Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 2 South Park
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 27th February 2016
Attendance: 156
Match report: Cameron Smith. Photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)

​Corinthian-Casuals were dealt an enormous blow to their chances of a play-off spot with a narrow 2-1 defeat to South Park on a crisp afternoon at the King George’s Arena.

Positional changes were the subject of most conversation around Tolworth as established attacker Juevan Spencer was drafted into right-back while Matt Reece and James Cottee were given starts. After a week’s rest since their fantastic away victory at Herne Bay, Casuals were looking to edge ahead of potential play-off rivals in the table with a win today against South Park, who had conceded eight goals in their last two fixtures.

A scrappy affair from the start, the visitors carved out more chances than the hosts in the first 45 as centre-backs Murray and Dudley were always on the back-foot, struggling to catch-up with the pace of the lively Kofi Quartey.

Casuals did have a few opportunities as a thunderbolt from Niall Wright whistled a few inches over the bar. Just as the first half was destined to end goal-less, a defence-splitting ball was perfectly weighted for the oncoming Quartey, who slotted the ball into the far left corner with ease.

Reverting to his natural right-wing position for the second half, Spencer was replaced by Wright at full back.Manager Bracken hoped to tire the legs of the Sparks by using Spencer’s lightning speed. However, attention was required when Dylan Merchant met a corner with a tricky header which blasted off the post before the linesman raised his flag for offside. Casuals could breathe again but they lost concentration at another corner and let Merchant have a second chance. The centre-back lost his marker and doubled South Park’s lead with a bullet header.

Casuals looked dejected as they limped to re-start play but did not give up. A Spencer cross fell to Reece at the back-post and the forward tested goalkeeper James Wastell for the first time of the afternoon. It had promise to be the start of a comeback. Quartey had different ideas as the striker was unleashed only to hit the post. In the 66th minute, Casuals’ Shaun Okojie emphatically thumped the ball into the top corner from 12 yards. Good fortune was involved as Cottee’s blocked effort found Okojie before the striker netted his seventh of the season. The goal had given Casuals hope but it soon diminished as the home side failed to create chances late on. Substitutes Emmanuel Akokhia, Sekou Kaba and Cherno Mendy could not conjure an equaliser and it ended in a 1-2 loss.

Manager James Bracken spoke to Stuart Tree after the match:
 
“That was certainly not what we were looking for today. It’s back to the same old problem of being inconsistent.
 
“The goals that we’ve conceded, they’re the moments we have to look at.
 
“Our second half performance was better than the first where we’ve had a few shots and probably had the better of possession. However, we’ve conceded just before half time, off the back of one of our attacks where we’ve been sloppy, not taken care of it and got caught out. Then just after half time, you can’t expect to mark them at a set-piece the way we did and not concede.
 
“You can’t go two down and expect to win a game of football. It’s just too much.
 
Asked if he had a theory as to why Casuals could defeat those higher in the league but struggle against lower-ranked teams, Bracken added, “I think the games that we deem are winnable, we see the opposition turning up here motivated knowing they’ll be in a tough match. The teams at the top might still look at us as a bit of a softer touch.
 
“But I also think it’s down to us and how we approach the games. We’ve shown what we can do against higher league opposition like Leiston and Grays and just last week away at Herne Bay. We’ve had plenty of good wins this season against top sides. We’re up for it.
 
“When we play sides lower down the table, we don’t seem to be able to get ourselves to the same level. It’s about hitting a consistent level every game. It’s solely a mentality thing. The lads are young and they’ll learn.
 
When asked if injuries were a concern, Bracken answered, “At the moment, this is probably the time we’ve had the least injury worries throughout our squad in the course of the season. We had eight or nine injured every week for the first four months of the campaign but it wasn’t a problem because we put a good squad in place.
 
“Yes – we have a few injuries and you could argue that we’re missing one or two regulars but I’m more than comfortable of the sides we’re putting out but in terms of the performance and result today, obviously, we’re not happy.
 
