Kingstonian 3 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Wednesday 26th February 2020

Two injury-time goals for hosts Kingstonian cruelly condemned Corinthian-Casuals to defeat on Wednesday evening in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Casuals had led in the first half but were pegged back before the break. With the game entering stoppage time and the scores still level, referee James Simpson awarded a hotly contested penalty to Kingstonian, turning the game on its head. A third was added with Casuals urgently pushing for an equaliser.

Captain Danny Bracken made an enforced return between the sticks despite suffering from illness which kept him out against Potters Bar at the weekend. However, with Ibby Ugradar also injured, there was no alternative backup. Nat Pinney and Gabriel Odunaike were preferred to Ollie Sitch and Kev Serbony, with Matt Parsons making his full debut.

If ever there was a game of two halves, this would’ve been it. Casuals should’ve been out of sight in the first 45 minutes. Odunaike raced through only for Rob Tolfrey to make a smart stop. Ben Cheklit also tested the reflexes of the K’s veteran before Pinney found the net, only for the Assistant to raise his flag for offside.

But the pressure told just after the half hour mark; Brad Wilson flashed a shot across Tolfrey who could only parry it out to Cheklit who had no hesitation in burying it from close range.

Casuals looked to turn the screw and once again, Pinney broke the K’s back line and found the target, with a similar result – offside, though this one was close!

Kingstonian dusted themselves down and began to assert themselves. New recruit Eddie Dsane shot low past Bracken from 18 yards to restore parity between the two sides.

Casuals started the second half brightly with Cheklit once again hitting the target but the referee’s whistle pulling back play with a foul in the build-up. Then a pivotal turning point. Matty Bakare steamed through the K’s midfield and bearing down on goal, was upended on the edge of the box with a goalscoring opportunity denied… yellow card. Sadly, that was the end of Bakare’s participation for the evening, having been injured in the challenge. His presence in the middle would be missed.

Corinth sat deeper, looking to contain K’s. Whilst pressured, it appeared to be effective, with little to threaten Bracken in goal. But in stoppage time, despite the ball being won clean, the referee deemed the tackle to be stern enough to award a penalty. Tom Kavanagh smashed the resulting kick down the middle leaving Bracken no chance.

There was time for K’s to add a third with Casuals pushing up the pitch. Coskun Ekim was caught in possession at the back and Dan Bennett had the simple task to race free and lift the ball over Bracken to make it 3-1. Casuals hit the post late on, with the ball running along the goal-line, but it would’ve been pure consolation with the full-time whistle blowing after.

A fine first half performance from the Amateurs wasn’t matched in the second which allowed the home side more possession and more territory. It’ll feel like at least a point dropped but had Casuals taken their chances in the first half, it could’ve easily been three.

“Hayden [Bird] said to me after the match that we deserved to win, as did half of their players, so maybe we believe them,” said James Bracken after the match.

“We had chances in the first half. We had the ball in the net three times. One was offside but the other was so tight, I’d like to see it again.

“But we played well. First half, we set about things differently. We changed our shape and decided to have an open game of football. Because if you put them under a bit of pressure, they don’t like it. That first 45 minutes, we didn’t allow them any period of control.

“Second half, we dug in, worked hard. We didn’t have as much of the ball as we’d have liked. There were moments but we probably weren’t good enough after the break. It’s disappointing, because we were relatively comfortable. You don’t always have to have possession to be in control of a game. For all their possession and play around the box, they never looked like they’d score.

“The penalty is a good tackle and he won the ball. So, we’re disappointed that we haven’t got more. Anyone would’ve seen that there isn’t a gulf between the teams that some may expect, with us the amateur club we are. Anyone watching will see we’re nobody’s mugs. We’re a decent side and when we apply ourselves, we’re more than a match for anyone in this division. Unfortunately, with the last few minutes, the referee’s decisions have gone against us. It’s not unusual; It’s the same old story.

“We said before the game, even if we won a point, and then win against Stortford on Saturday, we could’ve feasibly gone above Lewes in 17th. All those sides down there, including Stortford are in the mix. We need to ensure that come Saturday, three points come our way. We’re in okay form – coming into tonight, we’d taken a point more than K’s in the last ten games. You can’t say that we’ve fallen off. We’re still out there, battling.   

“It’s a pack of seven sides we’re competing with to avoid the drop. It’s not like we’re in a bottom three that’s adrift and we can’t catch anyone else. We need to do better than three of them. Finish mid-table in that mini-league at the bottom, then we’ll be fine.

“It’s a real season of frustration. I’ve never known anything like it. To be in every game, all so tight and then losing in circumstances like tonight, resting on a referee’s decision. There’s thirteen games left and they’ll fly by. We need to get a decent return from at least six of those games at a minimum. Let’s upset the apple cart. We’ve proved that we can get points from anyone in this league so that’s what we’ll be looking to achieve.”

