Corinthian-Casuals 4-0 Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 25th March 2017
Match Report: Cameron Smith: Photo Paul Downs (Stuart's set HERE)

Corinthian-Casuals notched four second-half goals to comprehensively defeat Sittingbourne as the Bracken Brothers pioneered their side to a 4-0 victory, which added three more points to fuel the play-off pursuit.

The damp and depressing mood on a Tuesday evening transformed into a cheerful and celebratory night after ninety minutes of gruelling, high intensity football saw the away fans leave Walton Road victorious. Shaun Okojie’s quick movement and precise finish in the 46th minute was the only goal as Casuals stole a 1-0 win versus a physical and gritty Molesey side. Danny Bracken a.k.a Mr Three-Hundred Games was smiling the most as he modestly soaked up applause following his incredible milestone. Despite having a rather quiet game against the frustrated Moles, Bracken would have had to be alert for Saturday, where mid-table Sittingbourne travelled to Tolworth.

Proudly based in Swale district of Kent, Sittingbourne have had a mixed season, in terms of position and performance. Situated in fourteenth place, manager Nick Davis would still feel hard done by as the flying Dorking Wanderers managed to squeeze a narrow 1-0 win during their encounter last week. In the past ten meetings, Casuals have only managed to emerge victorious twice and could regard Bourne as a ‘bogey’ side. Earlier in the season, Corinth arduously travelled to Woodstock Park on a Tuesday evening only to be defeated by the 10 man Brickies.

The bright yellow shirts of the visitors and the pink and brown of Casuals gathered on the halfway line to hold a minute’s silence for the tragic events that occurred in Westminster earlier this week before the game began.
Despite the absence of Reyon Dillon upfront, Casuals looked full of confidence as the hosts dominated the first 45. The full-backs of Sittingbourne seemed flustered; the main source of Casuals attack was from the wings as Jordan Clarke caused havoc in the opening act. Bursts of pace and slick skill set Bourne on edge with Clarke utilizing his abilities from set-pieces. Four or five consecutive corners were halted mid-flight by the irritating wind, which prevented Clarke from assisting. Jack Strange leapt into the air at the near post following a Clarke cross, but could only guide the effort over the bar.

The central midfield pairing of Josh Gallagher and Coskun Eskim was a handful for the away side- especially the more attacking Gallagher, who produced Casuals’ best opportunity. Edging into first half injury time, Gallagher controlled a high ball around 30 yards from goal and decided to have a shot. It was a terrific decision as he hammered the ball accurately and vigorously over the keeper. The crossbar thwarted Gallagher’s screamer and the game was still even. Their only promising chance, Sittingbourne struck on the verge of half-time, but could not take the lead. Clawing the ball out of the net, Bracken brilliantly kept the scores level as the referee blew for the break.
Ben Cheklit was replaced by Warren Morgan at half-time with James Bracken hoping to replicate Tuesday’s reaction to the start of the second-half. And they did. In the forty-ninth minute, Clarke was stopped in his tracks as his trademark, mazy run was halted by the outstretched leg of a Bourne defender. Clarke fell to the floor and the referee pointed to the spot. Shaun Okojie nestled the ball on the penalty spot before sending keeper Simon Overland the wrong way with a low conversion. In true Okojie fashion, the goal-scorer was laid-back as he happily strolled to the jubilant Casuals supporters. Again, Casuals were able to take advantage of the opponent’s momentary lapse in concentration to score!

Corinthians were hungry coyotes, who were unsatisfied with their first bite. A fourteen minute period was made up of pure Casuals possession and were awarded for their persistence in the 63rd minute. Sittingbourne committed yet another cynical foul on the danger-man Clarke from around 25 yards out. He won it and took it, although he didn’t want to try and find the net himself. Smoothly threading the ball to the open Bettache, Clarke unselfishly grabbed his second assist of the match! Super Maz’ positioning was flawless as he slipped through the Brickie’s ranks undetected to fire the ball into the top left corner with authority. Casuals had breathing space- it was 2-0.
It wasn’t 2-0 for long. Juevan Spencer’s deceiving cross was subtly flicked on by the backheel of Strange at the near-post, which guided the ball towards Danny Dudley. The centre-back slammed the ball into the roof of the net before joining the Casuals fans in celebration. Sustained pressure in the last fifteen minutes resulted in the inevitable fourth, which arrived in the 90th minute. Gallagher was cruelly denied by the crossbar in the first half but got his own back when the midfielder curled the ball into the bottom left corner and wheeled away in celebration. The pink and brown army had thrashed the sorry Sittingbourne with four devastating, individual strikes; the full-time score was 4-0.