“Of course we’re still in the playoff race. I said to the boys in the changing rooms that if we’d won today, they should take five points from the next three games. A win and a couple of draws would be good against tough opposition.
 
“Okay – we didn’t get the three points today so now we need to pick up six from the next three. If we do that, then we’re still in with a shout.
 
“I said earlier in the season that if we’re three to six points outside the playoffs with seven games to go and if we can get up for the games that maybe aren’t so big on paper, then we’ll be in with a good chance.” 

​Herne Bay 0 – 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 20th February 2016
Winch’s Field
Attendance: 172
Match report: Stuart Tree. Images: Tony Fowles (full set here)
 
Corinthian-Casuals made it three wins out of four in the Ryman League Division One South after performing a smash and grab raid of all three points at playoff rivals Herne Bay.
 
Shaun Okojie’s 80th minute winner was the only goal to separate the sides and now means James Bracken’s Casuals are just one point outside the playoff places with eleven games to go.
 
Just two weeks ago, Bracken had offered a challenge to his players; win ten of the remaining fifteen fixtures. Since then, Corinth have defeated Guernsey, Chatham Town and now Herne Bay, with a shock 1-0 defeat against Walton Casuals being the only blip.
 
The result at the weekend was also the third clean sheet in four matches which has seen the Tolworth-based side score six and concede just one in that period.
 
Bracken gave the recently returning James Cottee his first start since re-joining in an otherwise unchanged line-up to that which succumbed to defeat against Walton Casuals in the week.
 
Goalkeeper Danny Bracken, who’s been in inspired form of late was once again in the thick of the action after Sam Hasler’s 14th minute strike was well matched. Just ten minutes later, Bracken thwarted the striker once again, tipping his well hit effort over the bar.
 
Early in the second half, Hasler was once again involved in the action after his penalty shout was turned away by Referee Mr Saul Kay. Bay were furious and the game quickly descended into a scrappy affair, with five bookings between the sides.
 
Then on 80 minutes came the decisive blow; a break down the left wing resulted in a cross which was met by Okojie at the near post, beating his defender and slotting home.
 
Casuals were able to hold on for the narrow win and leaves Sam Denly wondering where his side’s next goal is coming from having fired blanks in their past five matches.
 
Corinthian-Casuals host South Park on Saturday.

Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 1 Walton Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 16th February 2016
Attendance: 118
Match report: Stuart Tree. Pics: Andy Nunn (full set here)​

Corinthian-Casuals suffered their first league loss of 2016 in a tepid display which saw Walton Casuals leave King George’s Arena with three valuable points.
 
Corinth mustered just one shot on target, coming from central defender Terry Murray in a game which will hardly go down in the annals of history as a classic.
 
James Bracken’s side came into the game on the back of two vital wins which propelled them within touching distance of the playoff places. Casuals were practically unchanged from the Saturday where they notched up an impressive 4-0 win against Chatham Town. However, top-scorer Josh Uzun was the notable absentee following his injury in the previous game.
 
Walton Casuals, who in recent times have struggled to pick up points against their hosts were languishing in 19th, just off the relegation zone. Comments made by Assistant Manager Dan Pringle were echoed by Bracken after the match that the home side were perhaps too complacent in thinking they could easily achieve a victory. Inconsistency rules in the Ryman South and no win can be taken for granted.
 
Tony Gale’s Stags started brightly and Corinth Captain Danny Bracken was forced into early action. Walton skipper Scott Day, who caused problems all night for the Corinth defence, sent in a dipping shot which looked to have caught Bracken off his line, but the keeper tipped the shot over the bar in dramatic style.
 
A Dave Hodges cross narrowly avoided an oncoming Emmanuel Akokhia, who was looking to score three games on the trot, but in truth, rarely looked like scoring. His penetrating run into the box ended with a wild shot blazed high, wide and still heading for the Industrial Estate as we speak. That was about as good as it got for the home side.
 
