Corinthian-Casuals 1 – 2 Burgess Hill Town
Velocity Trophy Knockout Stage
Tuesday 4th February 2020
Photos from the match can be seen here.
​More pics courtesy of Andy Nunn can be seen here.
 
Typically, being in a cup competition in early February indicates good progress into the latter stages, but Corinthian-Casuals crashed out at the first hurdle following a 2-1 loss to Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday night.

Hill remain unbeaten, notching up their sixth consecutive win in the Velocity Trophy this season. Radical changes to the tournament meant the Sussex club had to negotiate a group phase before qualifying to play Premier League opposition – in this case, Casuals.

For James Bracken’s side, this was their first foray in the League Cup this season and the second of nine scheduled matches in February – or nearly one game every 72 hours. Therefore, it was unsurprising that he named a changed line-up from that which defeated Lewes at the weekend. There was a debut for ex-AFC Wimbledon defender Jim Fenlon. Jack Tucker returned from dual-registration duty at Frimley Green and Nat Pinney was promoted to the starting line-up. Coskun Ekim returned in place of Matty Bakare whilst Gabriel Odunaike was rested, sitting in the stands for the evening.

Despite this, Casuals settled well and began to carve open Burgess Hill’s defence on multiple occasions. With 20 minutes gone, Corinth found themselves one-up. An excellent cross from the left unusually found makeshift forward Tucker sliding in to bag his first goal for the club.
 
Hill did go close themselves but an excellent clearance from Mark Jamison, from under his own crossbar, saw off the danger of Pat Harding when it was easier to bundle into his own net. However, with Brad Wilson also hitting the post, the half very much belonged to Casuals.

Seeking the all-important second, Corinth applied serious pressure after thebreak. Nat Pinney shot wide and Jack Strange’s header whistled past the far post, all before Brad Wilson’s effort was cleared off the line. However, in the resulting melee, Wilson was awarded a penalty for an adjudged foul. The midfielder himself stepped up but crashed his spot-kick against the foot of the post.

We’ve all seen what happens next; give away countless opportunities and it’ll bite you in the backside. Five minutes later, Hillian Aaron Smith-Joseph’s persistence paid off and forced his way through the defence to fire low past Danny Bracken’s left and into the corner.

Then, out of nothing, on 77 minutes, Mason Dougherty unleashed a wonderful 25-yard ripper into the top corner to send the small band of Hillians into hysteria.

Casuals attempted to rally. The best chance fell to Warren Morgan who met an enticing cross only to inexplicably put it wide. After the match, the stand-in forward still couldn’t understand how he’d missed. The Hill goal had led a charmed life at times, but the score remained 2-1 to the visitors and they booked their place in the next round away to Horsham next week.
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For Bracken, it’s a return to important league action this weekend as the team travel to Margate. Next Tuesday night is Casuals’ last foray in cup competitions, heading to Wingate in the London Senior Cup Quarter Final.    

Burgess Hill Town 2 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 6th April 2019
Report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (set here)

The word to describe the final minutes at the Green Elephant Stadium would be controversial as Corinthian-Casuals conceded twice in five minutes due to scandalous officiating and a late Burgess Hill comeback to lose 2-1.

Rudoni’s run and Maj’s magic was the topic of conversation for the Casuals contingent who travelled down to West Sussex. The 1-0 victory over Carshalton was glorious and with only five games left, James Bracken’s pink and brown army yearned to secure safety for another season.

Most football fans in Sussex would be at Wembley for Brighton & Hove Albion’s cup semi-final clash, or have their eyes glued to the TV for a late kick-off in London. For those stationed in Burgess Hill’s homely Leylands Park, it would be the latter and therefore non-league football first. Bottom of the Bostik Premier, the Hillians had improved as of late and were searching for an upset versus Corinthians, who were not in the clear themselves.

Two changes to the winning side on Saturday- Hakeem Adelakun stepped in at left back as Juevan Spencer played in a more attacking role at no.7; Warren Morgan switched to the right. This meant Oliver Sitch would start on the bench whilst Warren Mfula was on for Kevant Serbony. The pink and brown versus the green of Burgess Hill.

