AFC Hornchurch 3 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 2nd February 2019
Match report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Corinthian-Casuals were overturned 3-0 by a clinical AFC Hornchurch side in a dire game for the disappointed visitors and their supporters.
Most likely the coldest conditions teams in the Bostik Premier have had to play under so far this season, temperatures dropped to only a few degrees above freezing. The 225 spectators in Hornchurch Stadium wrapped up in as many layers as possible and were staying inside until the players finally emerged from their dressing rooms in order to retain some sort of heat. As the pink and brown of Casuals walked out side-by-side with the red of Hornchurch, three vital points were on offer for whoever desired it the most.
Trying to adjust to the bizarre ground where a running track distanced supporters from players by a good few metres, the Corinth contingent were in fine voice and their support nearly were able to celebrate when a messy free-kick from Ekim was touched on by Odunaike, but his effort was blocked. Possession was exchanged between the two teams for most of the half; the Urchins seemed to be more threatening when pacing at the Casuals defence. Conceding a soft free-kick on the 20 yard mark on the stroke of half-time, Corinth would rue letting George Saunders take the set-piece as he directed a brilliant effort into the top right corner. Bracken was unable to keep it out and Hornchurch were 1-0 up.
After the break, James Bracken’s team-talk would hopefully inject some energy and confidence into a shaky start for the away side. A shot from Mu Maan flew over the bar and a flurry of half-chances eased the worried Casuals fans. Majed Osman’s introduction at half-time was certainly positive but his creativity was targeted and subtly cancelled out by a strong defensive performance from the hosts.
In a rare burst on the right, Hornchurch managed to get a second goal, but not from their own player. Reece Hannigan was the unfortunate one to connect to a Saunders cross and it beat Bracken to make the last 20 minutes very uncomfortable for Casuals. Substitute Josh Uzun floated a perfectly weighted corner into the box that was not in Chafer’s grasp but not far away from Hannigan’s head. Classic pinball in the box, the ball fell for Mu Maan who smacked it into the hands of the Urchins no.1 before it was hastily disposed of. Jordan Clarke and Hannigan had other chances for the Casuals and it was unlucky they didn’t have at least one name on the goal-sheet.
Maybe it was the yearning to score that had left Casuals vulnerable to counter-attacks as Purcell finished a delightful move from Hornchurch and made it 3-0. It was more shock than shame as the Urchins only had a few chances in the whole game but managed to dispatch them all. Even if the board was raised with 90 more minutes, Casuals would not have been able to get three points from Hornchurch as it just didn’t seem to be their day in-front of goal and it was a 3-0 result at full-time.
James Bracken and his pink and brown army look to improve on the past two losses, but thank you to AFC Hornchurch and good luck for the rest of the season. Staying in 14th, Corinthians face the long trip to Folkestone on Tuesday night before Lewes travel down to King George’s next Saturday.
We were lethargic, slow, laborious on the ball and didn't have enough fight," said Manager James Bracken after the match. "I could go on and reel off a million negatives like I did at half time. It was rubbish and nowhere near good enough.
“Second half we were probably the better team until they scored their goal. When it's an own goal, again, it just kills you, it kills the team, the players and the mentality. That's three own goals now in a short space of time, and I said to our lads, where are our crosses that are forcing them to defend that kind of space? They're not going in enough.
“We can analyse our performance , and we have to, but I just think we have to look at ourselves, we have to be real about things now and just do better.
“Potentially we will now be looking over our shoulders towards those at the bottom, but potentially we could also win three or four in a row and be near the play-offs again. There is always 'potentially' but we have to now focus on Tuesday. I expect a reaction, if we don't get a reaction then we will have to look at things again.
“Folkestone will have a reaction as well after losing 6-0, which is surprising as they are a good team. Last time we lost 4-0 when we went there, it is not an easy place to go, and certainly not one where you look at the beginning of the season and earmark three points. With some of the performance levels we've seen today I'd be an absolute maniac to back us to go and do anything if I'm honest.”