Despite that, the Stags had also failed to impose themselves on the game, though arguably looked better in possession. The game’s ultimate killer blow came into added on time for the first half; a whipped in corner was met by an unmarked Day, and the experienced captain made no mistake in burying his header.
 
Bouyed by leading on the stroke of half time, Walton stepped up a gear in the second half and Bracken arguably kept the home side in the game, producing a string of fine saves. Twice, the Casuals’ custodian saved from one-on-one chances and was rightly singled out by his Brother after the match as perhaps the only Casuals player that played to his potential.
 
With only a Niall Wright shot narrowly missing Brannon Daly’s goal and a tame shot from Terry Murray to report on, it’s disappointing how little Casuals tested Daly, who was struggling with an injury, picked up in a collision with Juevan Spencer midway through the second period. As the old adage says ‘Corinth could have played all night and not scored’ and never a truer word was spoken on this occasion.
 
Uncharacteristically, it was the first time Casuals had fired a blank in seventeen matches.   
 
After the match, James Bracken commented on the performance, “We started awfully slow and they started well. As I said before the game, Walton Casuals have got good players and if they perform, they’re a good side. I think they performed well and the first fifteen minutes is probably as good as they get.
 
“But we were stand-offish and we just felt that we had no real intensity. We’ve had enough lessons and should realise by now that in this league, you have to turn up and perform to your potential. We didn’t do that and ultimately, that wasn’t good enough.
 
“After looking so good going forward at the weekend, we muster one shot on target and it leaves you scratching your head. We’re not telling them to do anything different. We’ve asked them to do the same thing as we did against Chatham but for whatever reason, tonight we couldn’t do it.
 
“I’m not going to single out individuals but who played well? Probably Dan (Bracken) in goal. Beyond that, you’re struggling to find one who’s had a good game by their own standards. You can’t play that way. You can carry one or two… have eight or nine players who are on it and leave a couple to have an off-day but you cannot have the amount of ineffective players that we did today and win a game of football.
 
“We’re not out of it. We’ve won two out of the last three. If we win two of the next three, we’ll be right up in there. If we win two out of the next three after that, we’ll probably be knocking on the door. We’re not going to get to panicky. We’ll brush ourselves down.” 

Corinthian-Casuals 4 - 0 Chatham Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 13th February 2016
​Match report: Darren Pasley. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)

Casuals moved to a point of the play-off positions with their 2nd win in a week after a stirring second half display saw off Chatham Town at King Georges Arena.
 
James Bracken retained the same starting lineup that had been Guernsey in midweek although last weekend’s goalscorer Shaun Okojie returned to the squad to take a place on the bench.
 
It was credit to a small group of Casuals officials who got together at 11.30 and worked wonders to get the game on. The persistent rain saturating the pitch but an immense effort meant the match went ahead.
 
In truth as a spectacle the first half was as bad as they come. The heavy pitch seeing many passes undercut and a scrappy affair was the theme of the opening period.
 
In the 7th minute Casuals had the ball in the net but Kevant Serbony had strayed beyond the last defender and was correctly flagged offside before he knocked into the path of Emmanuel Akokhia who duly finished.
 
It wasn't until the 34th minute that Casuals produced their first worthy move of note and after the ball was knocked around Danny Dudley on the right saw his low cross gathered by Jack Bradshaw.
 
Serbony took matters into his own hands and after picking the ball up 40 yards out drive menacingly towards goal before unleashing a thunderbolt that flew just wide.
 
With most of the 135 strong crowd looking forward to their half time cuppa, Casuals took the lead 30 seconds before the break.  A clearance from the back found Josh Uzun on the left and a neat bit of skill by the touchline saw him get the better off Richard Davies for the first time and continuing into the box his low centre as cut out but the ball fell invitingly to Akokhia who side-footed home his 2nd goal of the week.
 
As is often the case the visitor’s responses immediately and after a cross from the left was hung up Khari Oriogun may have felt he could have done better than head straight at Bracken.
 