A game of milestones, the tremendous score-line was Casuals’ 200th win in the Ryman Division One South and the 50th victory under gaffer James Bracken during his two year tenure. In the Casuals end, there was an electric atmosphere when the players shook hands with fans- both realised that a play-off spot could be theirs! However, Corinth shouldn’t get complacent as five games remain with a trip to Hythe Town next on the agenda.

Molesey 0-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 21st March 2017
Match Report: Cameron Smith

Shaun Okojie’s deft dispatch in the 46th minute left Corinthian Casuals firmly positioned in a play-off spot after a scrappy 1-0 win over Molesey on a miserable Tuesday evening at the Walton Road Stadium.

“We love you Casuals, we do” echoed around King George’s on Saturday afternoon as the valiant contingent consoled the dispirited Corinthian players following a 1-0 defeat to promotion-rivals Hastings United. It was a lacklustre game overall as a well-worked first-half strike condemned James Bracken’s side. Of all the dejected faces at full-time, goalkeeper and captain Danny Bracken looked the most disappointed, regardless of the courageous performance. It was typical of our passionate no.1, who would mark his 300th game in a Casuals shirt against Molesey. Six years of relentless protection of our net, Danny Bracken has established himself as a favourite amongst the supporters. Manager James Bracken had nothing but praise for his captain and brother, saying “He’s a fantastically level-headed lad who always wants to win. His attitude is bang on the money every week. I know I can trust him 100% with his performances”. Bracken’s competitiveness, confidence and consistency landed him the sacred no.1 jersey back in the 2011-12 season! The rest is history…

Game number three-hundred was away at the Walton Road Stadium, which was home to Molesey FC. As the rain lashed down and the spiteful wind blew, it was a sombre setting for a magnificent milestone. Molesey were hoping the weather wouldn’t affect their decent home record as two consecutive victories versus Guernsey and impressively, Hythe Town. Captained by the midfield unit Craig Lewington, Molesey’s manager Peter Lelliott has only just steered his side away from the relegation zone as the Moles sit in nineteenth place.

The two sides distributed across the pitch as the clock approached 7:45; the white shirts of the hosts and the pink and brown of Casuals were ready to lock horns. From the off, both sides seemed to struggle with the conditions as the weather deteriorated and the pitch became slippery. The varying techniques of the midfields cancelled each-other out during the first 45, with the clever, tactical play of Eskim and Bettache contrasting with the hasty, physical midfield pairing of Molesey. Although chances were difficult to find, Corinth could have easily opened the scoring after an infrequent amount of opportunities. Bettache, who was very much involved in the game, fired a delightful effort towards goal. His effort was rejected by Moles’ no.1 Liam Allen. Located on the wings, Clarke, Spencer, Hodges and Bettache often found a way to round the Molesey full-backs but fell short at the execution. The overall summary of the first-half came moments before the half-time whistle, when Clarke rifled a shot so high that it landed on the roof of a house overlooking the ground and resulting in a few tiles falling off!

Criticism of the referee and the linesmen was expressed by both sides following the dismissal of a Molesey penalty appeal and numerous offside and set-piece denials for Casuals. So far, it had been a stalemate at 0-0.

As the teams emerged for the anticipated second-half, most spectators were only just returning from the warmth of the bar. It was no surprise that many supporters were devastated to learn that they had missed the opening goal. Moments after the referee re-started the match, Casuals were in a promising position via Shaun Okojie’s slick movement on the edge of the area. Despite being swarmed by white shirts, sharp shooter Okojie found space to hit the ball from around 25 yards, which spectacularly sailed into the bottom left corner of Allen’s net. A lapse of concentration had dearly cost the crestfallen Molesey whilst the relieved and jubilant Casuals players bombarded the man of the moment. The visitors had stolen the lead- it was 1-0 Corinth.

