Corinthian-Casuals 4-0 Horsham
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 27th December 2014
Attendance: 160
Match report and pics: Stuart Tree

Corinthian-Casuals star striker Jamie Byatt notched his 100th goal for the club in style after bagging a hat-trick in Casual’s impressive 4-0 win over Horsham.

And boss Matt Howard labelled the achievement as ‘amazing’ and ‘one heck of a record’ in a performance that saw Casuals win only their third league game in fourteen to ease any pressure of being dragged into a relegation scrap.

Howard had almost a full squad to choose from for the first time in months and welcomed back captain Joe Hicks after his four game suspension. It was probably no coincidence that Corinth kept a clean sheet having their first choice centre-backs playing together once again.

Horsham came to King George’s as the bottom club in the Ryman League after only picking up five points in their last eight league games… a record worse than Casuals.

In the first half bereft of any goals, most of the chances fell to the home side. Maz Bettache and Juevan Spencer linking well which saw the former miss a couple of decent half-chances. Horsham’s only notable effort came from Tony Nwachukwu’s well hit shot which was expertly matched by Danny Bracken in goal.

On 30 minutes, Horsham’s Ryan Woodford was shown a red card by referee Mr G Read for a dangerous challenge. It was Woodford’s second dismissal in as many matches.

However, though Casuals looked dangerous, especially with the extra man, the teams went into the break on level terms.

The second half saw more of the same until Matt Howard decided to change things around, including the introduction of debutant Olly Taylor. On 72 minutes, Taylor found himself in the Horsham box and a neat cross pass to Byatt saw the diminutive striker lose his footing but still managing to control the ball and poke it into the back of the net. Under strong protestations from the Horsham players for handball, the goal stood and Casuals had the all-important breakthrough.

It was to be the goal that opened the Horsham floodgates; deserved of a goal, Maz Bettache struck just two minutes later when a Dave Hodges cross found the attacking midfielder who blasted home from 20 yards.

A second yellow card for Horsham’s Anthony Storey saw the Hornet’s afternoon get worse and now down to nine men, Casuals sensed more goals and they duly came. In the 86th minute, Billy Joe King fouled the impressive Taylor in the box and Jamie Byatt had no hesitation in taking the penalty, knowing it was for his century of Casuals goals.

And the afternoon was topped off in style for Byatt and the Casuals in time added on as Taylor’s shot from distance was spilled by Lewis Blaney in goal only for Byatt to pounce and prod home for his hat-trick.

With this result, Casuals move up a place to 14th and leave Horsham five points adrift at the foot of the table.

After the game, Manager Matt Howard commented,

“It’s been hard recently. Looking on current form, we’re almost certainties to get relegated. The last thirteen games, we’d won just two and conceded 41 goals. We’ve only conceded 48 all season! It’s been a stark contrast to the first twelve games of the season which saw us go top of the league.

“We’ve struggled with injuries but everyone is coming back to full fitness now. In fairness, it was a hard decision today to pick the first eleven and the substitutes because I have so many now available to me.

“The first 15 minutes, I felt confident we’d get a result today. We moved the ball around well and it was a case of biding our time. As time ticked on and we hadn’t scored, we knew we had a couple of options on the bench which we utilised.

“I said to the lads at half time, once we score the first, we’ll probably go on and get three or four… and we did.

“We can’t just rest on this one result. We need to put a run together now.

“Jamie Byatt’s achievement is amazing… just amazing. That’s one heck of a record. All credit to him. His first goal was an unbelievable finish but he really should’ve laid it off… but you can’t knock it really. Another hat-trick… brilliant!”

More pics can be seen here.

East Grinstead Town 4-1 Corinthian Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 20th December 2014
Attendance: 89
Report: Darren Pasley

Casuals worrying away form continued as they went down 4-1 at lowly East Grinstead Town on Saturday.

With Joe Hicks still sitting out his suspension Nial Wright partnered Danny Dudley in the centre of defence whilst there were recalls for Dave Hodges and Mahrez Bettache

Kicking off down the slope Casuals looked to take advantage of what from the first whistle appeared to be a nervy and error ridden home defence.  

After Freddie Barker had the games first effort with a low shot for the home side Casuals opened the scoring with their first meaningful attack in the 11th minute.

Ross Defoe operating at left back showed good footwork and vision to release Hodges down the left hand side. His cut back found Juevan Spencer who after exchanging passes with Jake Gill delightfully played in Jamie Byatt who curled the ball inside the far post. 

Almost immediately Byatt nearly doubled the lead, after being set free his low shot clipped the outside of the post before deflecting clear.  In the grand scheme of things it turned out to be a pivotal moment as the hosts swept upfield and after debutant Stefan Joseph won a corner the resulting kick saw Casuals fail to clear, leaving Barker to stab home from close range.

At the other end keeper Steele was causing the home fans panic every time he came near the ball with a display of poor handling and woeful kicking. 

Bettache tried his luck from distance in the 17th minute but the effort flew over the bar.

