Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 3 Worthing FC
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 29th November 2014
Final score: 0-3
Match report and pics: Stuart Tree
 
Corinthian-Casuals’ defender Dan Bedford suffered a broken leg and a dislocation in the 3-0 loss to Worthing in the Ryman League Division One South.  


And the manner that Worthing scored their first left Casuals Boss Matt Howard disappointed with the opposition after they took advantage whilst Bedford lay stricken in the penalty box.  

Howard said after the match, “I was a little bit disappointed at the manner of their first goal, I thought that was poor from them, that's obviously the standard that they've set for themselves.”

Play was suspended for over 80 minutes to allow Paramedics to treat Bedford, who lay prone on the pitch after making a last ditch defensive tackle and thoughts were that the tie was to be abandoned. However, play resumed after the lengthy delay and Worthing added two more to seal the three points.

Bedford started as a replacement to the suspended Captain, Joe Hicks. New signing Joe Robson, recently acquired from Kingstonian also made his first league start for Casuals.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with Maz Bettache coming close for Casuals from a free kick. However, Worthing looked far more composed on the ball than they did back in August when Casuals ran out 3-1 winners and only a string of top-class saves from keeper Danny Bracken kept Corinth in the tie. Through Bracken’s efforts, both teams entered half time goalless.

However, only four minutes after the restart, Dan Bedford suffered his sickening injury but with the Referee allowing play to continue despite pleas from Casuals players, Worthing took advantage of the defender’s prone position to beat any offside trap and score uncontested.

After waiting over an hour for Paramedics to arrive, Bedford was given oxygen before being rushed to St. George’s Hospital to await being operated on.

After the second restart, Worthing dominated play and added two more courtesy of Cutis Gaylor and Will Berry to take all three points back to the South coast. 

After the match, Matt Howard said, "We all hope Dan is ok and on behalf of all at the club, we send our best wishes and get well soon.

“I think it was the right decision to finish the game. We have no complaints about that. 

“I was a little bit disappointed at the manner of their first goal, I thought that was poor from them, that's obviously the standard that they've set for themselves but I can't complain about the result… they were the better side and they deservedly won. 

“We'll regroup and go again on Saturday.”

Since Saturday, well wishes have been coming in for Bedford from across the UK and the large Brazilian support from Corinthian Paulista fans. 

Worthing player Jack Fagan tweeted: Thoughts are with the young Centre back Dan today for @CorinthianCas We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope he can come back stronger.

Fellow Ryman clubs Folkestone Invicta and Guernsey also tweeted their well wishes but the response on Facebook, where Casuals have over 129,000 fans has been overwhelming.  Over 125 tributes have been posted in just 12 hours including “Hang in there brother...take that Corinthian spirit and add it to your strength”, “Resilience is the hallmark of who wears the shirt of Corinthians. Will be no different. Have strength Dan!” and “Improve great champion, we're rooting for you. Know that you are part of the history of world football. #VaiCorinthians #GoCorinthianCasuals”

Walton Casuals 1-2 Corinthian-Casuals
Surrey Senior Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 25th November 2014
Match report: Darren Pasley

Casuals mini recent revival continued as they progressed through to the next round of the Surrey Senior Cup.

Although a tie against the side propping up the division on paper looked comfortable enough the home side now under the management of Liam Collins had certainly improved of late although they still await their first win on home soil this season in the league.

The game was in serious doubt in the 24 hours leading up to the match and despite the pitch being past fit by referee Paul Johnson the floodlights failed 2 hours before kick off. Thankfully an electrician was on hand to fix apart from one set but with the officials happy enough with the remaining light the game went ahead.

The home side full of confidence following away draws at Hastings and leaders Faversham attacked with intent early on and in the 3rd minute Billy Dunn went close to a spectacular opener when after cutting in from the left he fizzed a shot from 20 yards just over Danny Brackens bar.

The hosts came close to capping off their strong opening to the match when Gabriel Odunaike slotted the ball home but thankfully the referees whistle had long gone for offside against the Stags dangerman.

For all their attacking promise the home side looked vulnerable at the back and Casuals looked to expose this. With gaps appearing especially in the full back areas the visitors looked to utilise the space. Juevan Spencer the first to nearly profit from this when he was inches away from Car Wilson-Denis’s centre following a superb ball pitched up by Jamie Byatt.

The first effort on target arrived in the 20th minute when a short corner was rolled out to Merrick James-Lewis who’s fierce drive stung the palms of Danny Bracken.

Within two minutes and the game had its opening goal. After working the ball well Spencer was allowed space to fire in a shot from the edge of the area, which was blocked. The rebound fell invitingly to Joe Robson and despite Chico Ramos making a flying block the rebound fell to Jamie Byatt who smashed home low left footed from 12 yards into the corner of the net.

