Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 1 Hythe Town
FA Cup
Saturday 19th August 2017
Match report - Cameron Smith
Photos - Stuart Tree
A deft equaliser in the 88th minute saw Corinthian-Casuals’ midfield maestro Mu Maan grab his third goal in three games and earn his side a replay at Hythe Town in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round.
The FA Cup doesn’t begin in January. A terrific four-page spread in the Casuals programme details how the long-established cup deserves to be recognized at the start of the competition- not just when the big clubs enter in the third round. It was a different buzz around the King George’s Arena; the FA Cup was back! Despite an unkind record in the prestigious cup, the pressure seemed to be lifted a little as the intensity of the league departed, only to be replaced by the expectations in cup competitions.
James Bracken was obviously impressed with Casuals’ performance versus Greenwich Borough on Tuesday as the manager made only one change from his victorious starting eleven. Danny Cunningham was dropped to the bench ahead of Josh Uzun, who was alongside Jerson Dos Santos and Ben Cheklit as attackers. Mu Maan, who netted the winner in the dying seconds of the Greenwich game, donned the no.8 shirt once more as Corinth looked to gain momentum after that dramatic, morale-boosting 1-0 win. The opponents were Kent-based Hythe Town. The Cannons were victims to a 5-0 defeat at home to the formidable Corinthians in their last meeting, but did score six to beat Casuals in the game at Tolworth almost a year ago. It would certainly be an interesting match.
Pre-match beverages were consumed, burgers were bought, and areas around the ground were populated. The pink and brown of Casuals walked side-by-side with the blue of Hythe Town onto the carpet of King George’s before the referee held a minute’s applause for former Corinthian-Casuals player Doug Insole, who passed away aged 91. Then, the preliminary round of the FA Cup was underway.
Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. That’s the only description I can use to report the possession in the first half as Casuals and Hythe mostly shared the ball equally, with only a few chances for either side. Despite the equal possession, it was the visitors who seemed to use their share for the better as Danny Bracken and his back four were busy in keeping the blue shirts of Hythe from scoring. An explosive counter attack was the highlight for Hythe as Bracken stretched to palm the ball away following a powerful effort. The conditions in Tolworth were far from ideal as the wind disrupted set-pieces and long kicks, perhaps prompting tactical changes from both sides. It was only half-chances for the hosts, who seemed to possess an initial burst of energy and potential before being halted in their tracks by Hythe, or making the wrong decision. At half-time, neither team had made an overwhelming impact- it was 0-0.
Coskun Eskim would make his first appearance of the season as the midfield regular from the previous campaign returned at the break, taking the place of the cautioned Tommy Smith in defence. As the second 45 started, the Casuals contingent hoped that significant improvements had been made at the break, but there was no sign of anything notably different until the 59th minute… where Hythe took the lead. A goal that was irritating to concede, yet also unfortunate, no.5 Mitchell Dickinson leaped into the air alongside Casuals’ keeper Danny Bracken, but the blue shirt prevailed over the no.1 as the ball bounced into the empty net. Celebration for Hythe, confusion for Casuals.
Bracken picked himself up and saved Casuals from going 2-0 down moments later as the keeper valiantly palmed an accurate shot away from goal. For the next twenty minutes, it would prove to be a game of half-chances and scrappy play. However, as time went by, Corinthians gained more confidence and had most of the chances in the final ten minutes. Then, in the 88th minute, the pink & brown army struck gold. Dos Santos was located on the edge of the area when he was shoved to the ground by a blue shirt, but play continued as the no.10 looked for options. Masterfully tricking Hythe’s Sam Adams, Dos Santos passed the ball to Mu Maan whilst looking into the other direction- buying time for the midfielder with possession. Maan left Dickenson for dead as he turned past him before unleashing a subtle piledriver into the goalkeeper’s bottom left corner. The man of the moment reeled away in celebration as manager Bracken put a fist into the air in jubilation and relief. Another late goal from Mu Maan had saved Casuals.
With a few minutes left to play, Corinth attempted to grab a winner, but time was against them as the referee blew for full-time at King George’s Arena. Hythe’s 59th minute opener was cancelled out by a cool finish from Mr. Mu Maan.
The draw meant that a replay was in order, and Hythe Town would host the deciding fixture at the Reachfields Stadium on the following Tuesday evening. Would James Bracken’s pink and brown army be able to progress to the next round of the Emirates FA Cup at the second time of trying?
