Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 1 Bishop's Stortford
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 9th February 2019
Match report: Cameron Smith & Joshua Doherty. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Warren Mfula’s well-worked opener was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by Bishop’s Stortford, who managed to stop the rejuvenated Corinthian-Casuals from stealing a winner and gaining a much-needed win in the 1-1 draw at King George’s.
Luke Blewden’s second goal in midweek was a punch to the gut for the Casuals supporters; Lewes were 2-0 winners in Tolworth and despite supporting their side for the whole 90 minutes, there was no reward for the Corinth. And it was undoubtedly the same for the players and staff, who had tried their best against a tough side… it was just one of those days. It had been one of those days for seven straight games but Bishop’s Stortford arrived to the windy King George’s with only two points in the last five. Would James Bracken’s pink and brown army break their own poor form or would they break the Blues’ lack of victories?
Whilst journeyman striker Jamie Cureton sat on the Bishop’s Stortford bench at the age of 43, there was another veteran goal-scorer in Tolworth watching on from the substitutes. Jamie Byatt was training for the Casuals before the match and the contingent were beaming with his return- Busy is truly back! Majed Osman was replaced by Benjamin Aghadiuno in the only change for Casuals.
Pink and brown versus white, the tone was set early on for the rest of the game through scrappy congestion in midfield and long balls moving all over the place. Heavily affected by the wind, goal kicks and set-pieces were unpredictable so goalkeepers needed to be alert. Mfula was positioned on the right flank when he curled a shot (or a lucky cross) that dangerously dipped towards the keeper’s top left corner. Janata moved quickly to tip it over the bar and despite the lack of key chances, Casuals seemed to dominate from there. The final ball was the only problem and not even a deflected clearance off Jack Strange’s shin after a Adelakun corner could Corinth take the lead.
Would this be another day where the opposition would break away and steal the opening goal against the run of play? Adelakun’s brilliant cross was perfect for Odunaike at the back post, who managed to find space against the exhausted Alfie Mason at left-back. Controlling and instead of shooting like the supporters behind the goal urged, Odunaike was intelligent when he cut back for Mfula. The no.10 hit a first-time effort into the bottom right corner with such composure that he made it look routine and wheeled away in celebration. It was his seventeeth of the season, and Casuals had struck gold with only seven minutes left of the half.
The aim was to transition into the second-half with a one goal lead but this plan went out the window with a corner for Bishop’s Stortford. Chucked into the area, a seemingly-unmarked Johnville Renee nodded past Bracken and levelled the game, much to the annoyance of Corinthians.
It was the definition of bittersweet for Casuals, who should be proud of their attacking exploits in the first half but one moment of distraction allowed the visitors to equalise.
A lot could happen in 45 minutes, and a lot did. The scrappy nature of the game continued, but the chances were all for the pink and brown army. An example of Casuals’ luck was Jack Tucker’s early cross that Benji Aghadiuno got his head onto first, which lifted the ball over the keeper’s head and towards the goal. No.5 Ryan Henshaw booted the ball away before it reached the line and agonisingly, Bishop’s Stortford got away with it again.
It was in the final 10/15 minutes where Casuals were in their element. A delectable delivery from sub Josh Uzun missed the solid connection of a few pink shirts before it was cleared, and Uzun was in the centre of a key attack for Casuals again moments later. It was a ridiculously well-mannered move considering the time and place; Uzun placed the ball with a shot that did not meet the net or keeper, but the hand of a Stortford defender. The referee was positioned perfectly to give the penalty, but chose not to and waved away angry appeals from everyone involved with Corinthian-Casuals. Hands on heads, Casuals martyred through the pain of the decision and Aghadiuno’s flick was saved by the orange shirt in between the sticks.
Jamie Byatt was introduced for the final few minutes, which was the biggest cheer of the day and seemed to lift the withering morale of the Casuals squad. Bishop’s Stortford battled to the end and perhaps it was the adrenaline of their fantastic defensive performance that had caused centre-back Adam Bailey-Dennis to lunge into a reckless challenge in the 90th minute. Aghadiuno was the target and the referee saw the intent. Bailey-Dennis was dismissed and for the final moments, everyone was behind the ball for the visitors. Jack Strange’s chance at the death was the final opportunity to grab three points from the game, but unfortunately the keeper managed to save it. Frustrating to say the least, it was 1-1 at King George’s at the end of 90 minutes.