Casuals replaced Josh Uzun with Shaun Okojie at the break and within minutes had doubled their lead. 
 
Ben King brought down by Liam Hickey stepped up to take the kick himself and from 25 yards curled into the top corner despite Bradshaw getting a strong hand to his effort.
 
The early goal lifted the home side and they went dangerously close to adding a third as Warren Morgan showed great skill to send over a cross that just evades strikers and defenders alike before  King rifled just wide following great work from Okojie.
 
The young striker who scored the previous week at Chipstead was so close to notching his 2nd in as many weeks but just failed to divert Dave Hodges fizzing cross from the left.
 
The visitors who barely threatened throughout the contest made a double change and one of those Obasi seemed destined to race clear on goal after the Casuals defence presented him the opportunity but Morgan was back to clear the danger.
 
The contest was over after 72 minutes; Niall Wright's thunderous left-footed effort from 20 yards left Bradshaw with no chance and with it, was an assured three points.

​With particular joy down the right Juevan Spencer was the next to deliver and both Okojie and Akokhia had efforts with the latter nodding over inside the 6-yard box.
 
James Cottee back for his second spell at Casuals impressed coming off the bench and in the 80th minute after waltzing though several challenges saw his drive force Bradshaw into action.
 
A 4th goal was added in the second minute of stoppage time as Morgan again on the right crossed for Okojie who nodded home.
 
James Bracken commented on the performance.
 
“I’m delighted with both the performance and the attitude. There was nothing new other than we put together more passages of play and created more chances, which we took.
 
“There’s been a little shift in confidence in the last couple of games. We always know we’re hard to beat but now there’s also a belief that we can go out and put teams to the sword by scoring a few more goals than we previously have.
 
“We’ll take that into Tuesday night and hopefully pick up three points.
 
“It’s pleasing to score more than one or two goals. Like I’ve said before, we’ve got a good strike force. We’ve got players who can score goals from all over the pitch. Earlier in the season, that was happening. But it all kind of ended up on Mani’s (Emmanuel Akokhia) shoulders and the goals dried up a little.
 
“However, the players we have are of good technical ability and if they get the chances, they should be scoring.
 
“There’s still a lot of games to play. I’m back to where I was at the start of the season by saying I won’t get carried away. We’ll keep ticking them off one at a time and hopefully, come the end of the season, we’ll have put enough wins in the box to go and place ourselves in the playoffs.”
 
Goalscorer Emmanuel Akokhia also spoke on ending his goal drought after scoring two in two games.
 
“I did have a dip in the goalscoring department. I’m not entirely sure why. But I think I’ve found my feet again.
 
“I’m definitely feeling more confident. The goal against Guernsey was what I needed to kick start the goals again. I had a sense of bad luck where a few things wouldn’t go my way, such as goalkeepers making saves wherein another game, it goes in.
 
“But now I can feel the goals coming again.
 
“We’re definitely in a good position but we could’ve been higher up if we look back at games where we’ve let it slip a little but we’ve put that behind us now and we’re looking to reach the playoffs.
 
“Getting that top scorer spot is one of my personal goals and hopefully that’ll happen.”

Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 0 Guernsey
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 9th February 2016
Attendance: 142
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (match pics here)

​Emmanuel Akokhia ended his three month goal drought to give Corinthian-Casuals a 1-0 win over Guernsey in the Ryman League Division One South.
 
The win completes the double over the Islanders and puts Corinthian-Casuals back in the playoff race, gaining ground on their opponents who sit in fifth place.
 
Casuals made just one change to their starting line up with Kevant Serbony in for the absent Shaun Okojie. It’s well documented that Guernsey have slim pickings from their squad when travelling to the mainland in midweek and this was again confirmed with the Green Lions naming just two substitutes, one of which was a 16 year old debutant.
 
Corinth started the livelier of the sides and soon had the ever reliable Chris Tardif working hard in goal. Juevan Spencer forced an excellent stop from close range and Josh Uzun fired in a free kick straight into the keeper’s midriff.
 