It was all to play for even after a tepid first twenty minutes, brightened a little by an excellent Cruyff turn from the maestro donning no.8 Jack Rudoni. A Man-Of-The-Match performance on his debut and assisting the winner the game after, Rudoni looked to continue his form for the Casuals. Mfula had the chance to boot the ball back into the danger zone early on, and his attempt bounced off Tolulope Jonah’s hand and went out for a corner. Waving away penalty appeals despite the connection, the referee gave Corinth the set-piece, in which Ekim looped the ball to the back post for Reece Hannigan. The centre-back looked to nod it across goal and after hitting the post, the ball bounced uncertainly on the goal-line with Mfula getting a touch on it before being cleared. Away supporters behind the goal were half-celebrating and half-appealing as they had the best view in the ground, and they believed it should have been a goal.

Again giving the Hill a defensive headache, Mfula turned and had a long-shot that was swallowed by the keeper. Using his pace and patience that the Casuals were getting used to, Rudoni played a brilliant through ball to Spencer on the right flank, who had all the time in the world… until keeper Josh James closed him down tremendously. Trying to sneak it under the bright yellow shirt, Spencer nearly grabbed a rare goal but it was well-saved by James.

A frustrating first-half for both sides, Casuals were dominating. However, Burgess Hill’s counter attack was an itch that Corinth could not quite scratch. Defending was not what the visitors were doing when the half kicked off though as Majed Osman nodded a long ball towards Mfula in the 46th minute. Prodding the ball past the baffled Toure, the no.9 showed terrific composure and skill to wait and then open up his body to curl a beautiful shot into the keeper’s bottom left hand corner. Celebrations could finally ensue and the pink and brown army mobbed Mfula whilst the away support had something other than appeals to shout about.

Antonio’s efforts in midfield were commendable and as was Spencer despite playing in a different position to most weeks as the no.7 so nearly made it two with a shot high and wide. The introduction of Reyon Dillon was inspired as the striker fed the ball to Osman on the left and cutting in, the attacker hit an effort that was saved yet again by the on-fire James. Dillon’s hold-up play and relationship with Osman was utilised again and somehow Maj’s curling shot smacked the outside of the post instead of spiralling in. Ekim had two free-kicks that were blasted comfortably over, which was the epitome of the half. Complete annihilation up front that was just lacking the finishing touch that Mfula provided after a minute.

All of a sudden, the un-scratchable itch returned. Burgess Hill needed to get some sort of result in order to keep their relegation fears at bay, so Danny Bracken came to rescue Casuals late on with a great save from a corner. This meant another corner to defend, but instead of Bracken being able to come out and collect the ball, sub Pat Harding held Casuals’ no.1's arm and completely blocked him from getting to the chance. The referee did not see any issue and did not call a foul even when Boris Kipeye-Bonno tapped the ball home. Perhaps it was Bracken’s enthusiastic and passionate appeals that the official had to ignore that influenced his later thinking, which sent a mixture of shock and disbelief through everyone in the ground.

Just a minute later, Hannigan and Tommy Wood jumped in the air to head away. Instead of using his feet to return to the ground, Burgess Hill’s Wood flipped mid-air and fell unconvincingly to the ground, feigning some sort of contact. Using the word ‘unconvincing’ was apparent to the Casuals bench, players and supporters as well as the Hill’s bench and players - hence not one cry for 'penalty'. The same cannot be said for the referee. Blowing his whistle and turning everyone’s head, he pointed to the spot. Penalty to Burgess Hill Town with minutes remaining. Even on video replay after the match, there is no contact between the two players and the decision from the officials are baffling. Protests, of course, followed and Morgan was dismissed for the heinous act of showing passion and disagreeing. Tommy Wood scored the penalty. It summed up the men-in-black’s performances when two whole minutes of the five signalled seemed to mean that the game should end. Robbed at the death, Casuals would leave West Sussex devastated as they are defeated 2-1.

Thank you to Burgess Hill for the hospitality; we wish them well for the last four games of the season. Corinthian-Casuals drop to seven points from the relegation zone. Two points below them in 19th, Wingate and Finchley travel to King George’s next Saturday for an extremely important clash. One win will all but guarantee safety!

"I feel we’ve been cheated. 100% cheated," said a furious James Bracken after the match. "But I can find no other words to describe what’s happened in the last ten minutes of the match.

"Their first, our keeper is being held down but the goal is allowed to stand. He then gives a shocking penalty with pretty much the last kick of the game and doesn’t play the full five minutes added on at the end.

"I can handle officials making bad mistakes. I can handle the fact that two of them haven’t seen the ball go a foot over the line in the first half. I can accept that. But I can’t accept being cheated. That man gifted them the game, even gloating afterwards. I asked him what his thinking was for giving the penalty and he couldn’t answer me.