The response that Molesey’s boss and their opponent expected was non-existent as the hosts failed to conjure any attacking opportunities throughout the latter period. The rest of the second-half was often spent in the Molesey half as Casuals attempted to seal the deal with a vital second goal. An agonising set piece saw the open Jack Strange collide with fellow centre-back Danny Dudley as a golden opportunity went begging- the header flew past the post. With fifteen minutes left, Josh Gallagher’s curling shot from outside the box was somehow parried by the alert Allen as onlookers groaned in disbelief. The following corner was met by Strange who made full connection with the ball and was only rebuked by Lewington on the goal-line. The electric atmosphere in the away end sparked new chants about Jamie Byatt, who made another substitute appearance following his recent return from injury. Byatt couldn’t provide a goal for Casuals as the visitors battled to defend Molesey’s route one set pieces. The hefty five minutes of stoppage time were completed; Casuals had conquered.

Smiles returned to the faces of the Casuals team as they applauded the terrific away support. It was a happy 300th for Bracken, who had a relatively quiet game. Corinthians return to Tolworth on Saturday for a fixture versus mid-table Sittingbourne. We hope to see you there!

Corinthian-Casuals 0-1 Hastings United
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 18th March 2017
Match Report: Cameron Smith:  Photo Stuart Tree (full set HERE)

The latest instalment in the enthralling Ryman Division One South play-off pursuit saw Hastings United emerge victorious following a bitter 1-0 away win versus an unfortunate Corinthian Casuals side in windy Tolworth.
It had reached the midpoint in March and the classy Casuals had maintained a 100% record. Seeing off the challenging Cray Wanderers and deviously snatching three points from the formidable title challengers Dorking, James Bracken’s side were on fire! Last week prompted the task of Greenwich Borough, who were impressively sitting in third place. Their pride was cruelly taken away when the dastardly duo of Reyon Dillon and Shaun Okojie unleashed their clinical abilities on the Greenwich defenders. A tidy 3-0 result away from home boosted Bracken’s sky-rocketing confidence as Corinth looked to secure their play-off place.
However, Corinthians’ euphoric mood was thwarted when Hastings United arrived at King George’s Field. A mixed season for the Arrows, Darren Hare’s team were sucked into the vortex of the play-offs thanks to a ten game unbeaten run before leaders Tooting concluded it last week as Hastings lost 1-0. Will Hastings be able to return to winning ways?
As the time approached 3 o’clock, the sides took their places on the pitch; Casuals in pink and brown and Hastings in an all-white number. A noticeable absence to the hosts’ starting lineup was that ‘The Beast’ Reyon Dillon was not named in the match-day squad. Relief for Hastings, regret for Casuals. Although Okojie would start upfront alone, the Corinth contingent were still hopeful.
The crucial influence of the weather was clear when Hastings won the toss and forced Casuals to play into the wind. A routine clearance from Danny Dudley failed to reach its target when it was hooked back towards the baffled centre-back. Wind was tampering with play again when Arrows captain Simon Johnson rifled a cross towards the back post and nearly ended up in the back of the net if it wasn’t for Danny Bracken. The Casuals no.1 half-punched the ball away, only for Hastings’ Barnwell Shamari to slot the rebound into the gloves of Bracken.
Minutes later, Bracken was unable to prevent the white shirts from scoring as the visitors conjured a well-worked attack in the seventeenth minute. A long free-kick was aimed towards the populated penalty area by keeper Pidgeley, and was knocked on by a Hastings striker. Kiernan Hughes-Mason reacted first to expertly side-foot the ball into the far bottom corner. The travelling support cheered as Hughes-Mason celebrated a brief, brilliant move that adjusted the score-line to 0-1. Hastings drew first blood.
The remaining twenty-eight minutes of the first-half included only one real chance- it was for Hastings. Nudging the ball past Bracken, the pacey no.9 Shamari was denied by an exceptional, last-gasp clearance from Danny Dudley as the ball was frighteningly rolling towards the goal-line. Hearts in mouths, the Casuals supporters were trying their best to support their team. However, a lacklustre game overall was halted for the half-time break; Casuals failed to string together a decisive opportunity.
The second forty-five confirmed the changes in positioning as Juevan Spencer and Warren Morgan (who was donning the unusual no.10 shirt) switched- Morgan was in right-back and Spencer was on the flanks. Customary flashes of pace and skill were difficult to find as the usually-lively Spencer was kept quiet by the strong centre-back Jerrome Sobers and left-back Sam Cruttwell. United posed a threat on the counter attack even if the wind hampered their chances as Danny Bracken easily caught the ball in the 60th minute. The frustrated Jordan Clarke had squeezed through the back four of Hastings minutes later, but a low cross was collected by Pidgeley.
All of a sudden, the clock read fifteen minutes and Casuals were still searching for an equalizer. Two free-kicks were awarded to the desperate hosts late on. A 30-yard effort from Coskun Eskim, who was a shining light in a damp and dull game flew inches wide of the post whilst the other set-piece was rifled over by Clarke. Stoppage time saw the introduction and return of Jamie Byatt, who was ruled out on the sidelines for the past few games. Byatt caused havoc in the final moments and had a chance to equalize, but Pidgeley tactically fell to the ground when the substitute added slight pressure. Then, the referee terminated proceedings- Casuals had succumbed to a 1-0 defeat.
Whilst Hastings travelled home with smiles on their faces, Casuals applauded the valiant army of supporters and left. We wish Hastings good luck for the rest of the season- we hope to see you again soon… Next on the agenda for Casuals is a Tuesday night trip to the Walton Road Stadium to face Molesey, which is also Danny Bracken’s 300th game for the club. We hope to see you there!
Stuart Tree spoke to James Bracken after the game:
Despite the loss, it wasn’t a drastically bad performance. I think the wind played a massive part in the game. That’s unfortunate because we’re both good sides and the game didn’t reach the heights that we’d liked it to have achieve.
 
