Casuals Ignite The Night

Corinthian-Casuals 5-1 Molesey
Ryman Dicision One South
Tuesday 10th January 2017
Match report:Cameron Smith.  Photo: Andy Nunn (Full set HERE)

After the infamous floodlight failure in November, the replay of Corinthian Casuals
versus Molesey resulted in a comfortable 5-1 victory for Corinth, who netted four
times during an explosive second-half performance.

On Saturday 5th November, Corinthian Casuals faced Molesey in the Ryman Division One
South. All was well (Casuals were winning 2-0!) until the seventy-first minute, when the
floodlights around King George’s were judged insufficient. The referee called the players
off the pitch as the game was officially abandoned. Goals from Okojie and Gallagher
sealed three points before the result was cruelly removed as the rematch was scheduled
for the new year.

Now, it’s Tuesday 10th January 2017- both sides have finally locked horns for the rematch.
Molesey, who have only collected a point from four games, travelled to King George’s
hoping to complete ninety minutes of football. Gritty, Molesey have a structured set-up but
are located in the bottom half of the table this season, in 20th place.

Looking to provide the first win of 2017, James Bracken made a few bold changes in the
starting XI as Jack Strange earned a place at centre-back ahead of Terry Murray. The
flanks were occupied by Juevan Spencer (right-back) and the sparkling Warren Morgan,
who would terrorise Molesey’s defence on the left whilst Dave Hodges missed out.
Bettache and Uzun were the holding midfielders, Cheklit was given an opportunity on the
wing as well as the inclusion of Jamie Byatt, also on the wing. Would these changes
ensure three points?

Silky wing play saw half-chances pop up for the hosts inside the first ten minutes as the
darting runs of Cheklit menaced the full-backs. Another provider of danger was the tricky
Warren Morgan. Despite playing in his unnatural position, Morgan managed to fool
Molesey’s Josh Andrews with a cheeky prod which left him space to deliver a cross to
Jamie Byatt in the centre. Scuffing his first chance, Byatt then chipped the ball with his
right-foot into the top corner of the net as he jokingly celebrated with the Casuals
contingent in the fourteenth minute. Searching for the essential second, the chocolate and
pink shirts swarmed towards the cramped area with confidence- Shaun Okojie dragged a
shot just wide of the post following a powerful attacking move.

Chances heavily one-sided, the game was unexpectedly levelled. Light-blue jerseys of
Molesey took advantage of stationary defending as a low cross was fired past Danny
Bracken and across goal for… Casuals’ Warren Morgan. The left-back could only slot into
his own net as the power on the assist caught him by surprise- the score was 1-1.
Attempting to repair a period of lost concentration, Casuals continued with their attacking
duties in the form of Cheklit. The winger beautifully crossed the ball on the by-line to Byatt,
who peeled away from his marker at the back post but could only guide a looping header
into the hands of keeper Liam Allen. First-half brought to a close, Corinthians must have
been wondering how the score was equal?

Fluidity in movement created a few half-chances for Casuals as the home side struggled to
find the edge until the 52nd minute, where Josh Uzun netted a screamer. With the famous
‘Two Joshes In Our Team’ chant echoing around the ground, Gallagher stabbed the ball
towards Uzun and from around twenty-five yards, ejected a remarkable effort, which
seamlessly sailed into the top corner of the net as Corinth were ahead- in style. Never
putting on the brakes, Casuals were on the move once more as Gallagher powered a shot
towards goal but it was wide of Allen’s post.

With the third lingering, Juevan Spencer took the matter into his own hands as his mazy
run left defenders for dead before delivering for the oncoming Okojie, who slammed the
ball into the net. Cue the cool celebrations from Super Shaun as the score was made 3-1.
Nine minutes later, Byatt’s inch-perfect cross was satisfyingly nodded on with accuracy
and power by the danger-man Okojie, who was lurking in the centre. Easily beating Allen
in net, the well-worked goal adjusted the score-line to 4-1!

Chances for both sides arose as Danny Dudley heroically hooked the ball from the goalline
to prevent Molesey from scoring their second. However, Corinth comfortably
dominated and somehow did not add a fifth when substitute Max Oldham connected to a
failed Jack Strange chance from yards out. Strange, who was the Man Of The Match, had
a header cleared off the line by Moles’ Ashby Charles. Then, the fifth arrived, with
substitute Jordan Clarke wonderfully shrugging off defenders to slot home, through the
legs of keeper Allen.

At full-time, the Casuals’ players delightedly shook the hands of the (as always) fantastic
crowd before exiting and preparing for a tough clash in Tolworth on Saturday versus
fellow-promotion-hunting side Cray Wanderers. We thank the Molesey fans and players for
travelling down to King George’s, on two occasions!