GUERNSEY 2 CORINTHIAN-CASUALS 1
RYMAN DIVISION ONE SOUTH
Sat 28th December 2013
by David Harrison
Pics by Stuart Tree
An 05:45 call at Tolworth for the coach journey to Gatwick was an early test for Casuals' players and officials as the party of 27 set off for the club's first Ryman South visit to Guernsey. After the hour long flight to Guernsey then another coach ride Casuals found themselves taking a leisurely breakfast at a stylish hotel close to the hosts' Footes Lane ground; then having a long warm up and chance to a get used to the wet and windy conditions before the 1pm kick-off - all the more important because Casuals' two previous games, against Worthing before Christmas and Tooting and Mitcham on Boxing Day, had both fallen prey to the weather.
With regulars Midi Nsubuga and Glen Boosey unavailable manager Kim Harris brought in Daryl Coleman, a recent recruit from Lingfield, to midfield and burly newcomer Gareth Witter up front with Jamie Byatt. Behind them was the trusty backline of Tom Williams, Danny Dudley, Joe Hicks and Dave Hodges.
Casuals were quickly under pressure as the hosts showed why they're pushing for promotion in their first season in the Ryman League. With the wind behind them they soon had Danny Bracken's goal under siege. Striker Ross Allen fired wide after three minutes then on the quarter hour Dave Rihoy forced his way through in the right to give the Guernsey the lead and the 970+ home crowd the chance to break into song, led by the fans' own trumpeter. Moments later, with Bracken beaten, Danny Dudley saved on the line, cutting short another fanfare.
At the other end Casuals, with little width and usually only two in attack, were making scant progress, tho' full backs Williams and Hodges were starting to make sorties on the flanks. From one, after a header down by Witter, Hodges had Casuals' first shot on goal. Then on 35 minutes came a real chance. Witter gave Ellis Wilson-Joseph an opening but the winger scuffed his shot wide and the moment was gone.
At half time Joel Thompson took Witter's place and the visitors began to have much more of the play with Green and Jason Turley prompting from midfield. Hodges, from the left gave Byatt a sight of goal but home keeper Tardif pushed the instant shot over the bar. Wilson-Joseph, through on the right, delayed his shot, allowing the keeper to charge it down. Soon after, Juevan Spencer took the winger's place and Ross Defoe came on for Williams. At the other end home forward McGrath had a clear run on goal but Bracken came out brilliantly to block the shot. A moment later, there was a near repeat performance by Guernsey's Ross Allen, but this time Bracken was adjudged to have pulled the forward down. From the spot Allen gave the team trumpeter his cue and Guernsey led 2 - 0 with 15 minutes to go.
Casuals, to their credit, kept going to the end and were given a consolation when home defender Jamie Dodd was first to a Hodges cross only to head into his own net. But that's how it stayed with the visitors frustrated that yet again that they'd been unable to turn territorial advantage in the second half into goals. Lack of football over the holiday period had probably played its part.
At the end it was good to see the players pay tribute to the trio of supporters - Roger Stringer, Neil Collins and Barry - who made the long journey to Guernsey at considerable expense... and were still cheering at the end.
So to the long journey home - coach, plane, coach again, with time to reflect on the generosity of our hosts, Guernsey FC, on their impressively organised club, and on what's needed to put Corinthian-Casuals on the winning path again. And on the pleasure that Brian Adamson’s youthful grandson Kieran brought to all the party, when he ran out onto the Guernsey pitch as the team's mascot in chocolate and pink. Thanks also to Richard Benest, long time player and member, who travelled from Jersey to join the party.
Team: D.Bracken; T. Williams (R. Defoe 65') D.Hodges, D.Dudley, J. Hicks; J.Turley (C), D.Coleman, D.Green; J.Byatt, G.Witter (J.Thompson HT), E.Wilson-Joseph (J.Spencer 65')
Subs not used: B.Bowra, J.Wadmore
For all the pictures from the day, take a look at Stuart Tree's photos here.
