Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 17th November 2018
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
For the second time this season, Corinthian-Casuals came away from Carshalton Athletic with a victory, scoring three goals in the process.
Goals from Jordan Clarke, Warren Mfula and Gabriel Odunaike was enough to give Casuals a second away win in the space of four days and move the Tolworth-based outfit up to 12th in the Bostik League Premier table.
Following a dramatic late winner at Bognor on Tuesday night, Casuals faced another stern test in local rivals, Carshalton who’d won their last five league matches on the bounce.
However, Casuals would have recent memories of the Velocity Trophy win to call upon after Casuals disposed of the Robins at the same venue just weeks ago.
Corinth started brightly and were ahead after just six minutes. Clarke fired home from ten yards following a penetrating run from Juevan Spencer on the right. Buoyed by the early lead, Casuals continued to control the game.
Hearts were in mouths when Robins’ Ricky Korboa was upended in the Corinth box, however, strong appeals were instantly waved away by the official. By rights, it should’ve been awarded.
Casuals could’ve gone into the break, two goals to the good if not for Daniel Pappoe clearing one off the line for the home side.
Robins were level just after half-time. Korboa was able to beat Danny Bracken to a loose ball and with the keeper in no-man’s land, the striker happily slotted home into an empty net.
But the lead was restored on 57 minutes when an excellent through ball played in Odunaike who was upended in the box, with Mfula on hand to finish the move, neatly firing home with two covering defenders guarding the line.
It was to be one-all with penalty claims turned down as Spencer was fouled by Jordan Cheadle with the referee choosing to play on. Ironically, it was Spencer who upended Korboa at the other end which finally led to a spot kick being awarded. Omar Koroma converted to level the scores once again.
But it was to be Casuals’ day; A goalmouth scramble resulted in the ball being cleared only as far as Mu Maan, who’s shot took a wicked deflection off Odunaike with keeper Ohman completely wrong-footed.
Despite a couple of close calls, one which Cheadle skimmed the crossbar from a free kick, Casuals held on for the win which sees James Bracken’s side climb two places up to twelfth.
Read Manager James Bracken’s post-match thoughts here.