Walton’s best chance of the half arrived in the 34th minute. A long ball over the top seemed routine enough for Bracken to clear but with the ball holding up on the increasingly heavy surface, Scott Day managed to arrive before and knock the ball past the keeper. However despite an unguarded net his effort lacked the direction and conviction and Mason Welch-Turner was able to retrieve from the byline and carry the ball out.

The home side were struggling to deal with Casuals releasing the ball early into the wide areas which left them exposed and it was from this route the visitors took a firm grip of the match.


With 4 minutes remaining of the half a quick goal kick from Bracken saw Abiola-Daramola misjudge the ball allowing Vidal down the left wing. His low cross was perfect for the arriving Byatt who clinically finished past Ramos from a central position to double the lead.

The home side responded after the break with a couple of substitutes and it seemed to do the trick as they heaped the pressure on Casuals from the start.

On 55 minutes James-Lewis fired off a warning when his shot was inches wide of Bracken's left hand post and a minute later the Stags were back in the tie.


A goal kick was headed back towards the visiting defence and Odunaike, goalside of his marker raced clear to sidefoot home.

 Five  minutes later and the home side should have leveled matters when Scott Day stooped low to head against the post and having reacted quickly to the rebound he blazed wildly over from 6 yards out.

The pressure continued and Ben Bowra who was superb throughout survived a handball shout from a cross which struck his arm inside the area.

Substitute Jordan Johnson went close twice in as many minutes firstly with a shot from distance that skidded just wide.  A minute later again with his left foot he curled just wide of Bracken's left hand up-right.

Walton thought the pressure had finally told in the 82nd minute when James-Lewis who was outstanding throughout curled an effort from just inside the area around Bracken but Welch-Turner made a spectacular block on the line. It was an incredible piece of defending and typified the resolute attitude of the visiting backline all evening

Scott Day again nearly benefited from a right wing cross but this time was inches away despite flinging himself at full length as the game entered its final minutes.

 Casuals only serious attack at goal came in stoppage time when Bamoussa Cisse rode through the heart of the hosts defence but saw his effort blocked by Ramos. There was still time for Jordan Cheadle to have a last gasp free kick drop just over the bar.

 Summing the match up Matt Howard commented afterwards

“It was a proper cup tie – We controlled the first half and they the second.

"It was a good win for us and also gave me the opportunity to give some game time to the lads that haven’t had as much of late.”

“Walton are a good side and they will be no where near the foot of the table come the end of the season. I hope we can take this form into Saturday and get a much needed three points.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sittingbourne 1 -1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 22nd November 2014
Match report and pics by Stuart Tree

Casuals picked up a valuable hard-fought point away to Sittingbourne in this Ryman League Division One South tie helping Casuals to emerge from a difficult run of results in the past few weeks.

The result meant Matt Howard’s side have picked up four points in the last two games after a barren spell in the league which saw just one win in nine league matches before a resounding win over Ramsgate last week.

Although Casuals were without Dave Hodges and Lee Hall, they looked to build on the win last week but faced tough opposition in Sittingbourne who defeated Casuals 3-0 at King George’s on the opening day of the season.

On a surface hit hard by rain, the match started slow with the pitch causing miskicks and errors for both sides. However, the deadlock was broken by the referee after he pointed to the spot following a frankly harsh handball decision that went against Sittingbourne. Jamie Byatt stepped up to smash the ball home, scoring his twelfth goal of the season and to give the Casuals the lead.

The second half picked up where the first left off but soon opened up with Casuals looking to kill the game off and Sittingbourne to find an equaliser. Jamie Byatt, Maz Bettache and Jordan Vidal all had chances to get the vital second goal. However, with pressure telling, Sittingbourne equalised through Hicham Akhazzan who pinged a vicious shot from an acute angle that Danny Bracken couldn’t keep out.

Sittingbourne looked for a winner with a Jono Richardson header going wide and Elie Kayembe seeing his shot go flashing past the post. With Bourne pushing up, Jamie Byatt caused problems on the break but the tie ended honours even.

After the match, First Team Coach Joe Davies spoke to Stuart Tree.

“Before the game we probably would’ve settled for a point, playing away to a decent side in poor conditions.

“It was a fair result but we had a couple of chances with the ball flashing across the face of the goal which could have won it for us.

“There are always improvements to be made but if you look at the fact we lost to the same side 3-0 on the opening day of the season there’s a real progress there. Even a couple of weeks ago, we probably would’ve lost today when they equalised. However, there’s evidence of progression.

“We missed a couple of players; Lee Hall and Dave Hodges might have made a bit of a difference but the team today done okay.