The home side continued to present chances to the visitors and in the 20th minute Byatt after chasing down Sinclair saw Steele’s clearance rebound off him and fall invitingly. However the striker sent the chance well wide of the target.

In the 29th minute skipper Marc Cumberbatch saw a header from a corner saved by Bracken. It was a warning of what was to follow.

Steele came to his sides rescue shortly afterwards by foiling the onrushing Byatt as Hodges pass split the back two open.

The keeper was to present Casuals with one further opportunity as the half grew to a close, this time flapping Hodges high cross but with Spencer seemingly on cue to finish off the winger somehow missed the ball to let the home side off.

It proved costly as almost immediately following a free kick out wide Cumberbatch rose highest to nod past Bracken from 8 yards.

The second period saw Dave Hodges create Casuals first opening as he arrived on the end of Wrights driven free kick but after centring the ball the home side scrambled clear.

The visitors continued to apply the pressure and on the hour Byatt was inches away from equalising as he nodded Hodges cross just wide.

As in the first half after going close the home side took full advantage. This time substitute Dan Stewarts shot seemed harmless enough from the edge of the area but looped perfectly over Bracken after deflecting off the outstretched leg of Nial Wright.

The home side were now in full control with ex Guildford City striker Joseph dominating the Casuals back line. 

He had a hand in his sides 4th with 15 minutes remaining.

After powering his way too the byline his cross was headed clear but only as far as Romario Hart whose half volley deflected off Dudley and wrong-footed Bracken. It summed up the visitor’s afternoon where it seemed nothing had gone their way.

Matt Howard threw on Cisse for the final quarter of an hour and it sparked Casuals best period of the half. The substitute himself flashing a shot just wide before Byatt was denied twice in quick succession by Steele

The keeper for all his faults in the first half was having a fine second and kept out Gills 20 yard effort with an unorthodox leg block. Bettache was last to try his  luck but the ball flew high into the night sky and shortly afterwards the completion of a frustrating 90 minutes.

Walton & Hersham 2-0 Corinthian Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 6th December 2014
Attendance: 120
Report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree



Corinthian Casuals endured a poor afternoon as a lame performance resulted in a 2-0 loss at Walton and Hersham.

In truth a classic was never on the cards as a result of the dire Stompond Lane surface but on the day the home side showed more desire and a solidarity that earned them a deserved 3 points.

With Joe Hicks still serving his 4 match suspension a familiar face ex Ugandan international Meddie Nsubuga made his first appearance of the season alongside Danny Dudley.

The early morning sunshine had thawed out most of the pitch but both sides struggled early on with misplaced passes and mis-control being a feature.

It wasn’t until the 10th minute that the games first effort at goal came. Andrew Mensah on the right crossing for Tyrone Hemmings who held the ball well before teeing up Anthony Oaks who sidefooted wide when well placed.

Mensah the home sides leading scorer was to have a shot himself but saw a right footed effort from 25 yards curl just past Brackens left hand post.

Casuals offering nothing going forward in the early exchanges were working hard to restrict their opponents any clear sights of goal. Harry Mills however saw a long distance effort following a free kick creep through to Bracken who handled well.

With the Swans on top it came as no real surprise when the deadlock was broken in the 28th minute. Full back Nathan Daly was allowed to cross from the right and Mensah nipped ahead of Ben Bowra to control and fire past Bracken for the opening goal.

The visitor’s first effort on goal arrived on 34 minutes when Reece Placid fired tamely across goal into the hands of Gary Ross after being well found by Jamie Byatt.

This sparked what turned out to be Casuals best period of the match in the final 10 minutes of the half. With the interval approaching Carl Wilson-Denis out-muscled his man but after electing to pass to Placid saw the young strikers goal-bound shot deflected for a corner by Dominic Ogun.

From the resulting corner Ross dropped the ball but the ball was scrambled off the line and cleared to safety.

With the sun now gone the cold December wind descended around the athletics track as the second half begun.

In keeping with the first the home side made the early running and Casuals survived an early penalty appeal, as Nsubuga appeared to pull down Mensah after being caught on the ball. Thankfully the referee waved play on to the surprise of most in the ground.

A wake up call for the visitors who went close on 58 minutes when Nial Wright fired an effort from 25 yards just wide

On 63 minutes the hosts nearly doubled their lead when Bracken was lucky to recover and grab the ball after misjudging a long punt upfield.

The game was wrapped up with 10 minutes remaining when substitute Dylan Cascoe raced onto Harry Miles long bass before lofting the ball over the advancing Bracken.

Casuals nearly grabbed a consolation in injury time but Jake Gill’ effort was wide and the whistle sounded shortly afterwards to conclude a poor afternoon.

Speaking after the match Matt Howard commented

“ That was poor today and I let the lads know afterwards how disappointed I was”

“Without making any excuses the pitch was a shocker – we changed our line-up as a result but I cant deny they wanted it more than us”

“ We now have a two week break and myself and Luke will be doing our uttermost to ensure we are prepared for our busy Christmas schedule where we face the sides at the bottom of the table”


Stuart Tree's full set of pictures can be viewed by clicking here