Wingate & Finchley 1 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals
London Senior Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 12th February 2020
Match report and pics: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)
 
Corinthian-Casuals cup participation came to a close for another season as they exited the London Senior Cup at the hands of Wingate & Finchley.
​
A solitary goal from the wonderfully named Great Evans was enough to see the hosts progress to the semi-final where they’ll face either Hendon or Balham.

For Manager James Bracken, it was a frustrating evening where his side had started brightly but failed to capitalise and never found the level required until too late.

The side had been re-shuffled from the weekend with the likes of Coskun Ekim filling in at the back and Casuals playing an unfamiliar shape. It looked to be working at first, where the Amateurs had the bulk of possession and the best of the early chances.

But as the half progressed, Wingate grew in confidence and by the break, Danny Bracken had been the busier of the two goalkeepers. The Blues had also hit the post from close range and Warren Morgan produced a fine block to prevent Wingate taking a half-time lead.

Casuals began the second half as they did the first, and two great chances presented themselves in quick succession. Sadly, clinical finishing evaded Corinth and as with the Velocity Trophy exit the week before, it would ultimately be their undoing.

Just seven minutes into the half, Great Evans took down a weighted lobbed pass and slotted home from close range.

Wingate looked to finish off proceedings, but Bracken did well to keep out Charlie Ruff’s shot and the Blues also had a goal disallowed for offside. Casuals made changes and livened up in the last ten minutes. Substitute Gabriel Odunaike also had a goal chalked off by the linesman’s flag and fellow sub Matty Bakare finally tested keeper Fergal Hale-Brown, who got down well to keep out the midfielder’s low drive.

After the full-time whistle, where the players and management thanked the few hardy Casuals fans who braved the cold, Manager James Bracken apologised saying ‘it wasn’t good enough.’ He’ll be insisting a much better performance in the next few weeks when Casuals return to the Maurice Rebak Stadium for the all-important league ‘six-pointer’.

“The performance was more disappointing than the result,” said Bracken after the match.

“We’ve set ourselves up to be good enough to win in both our last two cup matches and on both occasions, the performances haven’t been good enough.”

“We took our foot off the gas after 25 minutes because it seemed like it was a little too comfortable for us. If you do that at 0-0, then nine times out of ten, you lose the game.

“The final third from us tonight was really poor. For all the possession and domination in the first half hour, and with good spells throughout the game, we’ve not forced their keeper to make enough saves."

Now, Bracken looks ahead to the all-important league campaign and four vital games coming up.

“We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up but the next four are winnable. I’m realistic – every game is winnable but we don’t want to be relying on our run-in at the end of the season. We need to pick up as many wins as we can and see where we are. We can’t be looking at other team’s results – we need to take care of our own matches.

“Our results since the turn of the year puts us sixth in total points won, so we’re much improved. We’ve let in the same amount of goals as Worthing. If you’d had said to me, we’d have conceded the same number of goals as the league leaders, I’d have presumed we were third or fourth in the table.

​“However, we’re not and we need to be more clinical. Losing Shaun (Okojie) wasn’t ideal but other lads now need to step up to the plate and score goals.

“I think the players are good enough. But they’ll only get away with one or two more performances like that before we decide to make changes. I’m loyal as anything. We’re not a revolving door club and that’s why there’s an affinity with the fans and the players – they get to know them, appreciate each other and appreciate their qualities. We work with players here. We try to improve them as best as we can and we’ll always do that.

“But we’re here to win games of football. The next four are winnable but if we don’t look like winning them then we’ll look at changing things. It’s a wake up call.

“I’m optimistic though. There’s been some dark times this season and a lot of soul searching to be done. When you’re playing well but keep losing 1-0, then you question everything. But in 2020, we’re sixth in points earned, morale is good.
​
“Perhaps tonight, like with some of the cup competitions this season, have been overlooked by some of the players. This tonight was more than winnable with a semi-final place at stake. Maybe I wanted to win a trophy more than some of the boys who’ve played. But they know what’s required of them in the league. They’re up for the challenge and they’ll give everything.”  

Corinthian-Casuals 1 – 2 Burgess Hill Town
Velocity Trophy Knockout Stage
Tuesday 4th February 2020
Photos from the match can be seen here.
​More pics courtesy of Andy Nunn can be seen here.
 
Typically, being in a cup competition in early February indicates good progress into the latter stages, but Corinthian-Casuals crashed out at the first hurdle following a 2-1 loss to Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday night.

Hill remain unbeaten, notching up their sixth consecutive win in the Velocity Trophy this season. Radical changes to the tournament meant the Sussex club had to negotiate a group phase before qualifying to play Premier League opposition – in this case, Casuals.

For James Bracken’s side, this was their first foray in the League Cup this season and the second of nine scheduled matches in February – or nearly one game every 72 hours. Therefore, it was unsurprising that he named a changed line-up from that which defeated Lewes at the weekend. There was a debut for ex-AFC Wimbledon defender Jim Fenlon. Jack Tucker returned from dual-registration duty at Frimley Green and Nat Pinney was promoted to the starting line-up. Coskun Ekim returned in place of Matty Bakare whilst Gabriel Odunaike was rested, sitting in the stands for the evening.