Those 90 minutes were certainly difficult and a win could have easily been achieved, but Bishop’s Stortford were a sturdy side that we wish the best of luck for the rest of the season. Nine games left turn into eight games left and sadly six points from the relegation zone turn into five as Harlow Town beat Kingstonian 3-1. Casuals’ next three games could not get any harder- a trip to Tonbridge to face the Angels before top-of-the-league Dorking Wanderers and Carshalton Atheltic arrive in Tolworth. Not only is it just three cup finals, but all eight games left are monumental to Casuals’ survival in the Bostik Premier.
"We conceded just before half-time but the run of the decisions that went in to that was really disappointing for us, and to be honest, I don't think the referee had a good game," said Manager James Bracken afterwards.
"We definitely should have had a penalty in the second half, that he didn't give us. My players never appeal for anything in bulk, ever, I tell them to and they don't. Every one of the 11 and my bench was all up, and its a penalty, no doubt. Funnily enough, we had one on Tuesday night that we didn't get and when we watched it back we could see that he had his hands above his head and blocks the shot. That's two in the last two games now, but when you aren't getting the run of the green and your luck is not quite falling for you you don't get them, and we definitely haven't.
"In terms of performance however, we are pleased with it. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to win a game of football today and get the second goal, we had a couple cleared off the line and a few we didn't quite get right, but I am pleased. That's one defeat in the last three now and that's certainly more positive form than the run of defeats we had before. We need to keep building and not accept that we are there now, because we're not. We need to do more again to get a few wins.
"We played a side that was not long ago in the conference south and we have given more than a good enough account for ourselves and unlucky no to win at a level we shouldn't be operating at. We have to take a sense of pride in that, but obviously points are better. We need to pick up 2 or 3/4 wins out of these last eight games to ensure we are where we deserve to be. "
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 9th February 2019
Match report: Cameron Smith & Joshua Doherty. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Warren Mfula’s well-worked opener was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by Bishop’s Stortford, who managed to stop the rejuvenated Corinthian-Casuals from stealing a winner and gaining a much-needed win in the 1-1 draw at King George’s.
Luke Blewden’s second goal in midweek was a punch to the gut for the Casuals supporters; Lewes were 2-0 winners in Tolworth and despite supporting their side for the whole 90 minutes, there was no reward for the Corinth. And it was undoubtedly the same for the players and staff, who had tried their best against a tough side… it was just one of those days. It had been one of those days for seven straight games but Bishop’s Stortford arrived to the windy King George’s with only two points in the last five. Would James Bracken’s pink and brown army break their own poor form or would they break the Blues’ lack of victories?
Whilst journeyman striker Jamie Cureton sat on the Bishop’s Stortford bench at the age of 43, there was another veteran goal-scorer in Tolworth watching on from the substitutes. Jamie Byatt was training for the Casuals before the match and the contingent were beaming with his return- Busy is truly back! Majed Osman was replaced by Benjamin Aghadiuno in the only change for Casuals.
Pink and brown versus white, the tone was set early on for the rest of the game through scrappy congestion in midfield and long balls moving all over the place. Heavily affected by the wind, goal kicks and set-pieces were unpredictable so goalkeepers needed to be alert. Mfula was positioned on the right flank when he curled a shot (or a lucky cross) that dangerously dipped towards the keeper’s top left corner. Janata moved quickly to tip it over the bar and despite the lack of key chances, Casuals seemed to dominate from there. The final ball was the only problem and not even a deflected clearance off Jack Strange’s shin after a Adelakun corner could Corinth take the lead.
Would this be another day where the opposition would break away and steal the opening goal against the run of play? Adelakun’s brilliant cross was perfect for Odunaike at the back post, who managed to find space against the exhausted Alfie Mason at left-back. Controlling and instead of shooting like the supporters behind the goal urged, Odunaike was intelligent when he cut back for Mfula. The no.10 hit a first-time effort into the bottom right corner with such composure that he made it look routine and wheeled away in celebration. It was his seventeeth of the season, and Casuals had struck gold with only seven minutes left of the half.