With twelve minutes on the clock, Casuals took the lead. Niall Wright fired in a cross and Emmanuel Akokhia beat Tardif to the ball, placing it into the net, much to the delight of the home crowd. Guernsey players vehemently protested, claiming the striker had used his hand to help guide the ball home but the goal stood. Tardif was cautioned in the resulting protests.
 
Corinth almost made it two when Kevant Serbony used his quick feet to dance past the Lion’s defence along the byline and shooting from a tight angle. Glyn Dyer was on hand to block the shot off the line.
 
Guernsey always look a threat going forward and unsurprising with the 200 plus goal machine that is Ross Allen in their side. Allen charged down a ball and ends in Craig Young’s path but ended up thwarted by Danny Bracken, who seemed to relish the occasion of contesting ‘best keeper in the Ryman South’ with Tardif.
 
Corinth continued to look lively and threatened with each surge up-field. Morgan’s pace and Dave Hodges usual high standard of wing play caused problems in the flanks. From a more direct approach, Serbony’s 25 yard effort was well scooped up by Tardif down low. Casuals’ movement looked back to its best and threats came from all sources. Most unlikely was Danny Dudley who surged onto a through ball and found himself with only Tardif to beat. However, the Guernsey custodian was able to match the defender’s shot.
 
At the other end, Craig Young found space in the box and curled a beauty of a shot which narrowly passed Bracken’s left hand post.
 
Guernsey did have the ball in the back of the net. However, the linesman’s flag was raised for an infringement in the build-up. At this point, the visitors started to wonder if anything would go for them on this evening.
 
In what was an open game, chances came thick and fast at both ends with each keeper matching the other for saves.
 
Corinth looked to put the game out of sight and had the visitors on the back foot. However, as the second half progressed, the goal tally hadn’t and nervous thoughts of recent late goals conceded crossed the minds of many of the 142 in attendance. Niall Wright and Akokhia almost alleviated the pressure after the former’s exquisite turn and shot found the latter who poked in from close range but was deemed to be in an offside position. Juevan Spencer also went close from a great chance but couldn't keep the high ball down and sailed just over Tardif's crossbar.

In the dying minutes Guernsey should’ve equalised. Allen found himself through on goal and with just Bracken to beat, was matched by the Corinth Captain who made an outstanding reaction save to deny the Islanders a share of the points.

The result puts Casuals up to eighth in the league table with the playoffs in clear sight.
 
After the match, Manager James Bracken gave his thoughts.
 
“We’ve not really made a big fuss about it but we’ve lost just one league game since the 18th November. That’s nearly three months and whilst we’ve not been winning, we’ve not been losing either.
 
“We’ve become resilient and hard to beat. Yes – we’ve let in a few last goals recently and lost too many points from winning positions. But we’re still there and we’re still together and we’ll continue to go for it.
 
“We’ve moved up a few places in the table tonight. Win on Saturday and one next week and we’ll be right up in there where others will take us seriously again.
 
“The lads played fantastic tonight. We had a real purple patch midway through the first half and again at the start of the second half. The first twenty minutes after the restart, I thought we were outstanding and we did everything but kill the game off.
 
“At 1-0 it’s always a dangerous game, especially when you let late goals in as we have. You worry a bit at that point. We should’ve converted the pressure into a two goal lead. We had chances but just lacked a little bit of composure when finishing.
 
“Saying that, we’ve dug in and shown that resilience, which we do in most games but there’s been no lucky goals go against us and we’ve been able to see it out.
 
“Danny Bracken was fantastic today. I know we’re brothers and so I don’t speak about him too much. I let him get on with his job and I don’t batter him at home about it. We’re brothers and when we come here, it’s about the football and when we go home, we’re back to being brothers.
 
“He pulled off a save towards the end where we had one lapse of concentration and gifted them a chance. You’d have put your house on Ross Allen scoring there and you’re already thinking ‘it’s another late goal’ and I’m ready to go mad. But Danny did what he’s there to do and pulled off an absolute worldy of a save.
 
