Cray Valley PM 4 - 3 Corinthian-Casuals
London Senior Cup First Round
Saturday 5th December 2020
Att: 133
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (set of pics here)
Entertainment has been synonymous with Corinthian-Casuals this season and once again, it wasn’t in short supply as they shared a seven-goal thriller at Cray Valley Paper Mills in the London Senior Cup on Saturday.
Sadly, football has been in short supply of recent and this marked Corinth’s first match in over a month due to lockdown restrictions placed on the sport. Of course, Cray have been in a similar situation and this hastily re-arranged fixture – unusual these days for the County Cup, gave both sides an opportunity to get some much needed minutes in. It was especially needed for James Bracken’s side who face an important FA Trophy Casual derby against the Walton variety on Tuesday evening.
Though hampered with a number of injuries to some of his regular starters, Bracken was still able to name a competitive side against a very good Cray Valley who’d only exited the FA Cup at the first round stage just one month ago… they’re divisional gap proving not to be of any significance.
In fact, it was the Millers who looked the better side to begin with, despite Robert Paratore missing a golden opportunity to give Corinth the lead. Sam Hasler’s free kick found Matt Warren at the far post who turned in an easy conversion, leading to arms held wide in confusion from the too Casual defence.
The visitors grew into the half, though squandered a number of chances, including a Keiron Cadogan missed penalty. The former Palace hitman struck the post after he was taken out in the box. He was able to make amends when Jerson Dos Santos was also up-ended, though appeared to have actually been fouled outside of the penalty area.
Dos Santos got in on the act shortly afterwards, converting a sublime Hakeem Adelakun cross whipped in from the left, served up on a plate.
But on the stroke of half time, Hasler levelled up the scores with a pearler of a 25 yard free kick.
The second half belonged to the home side despite Casuals taking the lead once more. Cadogan wasn’t to be outdone in the free kick stakes and fired one home from equal distance to the delight of the strong Casual contingent behind the goal.
Understandably, fatigue set in with so few minutes under their belts and with one eye on Tuesday, perhaps looked to conserve some energy by sitting deep and playing on the counter. It had worked up until the 83rd minute when Ade Yusuff poked the ball into the net in what looked a sure offside position. The reaction of a whole team often tells you if the officials got it wrong and the general consensus was that they had. Still, no VAR in the London Senior Cup, unsurprisingly and thus the score stood. Penalties loomed once again for the Casuals in cup competition.
That was until Hassan Ibrahiym found space in the box and hit low across Danny Bracken to give the hosts the late, late victory – in the 96th minute no less. Casuals were amazed at where the official had found the added time but alas, the whistle went without the right to reply and Cray Valley were the victors, progressing in the competition facing either Harrow Borough or Glebe away in the next round.
Result aside, it was a refreshing return to football, played under competitive terms of which was very much needed – certainly for the Amateurs. It’s hoped that this will bear fruit come Tuesday night.
That was a good, tough game played at a high tempo," said James Bracken after the match.
"I wasn’t quite sure how we’d turn up and play today. In the first ten minutes, I feared the worst. But after that, we sparked into life, created some great chances, missed a penalty, scored one and put ourselves ahead with a great header.
"Disappointing to concede from a free kick right on half time but I thought we had looked sharp and relatively dangerous. Sadly, we’d lost a couple of centre-halves in the midweek session that we had and so a couple of others have stepped in and did okay considering. We let in four, so we cant give it too much praise but their third is a ridiculous goal to be given. The winner is scored because we’re pushing on, leaving ourselves open.
"As a game, I’m pleased to have got through it without injury. Last week, we lost the two centre-backs and Ben Cheklit to injury. I had feared it would be more but thankfully we’ve come through it with a clean bill of health. We won’t be too downbeat about the result either. Come Tuesday night, we’ll be much better for this."
London Senior Cup First Round
Saturday 5th December 2020
Att: 133
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (set of pics here)
Entertainment has been synonymous with Corinthian-Casuals this season and once again, it wasn’t in short supply as they shared a seven-goal thriller at Cray Valley Paper Mills in the London Senior Cup on Saturday.
Sadly, football has been in short supply of recent and this marked Corinth’s first match in over a month due to lockdown restrictions placed on the sport. Of course, Cray have been in a similar situation and this hastily re-arranged fixture – unusual these days for the County Cup, gave both sides an opportunity to get some much needed minutes in. It was especially needed for James Bracken’s side who face an important FA Trophy Casual derby against the Walton variety on Tuesday evening.
Though hampered with a number of injuries to some of his regular starters, Bracken was still able to name a competitive side against a very good Cray Valley who’d only exited the FA Cup at the first round stage just one month ago… they’re divisional gap proving not to be of any significance.
In fact, it was the Millers who looked the better side to begin with, despite Robert Paratore missing a golden opportunity to give Corinth the lead. Sam Hasler’s free kick found Matt Warren at the far post who turned in an easy conversion, leading to arms held wide in confusion from the too Casual defence.
The visitors grew into the half, though squandered a number of chances, including a Keiron Cadogan missed penalty. The former Palace hitman struck the post after he was taken out in the box. He was able to make amends when Jerson Dos Santos was also up-ended, though appeared to have actually been fouled outside of the penalty area.
Dos Santos got in on the act shortly afterwards, converting a sublime Hakeem Adelakun cross whipped in from the left, served up on a plate.
But on the stroke of half time, Hasler levelled up the scores with a pearler of a 25 yard free kick.
The second half belonged to the home side despite Casuals taking the lead once more. Cadogan wasn’t to be outdone in the free kick stakes and fired one home from equal distance to the delight of the strong Casual contingent behind the goal.
Understandably, fatigue set in with so few minutes under their belts and with one eye on Tuesday, perhaps looked to conserve some energy by sitting deep and playing on the counter. It had worked up until the 83rd minute when Ade Yusuff poked the ball into the net in what looked a sure offside position. The reaction of a whole team often tells you if the officials got it wrong and the general consensus was that they had. Still, no VAR in the London Senior Cup, unsurprisingly and thus the score stood. Penalties loomed once again for the Casuals in cup competition.
That was until Hassan Ibrahiym found space in the box and hit low across Danny Bracken to give the hosts the late, late victory – in the 96th minute no less. Casuals were amazed at where the official had found the added time but alas, the whistle went without the right to reply and Cray Valley were the victors, progressing in the competition facing either Harrow Borough or Glebe away in the next round.
Result aside, it was a refreshing return to football, played under competitive terms of which was very much needed – certainly for the Amateurs. It’s hoped that this will bear fruit come Tuesday night.
That was a good, tough game played at a high tempo," said James Bracken after the match.
"I wasn’t quite sure how we’d turn up and play today. In the first ten minutes, I feared the worst. But after that, we sparked into life, created some great chances, missed a penalty, scored one and put ourselves ahead with a great header.
"Disappointing to concede from a free kick right on half time but I thought we had looked sharp and relatively dangerous. Sadly, we’d lost a couple of centre-halves in the midweek session that we had and so a couple of others have stepped in and did okay considering. We let in four, so we cant give it too much praise but their third is a ridiculous goal to be given. The winner is scored because we’re pushing on, leaving ourselves open.
"As a game, I’m pleased to have got through it without injury. Last week, we lost the two centre-backs and Ben Cheklit to injury. I had feared it would be more but thankfully we’ve come through it with a clean bill of health. We won’t be too downbeat about the result either. Come Tuesday night, we’ll be much better for this."
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