“There’s always a good team spirit no matter what the results are, however winning helps massively. After the poor run we’ve had, to be two unbeaten now is great. If we can go into the game against Worthing next week at home and pick up three points, then we’ll have seven from three matches which is back to where we want to be.”

Stuart Tree's photos from the match can be seen here.

Corinthian-Casuals 3-0 Ramsgate
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 15th November 2014
Attendance: 127
Report and pics by Stuart Tree


Casual’s Boss Matt Howard praised his team for their 3-0 win and dominating performance over Ramsgate after a tough previous week.

Coming into the match, Casuals had won just once in eleven matches and lost 4-1 in successive matches to South Park and Folkestone in the past week.

Howard was able to choose from returning players Lee Hall, Carl Wilson-Denis and Jamie Byatt who had previously missed the encounter at South Park. Meddie Nsubuga came in at Right Back freeing up Danny Dudley to take his preferred position in central defence.

After a cagey start from both sides, it was left to Joe Hicks to break the deadlock on the half hour mark. The Captain rose high to head the ball past the Ram’s keeper and give the Casuals the lead.

Corinth were starting to impose themselves on the match more and Joe Hicks went close twice more in the first half, almost matching his first header from a corner and again going close in a near post flick.

The bright autumn sunshine of the first half was replaced by an ever thickening fog in the second. Ramsgate looked to get back into the match with only Danny Bracken and the Crossbar keeping the visitors from levelling.

But after a couple of good opportunities spurned by the ever attacking partnership of Byatt and Wilson-Denis, Byatt made it two on 68 minutes, finding himself free to pick his spot and double the lead.

Ten minutes later and it was three; Byatt grabbing a brace after the striker rose high above his defender to loop his header clear of the stranded Ramsgate keeper and into the net.

Casuals were dominant by this point and other chances went begging. Substitute Cisse Bamoussa found the target from an acute angle but was adjudged to have strayed offside. It didn’t matter. With Casuals back to their best, it was too much for the Kent seasiders who travelled back home in the now dense fog, without a point.

After the match, Matt Howard spoke to Stuart Tree.

“We needed that today. We could have scored five or six goals, but we’ve put away three and haven’t conceded and the result is we’ve got our second win on a Saturday.

“It was a stark contrast to the loss at South Park last week. I said to the lads after the match, that’s what happens when you put the effort in… something that was previously lacking.

“We have had a few walking wounded and they are coming back slowly but surely. This might be a bold statement but when we have everyone fully fit and available, we’re not a bad side and we’ll be there or there about come the end of the season. However, with 46 games in a season, we’re not going to have everyone available. We have 29 players signed on and we have to make best we can with them.

“Fifty points is our first target; that’ll pretty much ensure survival in the league. That was our initial target at the beginning of the season. After the start we had, did we get a little carried away? We probably did, but to have 30 points on the board in the middle of November, that’s not bad going.

“We’ve got twenty points to achieve that first target. Do I think we’ll beat that target? I’d like to think so. Last season we finished with 55 points so if we can top that, we’ve done well.

“It’s a cliché but one game at a time!”  

Stuart Tree's photos of the match can be seen here.

South Park 4 – 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 8th November 2014
Report and Pics by Stuart Tree

Casuals chief Matt Howard feared for a long hard winter as Corinthian-Casuals suffered their third defeat in four games after their visit to South Park saw the hosts run out 4-1 winners.

With six regulars out of the side… Jamie Byatt, Niall Wright, Carl Wilson-Denis, Lee Hall, Jason Turley and Danny Green all unavailable, it was a major reshuffle in the Casuals ranks as Howard tried to patch a side together. The returning Danny Dudley was placed in the unfamiliar right-back role. There was also rare starts for Cisse Bamoussa and Michael Salako with Jake Gill and Dan Bedford only having a handful of first team experience between them.

On a cold and wet afternoon, Casuals started well and had the first chance for Casuals after his volley fired just wide of South Park’s post. Michael Salako also missed a decent opportunity to score but with only the Campbell, the keeper to beat, couldn’t find the target as Park’s stopper was forced into a good save.

Casuals were to rue the missed opportunities and on 32 minutes, Joe Jackson was able to finish off a neat move which saw the South Park striker fire home from close range. Just two minutes later, Jackson made it two after connecting with a cross from the right wing. By this point, Danny Bracken in the Casuals goal had already made a host of good saves but was not enough to see Corinth go into the break two down.

It was more of the same in the second half with Kieran Lavery adding a third, slotting home under the Casuals keeper after some slick passing play. The nearest Casuals came to anything that looked like mustering a chance was Michael Salako’s looping header which was expertly tipped over by Campbell.