“He’s been playing well. It’s just understated because he’s not been under as much pressure as he has in previous seasons. He only needs to pull off one or two good saves during a game now whereas before, he’s had to pull out eight or nine great stops.
 
“He’s still the quality keeper we know he is – probably even more so than when you’re not under pressure for ninety minutes where your concentration can waver.
 
“Speaking about Emmanuel Akokhia and ending his personal goal drought, Bracken said, “As I’ve said recently, there was a lot of pressure put on Mani’s shoulders, both from within the group and probably within himself. He slightly changed his game, doing slightly different things that ultimately weren’t working. He found himself on the bench, playing on the wing… where we’ve been trying to coach him back. I’ve just seen little glimpses in the last couple of weeks… little signs that makes me think now might be the right time to put him back in and see how he does.

“He looked sharp tonight. He scored a goal, another one where he was ruled offside but he was very alert for him to get onto the end of the ball. He became another threat for us.
 
“We’ve bought James Cottee back in now and that adds to Stef (Joseph) and Shaun (Okojie) so we have plenty of attacking options and I’m pleased with what we have.”

Chipstead 1 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 6th February 2016
High Road
Attendance: 70
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)​

Corinthian-Casuals suffered a cruel last minute knock back to their playoff chances as a Danny Dudley own goal gave lowly Chipstead a much needed point in the Ryman League Division One South.
 
And Casuals’ Manager James Bracken has issued a challenge to his players; win ten more games this season.
​
“Today is a slip-up but looking at the games we’ve got remaining, we’ve beaten eight of those teams already,” said Bracken.
 
“We have to play Walton Casuals twice, which I look at as our games in hand. If we can pick up ten wins between now and the end of the season, which is achievable, then we won’t be far away. It’ll be tough but we’ll keep going and the boys are motivated. We know we’re going for it and we’ll continue to do so.”
 
In truth, the league table does lie and Chipstead are now a far better side than the one that lay rock-bottom when Corinth defeated them earlier in the season. Since then, Ex-Tooting boss Craig Tanner stepped in and has transformed the team, which bears an uncanny resemblance to the Terror’s side he managed last term. With the likes of Dan Summers, Billy Marshall, Harry Knock and Sol Pinnock amongst others now in the Chips side, it’s no surprise they went into the game unbeaten in three.
 
Casuals made one enforced change with Ben King replacing the suspended Brandon Johnson and Kevant Serbony dropped to the bench with Emmanuel Akokhia taking the 7 shirt.
 
This game could hardly be described as one for the purists; the wind was so strong, players found it hard to keep the ball still on set pieces. With this in mind, play was erratic, passes were errant and play struggled to flow. With the wind behind Casuals for the first half, they created the better chances. Terry Murray saw his header crash against the post from a corner ball (pictured below). Minutes later, Akokhia forced a fine save from Alex Kozakis.
 
On the half hour mark, Casuals struck; Juevan Spencer, ever adept on the ball made a penetrating run into the box and his shot was parried out to Niall Wright only to be denied by a resolute defence. However, the resulting rebound fell to Shaun Okojie who made no mistake in firing home from ten yards.
 
The second half was more painful for the visitors who struggled to get the ball out of their own half. Chipstead forced a number of excellent saves from Danny Bracken. Any attempt at getting the ball forward was met with strong resistance from the weather and Chipstead’s assisted clearances made light work of the length of the pitch.
 
However, Casuals remained steadfast and looked to break on the counter. Shaun Okojie and sub Stef Joseph having a couple of half chances, giving welcome respite to the visitor’s defence.
 
However, into stoppage time, a hopeful lofted ball was launched by Chipstead into Casuals’ box. The wind-assisted kick was misjudged by Danny Dudley and his header rocketed past Bracken in goal. It was a cruel end to what had been a class defensive performance in testing conditions.
 