Going into the wind in the first half was always going to be hard. It was a bad lapse from us that led to the goal. Other than that, Danny’s not had a shot to save in the first half and we controlled a scrappy affair in the second. But it was a scrappy affair which neither side really got to grips with.
 
We went in 1-0 down at half time and we were happy. We knew we’d be on the front foot in the second half. The wind was now in our favour and we always grow into games as it progresses anyway. As the game opened up, we felt we would create more chances. We’ve had the better of the territory, we’ve put pressure on their back four but never got the rub of the green. Their keeper has flapped at a couple of chances where the ball has bounced in the box and if they fall to one of us, we bury it. But it never fell our way which was a shame.
 
We’ve taken nine points from the last four games. I’d have taken six points from those if I’m honest. We’re in the playoff places which is great and we just need to try and stay there.
If you’d have given me a win and three draws, I’d have said we’ll take that.
 
We’ve managed to exceed what I would’ve accepted so that can only be positive. I wanted to be in and around the playoffs – three points outside with seven games to go is the situation I was looking at. We’re two points inside the playoffs so we’re five points better off than where I felt we needed to be.
 
Now we have to continue to win games because no one in the top eight can rest on their laurels. 

Corinthian-Casuals 2-0 Dorking Wanderers
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 4th March 2017
Match Report: Cameron Smith:  Photo Stuart Tree (Full set HERE)

Reyon Dillon’s lethal strike in the 67th minute frustrated a shell-shocked Dorking Wanderers side as the visitors’ title-hunting campaign was dealt a large blow when Corinthian Casuals secured three points with a 2-0 victory.

Loitering just below the play-offs, Corinthians replied to two consecutive losses (a devastating 3-0 loss to Faversham and a 2-0 defeat to Horsham) with a spectacular 4-3 result at Cray Wanderers on Wednesday. A deadly strike partnership matured at Hayes Lane; Dillon and Okojie notched three combined goals against Cray.

Sitting three points behind league leaders Tooting & Mitcham, Dorking Wanderers were seven games unbeaten and had claimed points versus Greenwich, Lewes and Faversham. Youthful Dorking boss Marc White has pioneered his team to an impressive position in the Ryman Division One South thanks to the experience of former-Woking striker Guiseppe Sole, the goalscoring abilities of James McShane and the trickery of Matthew Briggs. The previous encounter was at Dorking’s Westhumble where the 10 man Wanderers edged Casuals 1-0. Corinth would be placed as the underdogs as James Bracken’s resilient army hosted the favourites Dorking.

Slick possession from the red and white stripes of Dorking dominated the first half as Corinth (in pink and brown) took a relaxed approach. However, drama was injected into the game when confusion rippled across the sunny King George’s inside the first five minutes. After an injury break concluded, Dorking volleyed the drop-ball from the halfway line and, perhaps accidentally, beat Danny Bracken and bounced in the net. The referee correctly disallowed it and play continued.