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 2nd February 2019
Match report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Corinthian-Casuals were overturned 3-0 by a clinical AFC Hornchurch side in a dire game for the disappointed visitors and their supporters.
Most likely the coldest conditions teams in the Bostik Premier have had to play under so far this season, temperatures dropped to only a few degrees above freezing. The 225 spectators in Hornchurch Stadium wrapped up in as many layers as possible and were staying inside until the players finally emerged from their dressing rooms in order to retain some sort of heat. As the pink and brown of Casuals walked out side-by-side with the red of Hornchurch, three vital points were on offer for whoever desired it the most.
Trying to adjust to the bizarre ground where a running track distanced supporters from players by a good few metres, the Corinth contingent were in fine voice and their support nearly were able to celebrate when a messy free-kick from Ekim was touched on by Odunaike, but his effort was blocked. Possession was exchanged between the two teams for most of the half; the Urchins seemed to be more threatening when pacing at the Casuals defence. Conceding a soft free-kick on the 20 yard mark on the stroke of half-time, Corinth would rue letting George Saunders take the set-piece as he directed a brilliant effort into the top right corner. Bracken was unable to keep it out and Hornchurch were 1-0 up.
After the break, James Bracken’s team-talk would hopefully inject some energy and confidence into a shaky start for the away side. A shot from Mu Maan flew over the bar and a flurry of half-chances eased the worried Casuals fans. Majed Osman’s introduction at half-time was certainly positive but his creativity was targeted and subtly cancelled out by a strong defensive performance from the hosts.
In a rare burst on the right, Hornchurch managed to get a second goal, but not from their own player. Reece Hannigan was the unfortunate one to connect to a Saunders cross and it beat Bracken to make the last 20 minutes very uncomfortable for Casuals. Substitute Josh Uzun floated a perfectly weighted corner into the box that was not in Chafer’s grasp but not far away from Hannigan’s head. Classic pinball in the box, the ball fell for Mu Maan who smacked it into the hands of the Urchins no.1 before it was hastily disposed of. Jordan Clarke and Hannigan had other chances for the Casuals and it was unlucky they didn’t have at least one name on the goal-sheet.
Maybe it was the yearning to score that had left Casuals vulnerable to counter-attacks as Purcell finished a delightful move from Hornchurch and made it 3-0. It was more shock than shame as the Urchins only had a few chances in the whole game but managed to dispatch them all. Even if the board was raised with 90 more minutes, Casuals would not have been able to get three points from Hornchurch as it just didn’t seem to be their day in-front of goal and it was a 3-0 result at full-time.
James Bracken and his pink and brown army look to improve on the past two losses, but thank you to AFC Hornchurch and good luck for the rest of the season. Staying in 14th, Corinthians face the long trip to Folkestone on Tuesday night before Lewes travel down to King George’s next Saturday.
We were lethargic, slow, laborious on the ball and didn't have enough fight," said Manager James Bracken after the match. "I could go on and reel off a million negatives like I did at half time. It was rubbish and nowhere near good enough.
“Second half we were probably the better team until they scored their goal. When it's an own goal, again, it just kills you, it kills the team, the players and the mentality. That's three own goals now in a short space of time, and I said to our lads, where are our crosses that are forcing them to defend that kind of space? They're not going in enough.
“We can analyse our performance , and we have to, but I just think we have to look at ourselves, we have to be real about things now and just do better.
“Potentially we will now be looking over our shoulders towards those at the bottom, but potentially we could also win three or four in a row and be near the play-offs again. There is always 'potentially' but we have to now focus on Tuesday. I expect a reaction, if we don't get a reaction then we will have to look at things again.
“Folkestone will have a reaction as well after losing 6-0, which is surprising as they are a good team. Last time we lost 4-0 when we went there, it is not an easy place to go, and certainly not one where you look at the beginning of the season and earmark three points. With some of the performance levels we've seen today I'd be an absolute maniac to back us to go and do anything if I'm honest.”
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