RYMAN DIVISION ONE SOUTH
Sat 28th December 2013
by David Harrison
Pics by Stuart Tree
An 05:45 call at Tolworth for the coach journey to Gatwick was an early test for Casuals' players and officials as the party of 27 set off for the club's first Ryman South visit to Guernsey. After the hour long flight to Guernsey then another coach ride Casuals found themselves taking a leisurely breakfast at a stylish hotel close to the hosts' Footes Lane ground; then having a long warm up and chance to a get used to the wet and windy conditions before the 1pm kick-off - all the more important because Casuals' two previous games, against Worthing before Christmas and Tooting and Mitcham on Boxing Day, had both fallen prey to the weather.
With regulars Midi Nsubuga and Glen Boosey unavailable manager Kim Harris brought in Daryl Coleman, a recent recruit from Lingfield, to midfield and burly newcomer Gareth Witter up front with Jamie Byatt. Behind them was the trusty backline of Tom Williams, Danny Dudley, Joe Hicks and Dave Hodges.
Casuals were quickly under pressure as the hosts showed why they're pushing for promotion in their first season in the Ryman League. With the wind behind them they soon had Danny Bracken's goal under siege. Striker Ross Allen fired wide after three minutes then on the quarter hour Dave Rihoy forced his way through in the right to give the Guernsey the lead and the 970+ home crowd the chance to break into song, led by the fans' own trumpeter. Moments later, with Bracken beaten, Danny Dudley saved on the line, cutting short another fanfare.
At the other end Casuals, with little width and usually only two in attack, were making scant progress, tho' full backs Williams and Hodges were starting to make sorties on the flanks. From one, after a header down by Witter, Hodges had Casuals' first shot on goal. Then on 35 minutes came a real chance. Witter gave Ellis Wilson-Joseph an opening but the winger scuffed his shot wide and the moment was gone.
At half time Joel Thompson took Witter's place and the visitors began to have much more of the play with Green and Jason Turley prompting from midfield. Hodges, from the left gave Byatt a sight of goal but home keeper Tardif pushed the instant shot over the bar. Wilson-Joseph, through on the right, delayed his shot, allowing the keeper to charge it down. Soon after, Juevan Spencer took the winger's place and Ross Defoe came on for Williams. At the other end home forward McGrath had a clear run on goal but Bracken came out brilliantly to block the shot. A moment later, there was a near repeat performance by Guernsey's Ross Allen, but this time Bracken was adjudged to have pulled the forward down. From the spot Allen gave the team trumpeter his cue and Guernsey led 2 - 0 with 15 minutes to go.
Casuals, to their credit, kept going to the end and were given a consolation when home defender Jamie Dodd was first to a Hodges cross only to head into his own net. But that's how it stayed with the visitors frustrated that yet again that they'd been unable to turn territorial advantage in the second half into goals. Lack of football over the holiday period had probably played its part.
At the end it was good to see the players pay tribute to the trio of supporters - Roger Stringer, Neil Collins and Barry - who made the long journey to Guernsey at considerable expense... and were still cheering at the end.
So to the long journey home - coach, plane, coach again, with time to reflect on the generosity of our hosts, Guernsey FC, on their impressively organised club, and on what's needed to put Corinthian-Casuals on the winning path again. And on the pleasure that Brian Adamson’s youthful grandson Kieran brought to all the party, when he ran out onto the Guernsey pitch as the team's mascot in chocolate and pink. Thanks also to Richard Benest, long time player and member, who travelled from Jersey to join the party.
Team: D.Bracken; T. Williams (R. Defoe 65') D.Hodges, D.Dudley, J. Hicks; J.Turley (C), D.Coleman, D.Green; J.Byatt, G.Witter (J.Thompson HT), E.Wilson-Joseph (J.Spencer 65')
Subs not used: B.Bowra, J.Wadmore
For all the pictures from the day, take a look at Stuart Tree's photos here.