Briggs, who was sent off versus Casuals in 2016, was causing havoc on the wing and leftback Hodges was kept busy throughout the game. The midfielder fired the ball into the side netting early on. Then, Bracken was forced to take a blow to the face- the boot of Tom Tolfrey hit the Casuals goalkeeper when the Dorking player attempted to turn in a cross. After the twenty minute mark, the Wanderers’ possession was futile as clear cut chances were hard to come by. In the 37th minute, Jordan Clarke’s dipping free-kick from the left flank was nodded towards goal by the daring Danny Dudley, but the effort was wayward. Half-time saw both sides walk into the dressing rooms without a goal.
Casuals and Dorking continued their inactivity in-front of goal in the first ten minutes of the second-half. Okojie nearly took advantage of complacent Dorking defending when the super striker pounced on a loose ball but the shot plummeted into the gloves of keeper Huk. Half-chances for both sides were not dispatched until the 59th minute.

Hodges, who was assuming the role of set-piece taker following Josh Uzun’s absence, was ready to challenge the Dorking back-four with a free-kick on the familiar left flank. Squeezing the ball past the wall and towards the near post of Huk, everyone failed to make contact with the ball as it sailed into the net. The perplexed Dorking keeper had his head in his hands whilst Hodges wheeled away celebrating- Casuals had taken the surprise lead! An eight minute period was packed with cheers of encouragement from the Casuals contingent; the home side were searching for the essential second goal. Punching the ball away from a Dudley cross, Slavomir Huk also had to keep out a delicious shot from Clarke before the 67th minute arrived.

Right-back Juevan Spencer fed the ball to the open Dillon, who was located on the edge of the penalty area, and the striker caused chaos behind the goal with a terrific, rifling shot that beautifully nestled in the bottom left corner. Poetry in motion, Dillon leapt into the air and punching in celebration whilst the jubilant Bettache, Spencer and Clarke ran to the home support. An incredible strike deserving of the ecstatic celebrations. Dorking had around twenty minutes to claw themselves back into the game.

Despite trailing, it wasn’t the visitors who were threatening. It was Casuals. Coskun Eskim, who added another brilliant performance to his record, hammered a low piledriver just wide of the post from 30 yards. Dorking substitute Sole had one chance from a free-kick outside the area. The striker took a deep breath and slammed the ball straight into the well-constructed Casuals wall before blazing the rebound over the bar. Fellow substitute (this time for Corinth) Dan Summers side-footed the ball into the gloves of Huk as Dave Hodges’ pinpoint cross was to no avail.

Following six, agonising minutes of stoppage time, Dorking were unable to break the Casuals defence as the referee blew the whistle for full-time. Goals from Hodges and Dillon had sealed three points for Corinthians who moved into fourth place. Tooting are now six points at the top following Dorking’s stumble. Corinth travel to Greenwich next.

Stuart Tree spoke to the proud Casuals boss James Bracken after the match:
“That was probably our most professional performance this season. Maybe not the most fluent or exciting, but we have to take into account the opposition today. We’re coming into the tail end of the season and there’s a bit of pressure telling on everyone.
 The top eight or nine sides need those wins. So to approach it the way we did, the performance, keeping a clean sheet… all in all, that was our most professional performance of the season.
We’ve scored another two goals today against a side that doesn’t often get beaten. That’s a great result and a good performance.

Today, we approached the game slightly different to our usual plan and it showed in the way we played. We stuck to that plan and to be fair to the lads, if they can execute my instructions to that level and get a positive result, then credit must go to them.
It’s easy for me to show them tactics on a board and tell them what I want, but for them to go out and do it both individually and as a team is another matter altogether. They did that today so I’m very happy.

The belief is massive. I’m always confident. I always believe we’ll win. That never changes and the moment that does, I’ll need to take a look at myself and go and do something else.
I knew we could make the playoffs but now I believe we will make the playoffs. I’ve just said to the lads, if you can beat Dorking – and let’s set this straight; that was their best side out. They had no players missing. It wasn’t a case of having a few regulars missing… and we’ve won 2-0 and deserved it.

If that doesn’t give us confidence and belief going into the Greenwich Borough game next week, I don’t know what will. Hopefully, when we get enough good results to get in the playoffs, we’ll have this as a reminder that we can go out and beat anyone if we perform to our best.”