Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 6 Hythe Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 10th September 2016
Attendance: 112
Match report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
On a gloomy afternoon in Tolworth, Corinthian Casuals were swept off their feet by the majestic Hythe Town in a high-scoring, yet disheartening, 6-3 defeat in the Ryman Division One South.
A morale-boosting 5-2 victory fresh in James Bracken’s mind, there were no changes to the impressive back four, which included man-of-the-match and goal-scorer Jack Strange. The suspended Jordan Clarke returned to the starting XI ahead of Josh Uzun whilst Juevan Spencer was replaced by fan favorite Mahrez Bettache. ‘Super Maz’ was starting his first match since rejoining Casuals from Hendon. The opposition, Hythe Town, were off the back of a 2-1 win over Faversham Town on Tuesday. Two wins, two draws and one loss, Hythe travelled to King George’s with intentions to improve on their mid-table status.
As the wind howled and the rain fell, Casuals lined up in a new home kit for the first time, retaining the historic, fabulously-unique pink and chocolate while the visitors wore blue. It was clear that the kit wasn’t the only thing that was new-look, as the midfield were struggling to keep up with the fast attacking style of Hythe. In the 19th minute, the Cannons edged ahead after no.9 Frankie Sawyer sent Bracken the wrong way to score a penalty. Identical to the penalty incident against Guernsey on Tuesday, Casuals had given Hythe a chance to open the scoring, which they did.
Five minutes later, a controversial refereeing decision saw Terry Murray earn himself a yellow card for a sliding tackle when the defender looked like he had slipped on the wet surface. Despite protests, a free-kick on the edge of the area was given. That free-kick was beautifully converted by Sam Adams as Hythe doubled their lead. Two set-pieces sealed Casuals’ fate. Lack of creativity, the new set-up did not seem to be working for Corinth. Thankfully, the referee’s whistle blew and the horrendous first half was over.
Substitute Josh Algar scored two minutes from the edge of the area after the re-start to continue Corinth’s horror story. Questionable gaps in Casuals’ defence were opened ten minutes later as Alfie May slotted past Bracken when allowed clean through on goal to add the fourth. Minutes after, May scored again, this time a fire-cracker of a volley. Flying into the roof of the net, the score-line was now five goals to nil.
Finally, Casuals found their feet as Maz Bettache fired the ball off the crossbar and into the net to pull a goal back twenty minutes from time. Hythe relentlessly replied with another goal, May grabbing his astonishing twelve minute hat-trick after dispatching another 1 on 1 situation. After going 6-1 down, James Bracken made a double change, implementing midfielder Josh Uzun and defender Danny Dudley. Uzun, fresh from scoring a brilliant goal against Guernsey, netted Casuals’ second of the game, rifling a Byatt cross past Hythe’s Joe Mant. In the 89th minute, the unusually-quiet Okojie tapped the ball into the empty net after finishing what Shaun Brown could not. It was his fifth goal in three games; the game ended 6-3. Despite the overwhelming score-line, Casuals maintained character and determination to restore pride when 5-0 down, which showcased the level of care and love the players have for the game.
The away side marched from King George’s with three well-deserved points. Eighth place, Hythe played Faversham next in the Robert Dyas League Cup on Tuesday evening. Casuals also are set to play against Whyteleafe in the Cup on the same evening before taking a trip down the A217 for a league clash against Chipstead. Behind high-flying Tooting and Dorking Wanderers, Casuals sit in third, still in contention.
After the match, boss Bracken said, "Whether the first decision is a penalty or a slip, I don't know but when two players come together in the box, with their player goal-side, a spot kick is often given. If it's the other way round, it probably doesn't get given as a free kick and the ball rolls out of play. But it's been given and that's how it goes sometimes.
"But the next decision, the one that leads to their second goal is the real harmful one. Terry slips over, not even aware of the attacker and ends up on the floor with his back to the forward, who falls over the top of him. If you had a player injured on the pitch and someone fell over him, a free kick would never be given. Our player is oblivious to what has happened. I think the reaction of most summed it up. Their manager has even agreed that should never have been given. But the decisions made throughout the game were poor if I'm honest.
"At half time, I told the lads in the changing room that we'll score three. I had seen enough in the first period to be encouraged and knew what needed to be changed at half time in terms of making us a little more effective going forward. We didn't have enough width in the first half and no real overlap from the full backs - we were too narrow. We were stifled and that had to change.
"We scored the three that I said we would but conversely, we've let in another four. We can't dress it up as anything. It's just one of those days.
"I've not shouted at them afterwards. I said to the lads, sometimes you play a side where every shot they hit goes in. They've had a penalty, a free kick where the chap has stuck it in the top corner, a shot where the ball has skidded over Dan's hand and a volley from the back post that he'll never hit again.
"But when you look at how many chances they miss, there wasn't many. They've had probably seven chances as they should've scored the one they put over the bar. Almost every time they took a shot, it went in the goal. Sometimes that happens. There'll be a game where we don't play particularly well but go on to score four or five ourselves because every time we hit the ball it goes in the net. It's one of those days. There's no point dwelling on it now and we'll put it down to experience... we've just got to move on.
"I won't be mixing it up as much as I'd planned to on Tuesday. Our goal is to not lose two games on the spin. So we'll put out a strong team and set our sights on winning. There will be changes – the boys on the bench will get a game and perhaps one or two from the reserves squad that have been doing well. It's a chance for those who are looking to get back a bit of fitness to get ninety minutes in.
"Ultimately, we're still searching for the balance between attacking and defending. How many attackers do we put in and how do we ensure we're a little more solid and resilient to conceding goals? We'll use this as an opportunity to look at a few things and tinker with it slightly. It's not right with the amount of goals we're letting in."