After the match, James Bracken spoke to Stuart Tree.
 
“As I said in the week, it’s another bitter pill to swallow conceding that late.
 
“As a spectacle, the game has been ruined by the wind and that’s been the story of too many games this season. Obviously, that’s not our fault and we have to go out there and do what we can. It’s hard for both teams.
 
“I said to the lads afterwards that we could’ve lost that. But listen to my words very carefully; they were immense today. In those conditions, to get our nose in front and then defend the way we have, there was a lot of effort that’s been put in. Sometimes, when you put that much in and get a knock-back at the end, emotionally it can be tough.
 
“As it was in the week, there are no negative feelings nor am I going to apportion blame on anyone because they’ve done everything I’ve asked of them to do.
 
“Letting in a goal like that with the wind pulling it in towards the goal was cruel. On another day, you clear that. It wasn’t a great ball but the wind has taken it and made it difficult to deal with. Those are the small margins you work with.
 
“There have been so many instances of these incidents in games throughout the season. Realistically, we could’ve had another fifteen points from games where I feel we’ve done enough to get more out of.
 
“You can say it’s a tough learning curve for a young side. But I don’t care if you’re 19, 20, 21 or your side is full of 30 year olds, a lot of these things cannot be helped. So it’s not down to a lack of experience, it’s simply down to bad luck… and I don’t like using that word – but it is!
 
“At the start of the season, for us to get into the playoffs would’ve been one of the biggest achievements in non-league football in decades. From the position we’re in now, it will be the biggest achievement. But we’ll still go for it. We’ve got the fixtures up on our board and each game, we list our previous result against that side. To them, I say ‘can you match it or better it?’
 
“Today is a slip-up but looking at the games we’ve got remaining, we’ve beaten eight of those teams already. We have to play Walton Casuals twice, which I look at as our games in hand. If we can pick up ten wins between now and the end of the season, which is achievable, then we won’t be far away. It’ll be tough but we’ll keep going and the boys are motivated. We know we’re going for it and we’ll continue to do so.”

Hastings United 3 - 3 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 2nd February 2016
The Pilot Field
Attendance: 249
Match photos here.

Corinthian-Casuals left Hasting’s Pilot Field feeling aggrieved they weren’t walking away with three points after leading twice, only to be pegged back on each occasion.
 
In a feisty affair, both sides shared six goals and two penalties to each take a vital point, yet not concede any to their opponents as both clubs strive for the playoffs.
 
The game was marred by the sudden illness of referee John Pike who had to be treated by Paramedics. A delay of nearly half an hour saw the resumption of the game with Ryman League Chairman, Nick Robinson taking the far line as Assistant Referee to ensure the completion of the tie.
 
Corinth’s preparations for the match were hampered after a road closure left the M25 gridlocked. Arriving just half an hour before the allotted kick-off time, Casuals had little time to warm up on the fresh winter’s evening.
 
The first half played out without much drama and was frankly a bit of a stalemate. Hastings had a good measure of possession but were unable to break down a resolute Casuals defence. Juevan Spencer had the best chance of the half for the visitors when his 25 yard effort whistled inches past the upright.
 
The second half was in complete contrast to the first. Both sides ramped up their aggression and awoke the 250-odd in attendance. Just three minutes after the re-start, Niall Wright broke the deadlock – his low drive from the edge of the penalty box skidding under Harry Girling in goal and finding the bottom corner.
 
Casuals doubled their lead on 54 minutes when Sam Cole was adjudged to have fouled Warren Morgan in the box. Ever reliable Josh Uzun stepped up and hit home from 12 yards for his fifteenth goal of the season.
 
Hastings pulled one back just four minutes later when the Casuals’ defence parted like the Red Sea and let Zac Attwood latched onto a Sean Ray header and calmly slotted under Danny Bracken in goal.
 
Parity was restored in the 76th minute when a cross was handled by Terry Murray and forced the official to point to the spot. Sam Cole fired into the bottom corner without trouble.
 