The aim was to transition into the second-half with a one goal lead but this plan went out the window with a corner for Bishop’s Stortford. Chucked into the area, a seemingly-unmarked Johnville Renee nodded past Bracken and levelled the game, much to the annoyance of Corinthians.
It was the definition of bittersweet for Casuals, who should be proud of their attacking exploits in the first half but one moment of distraction allowed the visitors to equalise.
A lot could happen in 45 minutes, and a lot did. The scrappy nature of the game continued, but the chances were all for the pink and brown army. An example of Casuals’ luck was Jack Tucker’s early cross that Benji Aghadiuno got his head onto first, which lifted the ball over the keeper’s head and towards the goal. No.5 Ryan Henshaw booted the ball away before it reached the line and agonisingly, Bishop’s Stortford got away with it again.
It was in the final 10/15 minutes where Casuals were in their element. A delectable delivery from sub Josh Uzun missed the solid connection of a few pink shirts before it was cleared, and Uzun was in the centre of a key attack for Casuals again moments later. It was a ridiculously well-mannered move considering the time and place; Uzun placed the ball with a shot that did not meet the net or keeper, but the hand of a Stortford defender. The referee was positioned perfectly to give the penalty, but chose not to and waved away angry appeals from everyone involved with Corinthian-Casuals. Hands on heads, Casuals martyred through the pain of the decision and Aghadiuno’s flick was saved by the orange shirt in between the sticks.
Jamie Byatt was introduced for the final few minutes, which was the biggest cheer of the day and seemed to lift the withering morale of the Casuals squad. Bishop’s Stortford battled to the end and perhaps it was the adrenaline of their fantastic defensive performance that had caused centre-back Adam Bailey-Dennis to lunge into a reckless challenge in the 90th minute. Aghadiuno was the target and the referee saw the intent. Bailey-Dennis was dismissed and for the final moments, everyone was behind the ball for the visitors. Jack Strange’s chance at the death was the final opportunity to grab three points from the game, but unfortunately the keeper managed to save it. Frustrating to say the least, it was 1-1 at King George’s at the end of 90 minutes.
Those 90 minutes were certainly difficult and a win could have easily been achieved, but Bishop’s Stortford were a sturdy side that we wish the best of luck for the rest of the season. Nine games left turn into eight games left and sadly six points from the relegation zone turn into five as Harlow Town beat Kingstonian 3-1. Casuals’ next three games could not get any harder- a trip to Tonbridge to face the Angels before top-of-the-league Dorking Wanderers and Carshalton Atheltic arrive in Tolworth. Not only is it just three cup finals, but all eight games left are monumental to Casuals’ survival in the Bostik Premier.
"We conceded just before half-time but the run of the decisions that went in to that was really disappointing for us, and to be honest, I don't think the referee had a good game," said Manager James Bracken afterwards.
"We definitely should have had a penalty in the second half, that he didn't give us. My players never appeal for anything in bulk, ever, I tell them to and they don't. Every one of the 11 and my bench was all up, and its a penalty, no doubt. Funnily enough, we had one on Tuesday night that we didn't get and when we watched it back we could see that he had his hands above his head and blocks the shot. That's two in the last two games now, but when you aren't getting the run of the green and your luck is not quite falling for you you don't get them, and we definitely haven't.
"In terms of performance however, we are pleased with it. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to win a game of football today and get the second goal, we had a couple cleared off the line and a few we didn't quite get right, but I am pleased. That's one defeat in the last three now and that's certainly more positive form than the run of defeats we had before. We need to keep building and not accept that we are there now, because we're not. We need to do more again to get a few wins.
"We played a side that was not long ago in the conference south and we have given more than a good enough account for ourselves and unlucky no to win at a level we shouldn't be operating at. We have to take a sense of pride in that, but obviously points are better. We need to pick up 2 or 3/4 wins out of these last eight games to ensure we are where we deserve to be. "
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