CASUALS RECORD STUNNING VICTORY
By Rob Cavallini
Monday November 8th, 2008 KO: 3:00pm [League]
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Chipstead |
Corinthian-Casuals |
Casuals recorded a stunning victory over the F.A. Cup fighters who only recently lost 1-4 to Torquay United in the 4th Qualifying Round. Casuals though dominated the proceedings and as a consequence of this win move to the dizzy heights of fifth from bottom.
Casuals began the game like a train and looked capable of scoring right from the start. On five minutes Byron Brown curled a free kick narrowly past the far post from the edge of the box. Three minutes later Ryan Hughes fired past the post and two minutes after that Brown saw his shot pushed away by Joe Gant, although it was weakly struck.
Chipstead were all at sea and Paul Hunt's cross almost dropped into the net, before on 15 minutes Brown's cross from the left wing dropped in at the far post to give Casuals the lead. Casuals had more chances before extending their lead on 23 minutes when Tom Jelley's cross was met by a weak defensive header and Joe Nwoko was on hand to volley the Old Boys into two goal lead.
Moments later Chipstead scrambled a goal back through Nathan Campbell and the game settled down into an even contest. As the half closed Casuals livened up again and Brown beat a Chipstead defender on the left wing, before pulling the ball back for Hunt, whose shot was save by Gant. In the last minute of the half Nwoko cut in, but fired wide with only the keeper to beat.
Casuals pressurised Chipstead for much of the second half, although it took a while for the chances to start flowing again. Brown had the best effort of the first ten minutes of the second half, but he shot wide.
On 61 minutes Nwoko set up Hunt who made no mistake in slamming the ball past Gant for Casuals third goal. Casuals were the only team likely to score at this point, although Chipstead did create a couple of half chances to keep the Old Boys on their toes.
With 15 minutes Joe McNerney was put in on goal, but with a defender hot on his heels he fired over although, it did look like the defender may have deflected for a corner, but the referee said no. Two minutes later Chipstead's Liam Oxley struck a 30 yard effort towards the top corner, but Harris was alert enough to make a fantastic save to push it away.
Casuals reasserted themselves and Hughes set up McNerney, but he could not find the finishing touch, before in injury time Nwoko was put through on goal and he coolly beat Gant to confirm an emphatic victory.
Entertainment: ****½
Star Man:
Team
| PLAYER | GOALS | OG's | C,S/O | S |
| Colin Harris |  |
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| Tom Jelley | |
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| Dale Hennessey | |
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| James Reive | |
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| Chris Horwood© | |
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| Ryan Hughes | |
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| Matt Smith |  |
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| Steve Omonua | |
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| Joe Nwoko |  |
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| Paul Hunt | |
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| Byron Brown | |
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| SUBS | P | |||
| Tyrone Myton | |
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| Joe Funicello | |
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| Sam Robinson | |
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| Joe McNerney | |
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| Daniel Sintim | |
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Attendance: |
95 |