However, the game took an unpleasant turn when Referee John Pike looked to be in serious trouble with his health. In what was a feisty affair, matters turned to more important things than football and both sides looked concerned for the wellbeing of Mr Pike. The emergency services were on hand in quick time to aid the stricken official and after a delay of 25 minutes, play was to resume. Ryman League Chairman, Nick Robinson, who was in attendance on behalf of the league, donned suitable attire to run the far side line.
 
The drama was to continue; Juevan Spencer, who’d been relatively quiet all game, cut in down the left and squared his pass to Brandon Johnson who squeezed his shot inside the post, much to the jubilation of himself and his teammates.
 
The celebrations were cut short just three minutes later when Girling sent a long free kick into the area and with the ball cleared only to defender Simon Johnson, he duly cracked a stunning effort into the top corner to bring alive the home crowd and take a share of the points.
 
The result leaves Casuals in 12th position, eight points off the playoffs but with two games in hand on most of their rivals.
 
From all at Corinthian-Casuals, we wish John Pike a full and speedy recovery. Get well soon!

After the match, Manager James Bracken had these words.
 
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow. Yet again, it’s another game that we’ve come away from saying that we should’ve got more from.
 
“That’s been the story of our season. We’ve had good spells, good wins, good performances but too many games, we’ve come away from where we’re saying ‘how have we not won that?’
 
“I can’t knock the boys though. Again, they’ve put in everything tonight. After the stoppage, we’ve done what we’ve always done; we’ve been positive. We’ve gone for it, changed the shape, put more up front and tried to win the game away from home against probably the second biggest budget in the league at a guess.
 
“Hastings have decent players and they don’t play for free. We’ve come here tonight and given them a right run for their money and they’re delighted to get away with a draw against my team who haven’t even had a pre-game warm-up. But we just got on with it.
 
“I said before Christmas, when the pitches have been as bad as they have and the ten or so games in the windiest conditions you’ll ever play in, it makes games a lottery. When you come across a team with sluggers that just compete, it becomes an even game.
 
“When the pitches firm up, like it was today and at the start of the season when we were top, it will favour us.
 
“It’s just about keeping in the mix – which is hard now – right down to thirteenth place, everyone’s still fighting for it. Every week, half of those sides will pick up wins, so we need to make sure we are in that half more often than not. Then come the last ten games of the season, if we’re three to six points outside the playoffs, we’ll have a right good crack at it. It’s definitely achievable.
 
“With the club we are and the way things are, if we can hit the playoffs then the lads deserve all the credit in the world.
 
“We played Niall Wright and Brandon Johnson as two holders today and they’ve both hit the edge of the box at different times and they’ve scored two very good goals. I’m delighted with them. I’ve spoken to the lads recently about not scoring enough goals.
 
“For boys like Mani (Akokhia) who’s 21 years old, it can be a lot of pressure on a young man’s shoulders. Playing at this level as a 21 year old would usually involve them being a substitute forward who chips in goals coming off the bench, does bits and pieces and learns the game. With Mani, we threw him in from the beginning, where he had a blistering start and then there’s been pressure on his shoulders since.
 
“We’ve managed to relieve that a little bit recently with Shaun Okojie and Stef Joseph getting game time. They’ve both led the line well. I’m delighted with all three players and have no problems with our strike force but if the midfielders and wingers can start chipping in again along with the defenders coming up for set pieces then scoring won’t be a problem.
 
“We’ve scored three away from home tonight at a hard place to come. Guernsey came here a couple of weeks ago and lost 2-0. Tonight, we’ve bagged three goals but it’s just unfortunate when the geezer hits a shot like that at the end which goes right in the top corner right at the end.
 
“I hope the referee is okay and makes a full recovery. He got the big decisions right in the game. There was a bit of a mix up when he’s been taken off and the assistant has taken over during an incident which I believe should’ve resulted in a red card, but it hasn’t. But that’s football and we won’t dwell on that as we now concentrate on Saturday.”