FA Cup
Saturday 19th August 2017
Match report - Cameron Smith
Photos - Stuart Tree
A deft equaliser in the 88th minute saw Corinthian-Casuals’ midfield maestro Mu Maan grab his third goal in three games and earn his side a replay at Hythe Town in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round.
The FA Cup doesn’t begin in January. A terrific four-page spread in the Casuals programme details how the long-established cup deserves to be recognized at the start of the competition- not just when the big clubs enter in the third round. It was a different buzz around the King George’s Arena; the FA Cup was back! Despite an unkind record in the prestigious cup, the pressure seemed to be lifted a little as the intensity of the league departed, only to be replaced by the expectations in cup competitions.
James Bracken was obviously impressed with Casuals’ performance versus Greenwich Borough on Tuesday as the manager made only one change from his victorious starting eleven. Danny Cunningham was dropped to the bench ahead of Josh Uzun, who was alongside Jerson Dos Santos and Ben Cheklit as attackers. Mu Maan, who netted the winner in the dying seconds of the Greenwich game, donned the no.8 shirt once more as Corinth looked to gain momentum after that dramatic, morale-boosting 1-0 win. The opponents were Kent-based Hythe Town. The Cannons were victims to a 5-0 defeat at home to the formidable Corinthians in their last meeting, but did score six to beat Casuals in the game at Tolworth almost a year ago. It would certainly be an interesting match.
Pre-match beverages were consumed, burgers were bought, and areas around the ground were populated. The pink and brown of Casuals walked side-by-side with the blue of Hythe Town onto the carpet of King George’s before the referee held a minute’s applause for former Corinthian-Casuals player Doug Insole, who passed away aged 91. Then, the preliminary round of the FA Cup was underway.
Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. That’s the only description I can use to report the possession in the first half as Casuals and Hythe mostly shared the ball equally, with only a few chances for either side. Despite the equal possession, it was the visitors who seemed to use their share for the better as Danny Bracken and his back four were busy in keeping the blue shirts of Hythe from scoring. An explosive counter attack was the highlight for Hythe as Bracken stretched to palm the ball away following a powerful effort. The conditions in Tolworth were far from ideal as the wind disrupted set-pieces and long kicks, perhaps prompting tactical changes from both sides. It was only half-chances for the hosts, who seemed to possess an initial burst of energy and potential before being halted in their tracks by Hythe, or making the wrong decision. At half-time, neither team had made an overwhelming impact- it was 0-0.
Coskun Eskim would make his first appearance of the season as the midfield regular from the previous campaign returned at the break, taking the place of the cautioned Tommy Smith in defence. As the second 45 started, the Casuals contingent hoped that significant improvements had been made at the break, but there was no sign of anything notably different until the 59th minute… where Hythe took the lead. A goal that was irritating to concede, yet also unfortunate, no.5 Mitchell Dickinson leaped into the air alongside Casuals’ keeper Danny Bracken, but the blue shirt prevailed over the no.1 as the ball bounced into the empty net. Celebration for Hythe, confusion for Casuals.
Bracken picked himself up and saved Casuals from going 2-0 down moments later as the keeper valiantly palmed an accurate shot away from goal. For the next twenty minutes, it would prove to be a game of half-chances and scrappy play. However, as time went by, Corinthians gained more confidence and had most of the chances in the final ten minutes. Then, in the 88th minute, the pink & brown army struck gold. Dos Santos was located on the edge of the area when he was shoved to the ground by a blue shirt, but play continued as the no.10 looked for options. Masterfully tricking Hythe’s Sam Adams, Dos Santos passed the ball to Mu Maan whilst looking into the other direction- buying time for the midfielder with possession. Maan left Dickenson for dead as he turned past him before unleashing a subtle piledriver into the goalkeeper’s bottom left corner. The man of the moment reeled away in celebration as manager Bracken put a fist into the air in jubilation and relief. Another late goal from Mu Maan had saved Casuals.
With a few minutes left to play, Corinth attempted to grab a winner, but time was against them as the referee blew for full-time at King George’s Arena. Hythe’s 59th minute opener was cancelled out by a cool finish from Mr. Mu Maan.
The draw meant that a replay was in order, and Hythe Town would host the deciding fixture at the Reachfields Stadium on the following Tuesday evening. Would James Bracken’s pink and brown army be able to progress to the next round of the Emirates FA Cup at the second time of trying?
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