave of celebration at first, then relief that washed over King George’s. Scenes is an apt word to use as the Casuals on the pitch and in the stands punched the air, hugged anyone near them and sang as loud as they could. Osman had been wonderful, and the goal was the icing on a delicious, pink and brown cake.
Despite suspenseful moments during the last five minutes as well as stoppage, Carshalton could not find a late equaliser and Osman’s goal was decisive. Casuals had broken the ten game winless streak in style! Danny Bracken and his brilliant defence, which included a MOTM performance from the superb Jack Strange grabbed a clean-sheet whilst Ekim, Sitch, Antonio and Serbony put in a real shift in the often-gridlocked midfield. Rudoni and Osman’s combination for the winner summed up their games and the smart sub from Bracken and his team summed up their tactical victory.
Good luck to Carshalton for the rest of the season. Three points at last, Casuals are now eight points off the bottom three! Sitting on forty-two points, Casuals are now remarkably level with neighbours Kingstonian, only separated by goal difference. James Bracken’s pink and brown army march onto bottom-of-the-league Burgess Hill next week and with five games left, need as many more points as they can get to ensure safety
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 30th March 2019
Report: Cameron Smith. Photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Jack Rudoni’s exceptional run on the right flank before his perfect assist to midfield maestro Majed Osman, who delightfully tapped the ball home in the 85th minute, ended Corinthian-Casuals’ run of ten games without a win as Bracken’s Army edged Carshalton Athletic for the third time this season.
From trips to Hornchurch, Tonbridge and Folkestone that ended with zero points to disappointing home losses to Bognor, Margate and Lewes, the past ten games have been tough for the Corinthians. A test of mentality for the players and devotion for the fans, twenty goals conceded and seven defeats in those ten games was forgotten after last week’s clash versus top-of-league Dorking Wanderers. No goals scored, but no goals conceded as the 0-0 draw had the Casuals supporters in fine spirits due to the five points that separated them from relegation. But safety was still far from achieved; Corinth’s sixth last game was a clash versus play-off hunters Carshalton Athletic.
A Monday night in September saw Clarke, Mfula and Hannigan get on the scoresheet at Coleston Avenue in the Velocity Trophy win- two months later, Clarke and Mfula scored at Carshalton again, but it was Odunaike’s winner that sealed a satisfying 3-2 victory in the league. A hat-trick of wins against the Robins was on the cards for James Bracken and his team. Travelling to King George’s Arena in 6th and a point off the play-off spots, Adeniyi’s side had a thirteen game unbeaten run and a starting eleven that was familiar to many at Casuals. Danny Dudley was a solid centre-back for many seasons in pink and brown whilst more recently, heroic striker from last season Harry Ottaway was donning the no.12 jersey up-front.
Four changes for the Casuals saw a debut for Oliver Sitch, who was in ahead of the injured Max Oldham. Meanwhile, Adelakun was out for Warren Morgan, Osman was on for Odunaike and Antonio played ahead of Mfula. Mirroring the Dorking game, the first half was scrappy and both teams seemed to cancel each-other out. Any set-pieces for the hosts was taken advantage of as bodies piled into the box on multiple occasions. Reece Hannigan out-jumped and out-strengthened no.5 Dudley three times in fifteen minutes, with one bouncing dangerously in-front of keeper Ohman before being cleared. Ottaway had a first-time effort from outside the box that swerved over the bar early on. Antonio’s trademark low centre of gravity and classy footwork came in handy; in one instance white shirts were falling all over the place to try and retrieve the ball. Both keepers did not have lots to do in the first 45, but it was still intriguing and entertaining for the 404 spectators at the sunny King George’s.
In the second-half, Carshalton were on the back foot. Casuals were really pressurising the rattled Robins’ back four, specifically the impressive and relentless Oliver Sitch. Squeezing through any gaps and chasing the ball like a lion finding its prey, and he made a great companion to Rudoni, who proved his Man-Of-The-Match performance vs Dorking was not a one-off. Sitch was situated on the right flank when he curled a shot just over the bar. The attacking performance was commendable, but Carshalton threatened as the half progressed. Ottaway was looking most likely to score against his former team and a diving header had Casuals supporters with their hearts in their mouths, but it flew over. The striker was on a yellow card for simulation that seemed to anger everyone in white as a penalty was waved away. Time flew by and before you knew it, Casuals and Carshalton were in the final ten minutes. Would the game be a replica of the Dorking draw? Or would a team be able to nab a goal? Majed Osman had the answers to both of those questions.
On eighty-three minutes, James Bracken made an inspired decision that shows just how good of a manager he is. On the side-lines for months, fan favourite Reyon Dillon was a surprising inclusion on the bench and Bracken’s faith in his return showed when he was subbed on. A wishful but clever boot up-field was held brilliantly by the physical Dillon, who chose to try and round Athletic defenders instead of feeding Rudoni. He had no choice in the matter and his essential contribution to the move was over when he was tackled. The tackle was clean, but it fell perfectly for Rudoni on the right flank. Dribbling carefully but with unpredictable speed, no.8 Rudoni was reminiscent of Leo Messi when he demonstrated his intelligence and patience and somehow chose not to pull the trigger until he was extremely close to the keeper on the by-line. When he did, he spotted Majed Osman peel away from a defender and the first-time tap in across goal was glorious. The midfield ace had been annoying the white shirts the whole game, and the fantastic flick would annoy them even more. A knife could have sliced through the tension behind the goal as Rudoni squared it for Osman, but there was an incredible wave of celebration at first, then relief that washed over King George’s. Scenes is an apt word to use as the Casuals on the pitch and in the stands punched the air, hugged anyone near them and sang as loud as they could. Osman had been wonderful, and the goal was the icing on a delicious, pink and brown cake.
Despite suspenseful moments during the last five minutes as well as stoppage, Carshalton could not find a late equaliser and Osman’s goal was decisive. Casuals had broken the ten game winless streak in style! Danny Bracken and his brilliant defence, which included a MOTM performance from the superb Jack Strange grabbed a clean-sheet whilst Ekim, Sitch, Antonio and Serbony put in a real shift in the often-gridlocked midfield. Rudoni and Osman’s combination for the winner summed up their games and the smart sub from Bracken and his team summed up their tactical victory.
Good luck to Carshalton for the rest of the season. Three points at last, Casuals are now eight points off the bottom three! Sitting on forty-two points, Casuals are now remarkably level with neighbours Kingstonian, only separated by goal difference. James Bracken’s pink and brown army march onto bottom-of-the-league Burgess Hill next week and with five games left, need as many more points as they can get to ensure safety
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