Despite this, Casuals settled well and began to carve open Burgess Hill’s defence on multiple occasions. With 20 minutes gone, Corinth found themselves one-up. An excellent cross from the left unusually found makeshift forward Tucker sliding in to bag his first goal for the club.
 
Hill did go close themselves but an excellent clearance from Mark Jamison, from under his own crossbar, saw off the danger of Pat Harding when it was easier to bundle into his own net. However, with Brad Wilson also hitting the post, the half very much belonged to Casuals.

Seeking the all-important second, Corinth applied serious pressure after thebreak. Nat Pinney shot wide and Jack Strange’s header whistled past the far post, all before Brad Wilson’s effort was cleared off the line. However, in the resulting melee, Wilson was awarded a penalty for an adjudged foul. The midfielder himself stepped up but crashed his spot-kick against the foot of the post.

We’ve all seen what happens next; give away countless opportunities and it’ll bite you in the backside. Five minutes later, Hillian Aaron Smith-Joseph’s persistence paid off and forced his way through the defence to fire low past Danny Bracken’s left and into the corner.

Then, out of nothing, on 77 minutes, Mason Dougherty unleashed a wonderful 25-yard ripper into the top corner to send the small band of Hillians into hysteria.

Casuals attempted to rally. The best chance fell to Warren Morgan who met an enticing cross only to inexplicably put it wide. After the match, the stand-in forward still couldn’t understand how he’d missed. The Hill goal had led a charmed life at times, but the score remained 2-1 to the visitors and they booked their place in the next round away to Horsham next week.
​
For Bracken, it’s a return to important league action this weekend as the team travel to Margate. Next Tuesday night is Casuals’ last foray in cup competitions, heading to Wingate in the London Senior Cup Quarter Final.    

Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 0 Lewes
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 1st February 2020
Photos from the match can be seen here
​
A sublime Ben Cheklit strike ten minutes from time was enough to lift Corinthian-Casuals out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Whilst fellow strugglers Merstham and Wingate & Finchley both won, and Brightlingsea picking up a point, the win was enough to lift Casuals two places, into 19th with a very favourable goal difference and games in hand.

Incidentally, the result drags opponents Lewes into the dogfight as Casuals close within four points. The Rooks have struggled to pick up any momentum and remarkably, have won only once at their Dripping Pan home this campaign. Ironically, that was against Casuals – a cagey 1-0 win secured in the last ten minutes. Ring any bells?

There was more parity with the corresponding fixture earlier in the season; this wasn’t a classic either. Lewes have struggled to score recently, with just two goals in the last six league matches (as well as a 1-0 loss to Peacehaven in the Sussex Cup). In contrast, Casuals form has been much better and a gritty 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Bognor in the week would’ve surely boosted morale.

Lewes nearly rectified their goal drought in the very first minute, with Harry Reed’s cross narrowly avoided Tony Mendy. Early goals have haunted Casuals across the first half of the season, but this is one area that Manager James Bracken and his coaching team have worked hard upon to rectify. And with effective results too – Corinth haven’t conceded in the first half hour since the 12th November.
That run continued as either side rarely threatened their opponent’s goal. Gabriel Odunaike headed narrowly wide from a corner and Casuals captain Danny Bracken was only really called into action from set pieces.

Corinth had more of a spark about them in the second half enjoying the lion’s share of possession. Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke was certainly the busier of the two keepers. Despite this, Lewes had the best chance to score when Billy Medlock weaved between defenders only to blaze his shot well over.

Almost immediately, Casuals capitalised. It was a moment of divine interplay that finally broke the deadlock. Out on the wing, Kev Serbony dropped two Lewes markers with a cheeky backheel to Hakeem Adelakun. His cross found Ben Cheklit on the edge of the box and without hesitation, curled a beauty of a shot into the top corner, leaving Stroomberg-Clarke rooted.

The Lewes keeper was a little fortunate to remain on the field moments after, when he handled the ball outside of his area, denying Odunaike a chance to intercept. A yellow issued. Casuals were able to see out the rest of the match with Bracken being alert to a low cross that could’ve caused problems. The full time whistle marked the Amateur’s fourth win (with a draw) in eight games and Bracken almost certainly looking up the table.

Neither game against Lewes this season will go down as a classic, but for the majority of the 278 in attendance, they won’t care. They witnessed a side that once again battled hard, gave everything and topped it off with a sublime goal. They’ll also keep an eye on Lewes’ next league match – against Cheshunt, which after this result, has become a proverbial ‘six-pointer’ that could yet shape the relegation battle once again. In the meantime, Casuals have a break from league pressures as they host Burgess Hill Town in the Velocity Trophy on Tuesday night.