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 10th September 2016
Attendance: 112
Match report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
On a gloomy afternoon in Tolworth, Corinthian Casuals were swept off their feet by the majestic Hythe Town in a high-scoring, yet disheartening, 6-3 defeat in the Ryman Division One South.
A morale-boosting 5-2 victory fresh in James Bracken’s mind, there were no changes to the impressive back four, which included man-of-the-match and goal-scorer Jack Strange. The suspended Jordan Clarke returned to the starting XI ahead of Josh Uzun whilst Juevan Spencer was replaced by fan favorite Mahrez Bettache. ‘Super Maz’ was starting his first match since rejoining Casuals from Hendon. The opposition, Hythe Town, were off the back of a 2-1 win over Faversham Town on Tuesday. Two wins, two draws and one loss, Hythe travelled to King George’s with intentions to improve on their mid-table status.
As the wind howled and the rain fell, Casuals lined up in a new home kit for the first time, retaining the historic, fabulously-unique pink and chocolate while the visitors wore blue. It was clear that the kit wasn’t the only thing that was new-look, as the midfield were struggling to keep up with the fast attacking style of Hythe. In the 19th minute, the Cannons edged ahead after no.9 Frankie Sawyer sent Bracken the wrong way to score a penalty. Identical to the penalty incident against Guernsey on Tuesday, Casuals had given Hythe a chance to open the scoring, which they did.
Five minutes later, a controversial refereeing decision saw Terry Murray earn himself a yellow card for a sliding tackle when the defender looked like he had slipped on the wet surface. Despite protests, a free-kick on the edge of the area was given. That free-kick was beautifully converted by Sam Adams as Hythe doubled their lead. Two set-pieces sealed Casuals’ fate. Lack of creativity, the new set-up did not seem to be working for Corinth. Thankfully, the referee’s whistle blew and the horrendous first half was over.
Substitute Josh Algar scored two minutes from the edge of the area after the re-start to continue Corinth’s horror story. Questionable gaps in Casuals’ defence were opened ten minutes later as Alfie May slotted past Bracken when allowed clean through on goal to add the fourth. Minutes after, May scored again, this time a fire-cracker of a volley. Flying into the roof of the net, the score-line was now five goals to nil.
Finally, Casuals found their feet as Maz Bettache fired the ball off the crossbar and into the net to pull a goal back twenty minutes from time. Hythe relentlessly replied with another goal, May grabbing his astonishing twelve minute hat-trick after dispatching another 1 on 1 situation. After going 6-1 down, James Bracken made a double change, implementing midfielder Josh Uzun and defender Danny Dudley. Uzun, fresh from scoring a brilliant goal against Guernsey, netted Casuals’ second of the game, rifling a Byatt cross past Hythe’s Joe Mant. In the 89th minute, the unusually-quiet Okojie tapped the ball into the empty net after finishing what Shaun Brown could not. It was his fifth goal in three games; the game ended 6-3. Despite the overwhelming score-line, Casuals maintained character and determination to restore pride when 5-0 down, which showcased the level of care and love the players have for the game.
The away side marched from King George’s with three well-deserved points. Eighth place, Hythe played Faversham next in the Robert Dyas League Cup on Tuesday evening. Casuals also are set to play against Whyteleafe in the Cup on the same evening before taking a trip down the A217 for a league clash against Chipstead. Behind high-flying Tooting and Dorking Wanderers, Casuals sit in third, still in contention.
After the match, boss Bracken said, "Whether the first decision is a penalty or a slip, I don't know but when two players come together in the box, with their player goal-side, a spot kick is often given. If it's the other way round, it probably doesn't get given as a free kick and the ball rolls out of play. But it's been given and that's how it goes sometimes.
"But the next decision, the one that leads to their second goal is the real harmful one. Terry slips over, not even aware of the attacker and ends up on the floor with his back to the forward, who falls over the top of him. If you had a player injured on the pitch and someone fell over him, a free kick would never be given. Our player is oblivious to what has happened. I think the reaction of most summed it up. Their manager has even agreed that should never have been given. But the decisions made throughout the game were poor if I'm honest.
"At half time, I told the lads in the changing room that we'll score three. I had seen enough in the first period to be encouraged and knew what needed to be changed at half time in terms of making us a little more effective going forward. We didn't have enough width in the first half and no real overlap from the full backs - we were too narrow. We were stifled and that had to change.
"We scored the three that I said we would but conversely, we've let in another four. We can't dress it up as anything. It's just one of those days.
"I've not shouted at them afterwards. I said to the lads, sometimes you play a side where every shot they hit goes in. They've had a penalty, a free kick where the chap has stuck it in the top corner, a shot where the ball has skidded over Dan's hand and a volley from the back post that he'll never hit again.
"But when you look at how many chances they miss, there wasn't many. They've had probably seven chances as they should've scored the one they put over the bar. Almost every time they took a shot, it went in the goal. Sometimes that happens. There'll be a game where we don't play particularly well but go on to score four or five ourselves because every time we hit the ball it goes in the net. It's one of those days. There's no point dwelling on it now and we'll put it down to experience... we've just got to move on.
"I won't be mixing it up as much as I'd planned to on Tuesday. Our goal is to not lose two games on the spin. So we'll put out a strong team and set our sights on winning. There will be changes – the boys on the bench will get a game and perhaps one or two from the reserves squad that have been doing well. It's a chance for those who are looking to get back a bit of fitness to get ninety minutes in.
"Ultimately, we're still searching for the balance between attacking and defending. How many attackers do we put in and how do we ensure we're a little more solid and resilient to conceding goals? We'll use this as an opportunity to look at a few things and tinker with it slightly. It's not right with the amount of goals we're letting in."
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