Howard made three changes together, introducing Ross Defoe, Mason Welch-Turner and Joel Thompson to the match. It was the latter that gave Casuals a glimmer of hope; heading home from a corner to make it 3-1.

However, with time running out, South Park finished off the game as Dave Smith added a fourth deep into injury time.

The rain lashed down as the players trudged back into the changing rooms capping off a miserable afternoon for the men in Chocolate and Pink. After the match, Matt Howard commented.

“We should’ve gone 2-0 up. Cisse Bamoussa has missed a good chance as has Michael Salako which could’ve seen us two goals up. We haven’t taken them and they’ve gone up the other end and punished us.

“I’m not going to be too critical. Maybe my expectations was I expect too much of the players.

“Let’s be honest; we struggle every year. We got off to an absolutely flying start this season and maybe everyone got a little bit carried away with it. Over the course of thirty-odd games, which is how long I’ve been here for now, maybe the true colours are showing… maybe we just aren’t good enough.

“I don’t care whatever club you are at, whatever level you play, if you miss four, five or six of your starting eleven, you’re going to struggle. Niall Wright, Carl Wilson-Denis, Jamie Byatt and Lee Hall would start every week without a doubt. Plus you could make an argument for Jason Turley and Danny Green, who both could be starting at the minute… of course we’re going to struggle.

“In all honesty, at half time and two-nil down, the game was over. We didn’t have enough quality to turn that around today.  

“I’ve said to the lads, I’m not going to scream and shout at them. Maybe they just aren’t good enough. Maybe it is going to be a long hard winter and we are going to be struggling. That might get a reaction from them.”

Corinthian-Casuals 1-2 Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 1st November 2014
Report by Carl Waterfield

Corinthian-Casuals welcomed a Whitstable Town side on the back of a morale boosting midweek win and were disappointed not to pick up at least a point in a tightly fought match at King George’s Field.

Matt Howard made one change from the side that beat Hastings United on Tuesday night, with Bamoussa Cisse replacing Tuesday goalscorer, Carl Wilson-Denis.

It was the away side who got the ball down and passed it about in the early exchanges with Casuals limited to scrappy long balls. Neither side was about to produce a meaningful chance, and the centre back pairing of Joe Hicks and Dan Bedford was solid in the air and clearing any high ball that came their way.

Most of Casuals’ chances in the first half came down their left, with winger Dave Hodges enjoying some good runs. Two such runs in the first quarter of the match found an alert Luke Watkins in the Whitstable goal, who had to dive on balls at the feet of Cisse and winger, Jeuvan Spencer.

Midway through the half and only a brilliant save by Danny Bracken in the Casuals’ goal denied Kane Rowland a goal as he dived to his right to tip wide a shot that looked destined to hit the top corner.

It was somewhat against the run of play when Whitstable took the lead in the 29th minute. Scott Heard found himself one-on-one with Bracken and squared the ball for captain Ian Pulman to pass the ball into an empty net.

Whitstable seemed to get a little flustered in defence after taking the lead. A dangerous back-pass and a missed clearance gave Watkins a couple nervy moments. He had to be equally alert when a Byatt cross washeaded back towards his own goal by Jake Mackenzie but Watkins was able to tip it over the bar.

Whitstable could have, and perhaps should have, doubled their lead just before the break. A cross from Scott Heard was headed down by Rowland and Pulman shot wide when it looked easier to score. A let off that saw Casuals go into the half time break just the one goal down.

As has been the case in many matches this season, the home side looked to get back on equal terms with Spencer getting a couple of early shots off, both saved by Watkins in goal.

Matt Howard chose to shuffle his pack for the last half hour with Cisse and Spencer making way for Mason Welch-Turner and Michael Salako, with the marauding Jordan Vidal moving to the right wing.

Casuals began to pile on the pressure, searching for that elusive equaliser, but again it was Whitstable that should have further increased their advantage when a dangerous cross was put out for a corner by Welch-Turner. From the resulting set piece, Town centre back Joe Kennett put his unmarked header wide of Bracken’s post.

After Whitstable substitute Tom Lounes was booked for simulation, he ultimately won the game for the visitors when they were awarded a penalty by the referee, following a foul in the box by Bedford.

With the match seemingly over, the home did not give up and laid siege to the Town goal. Within two minutes, they had pulled a goal back. Hodges knocked the ball out wide and Jake Gill’s cross was headed home by Salako.

This set up a dramatic grandstand finish with Casuals launching attack after attack but Joe Hicks and Jamie Byatt could only shoot wide and the game finished with Whitstable picking up their first win for five league matches and Corinthian-Casuals frustrated at having not picked up what would have been a deserved point.

Stuart Tree's photos can be seen here.