"He knows it’s wrong; his officials know it’s wrong and everyone in the crowd knows it’s wrong. Their management have profusely apologised to me after the final whistle saying we’ve been cheated the worst that they’d ever seen. What more can I say?

"Maybe that’s what we have to contend with. Some say it balances itself out over the course of the season. People might think I’m crazy but we have had no luck all year. None.

"If the referee had put in that level of performance in the Premier League, it’d be scrutinised, he’d be ripped to shreds and the FA would investigate it. Because that’s how bad it was.

"It was another good display from us on what was a tricky pitch. It took us a while to settle. At half time, I didn’t hold back, and I told the boys what needed to be done. We achieved that.

"3-0 would’ve honestly been a fair reflection on the game in terms of chances, possession, threatening attacks and controlled defending. I don’t recall my brother having to make a big save. They didn’t threaten our goal at all until Dan gets held down for their equaliser and lets someone tap it in.

"We should’ve scored more goals, of course. One-nil is always a score that can catch you out, but we never got caught out nor looked like we would. We were simply cheated out of it. We’ve scored one and the referee has scored two. Burgess Hill won 2-1. There’s no more to it than that.

"We’ve been very good in recent weeks but let’s get this right; you can count our poor games on one hand. Enfield at home – we were very poor! Hornchurch away, we were poor. There are not too many others that we’ve not turned up and been competitive – and let’s remember, this is all on no budget.

"We thoroughly deserve to be at this level. I look at teams like Leatherhead, who we’ve beaten twice, and are no better than us. Carshalton, who we’ve beaten three times, are no better than us. We put the levels of performance in consistently. Unfortunately, we’re probably not clinical enough. It takes us a couple more chances than we’d like to put games to bed. But we’ve played everyone, and I rarely come away from games thinking ‘Cor, they were excellent’. Best team we played this season – Bognor Regis Town away… and we won 1-0. Best team by a mile. They played great football, created untold chances, we rode our luck, defended very well and snuck a goal at the death. But there’s no one that’s miles better than us.

"In terms of performance, we’ve been on it, every single week.

"I don’t like losing, I want to be top of the table, but I cannot knock these lads. They’ve been great. They’ve given everything and they continue to do so. They won’t shy away from the challenge. They take the knocks, which we’ve had plenty of, but they’ll be ready to go next week and put another three points on the board."

"We’ve gone out today scored three and kept another clean sheet,” said Manager James Bracken following the 3-0 win over Burgess Hill Town.

"But we could’ve won by maybe a record score in the league this season had we been more clinical. We had so many opportunities. But we can work on that and improve in those areas.

"We were on the front foot from the off and some of the football in the second half was fantastic. At times, I had my right winger overlapping my left winger and when we’re playing as we did, you don’t want to rein it in. The boys were enjoying it; backheels, flicks, tricks – they were all coming out. When you get in a comfortable position, that’s what people pay their money to see.

"We haven’t enjoyed that position too often this season so that was pleasing. We didn’t get too low when we lost a couple in a row and we won’t get too carried away now we’ve won a few on the bounce. They realise that everything comes off the back of hard work. Even in the first half, I’m going crazy on the touchline ensuring they keep up the intensity.

"Hamilton’s scored a great goal. He’s been around me long enough to know what I want from him and what I believe he can do. Today, he’s picked the ball up, driven with it and hit it. That’s what he could’ve done another 15-20 times this season. Had he done so, he’d have probably had at least another five goals to his name.

"That’s true of everybody. They can all do more, do things differently and that’s why we strive to constantly improve. It’s process of play, review, learn, implement and try to be better. That’s what football is about. When do you stop? When you’re the ‘real-deal?’ No, because there’s always room for improvement whether it’s individually or part of the team. We have to embrace that ethos and the boys are.

"Hopefully Hamilton gets the confidence now that when he gets in those positions, he lets a shot off, because he’s got a hammer of a right-foot and sometimes he tries to be too precise. He just needs to put his laces through it."

Speaking of the Leatherhead fixture on Wednesday Night, James Bracken was relishing the chance to go up against his young protégé, Shaun Okojie, who was league top scorer with Casuals two years ago.

“It’ll be good to see Shaun. I can’t ever say anything bad about the lad. He showed loyalty beyond what I could’ve ever expected. He turned down numerous approaches to stay here and believed in what I thought he could become. He done it all; got his move to Aldershot which unfortunately turned out to probably be the wrong move for him at the time. He’s back at this level now and I hope he can kick on once again. Just not on Wednesday. We’ll hope for a blank from him, take three points and I’ll pat him on the back and say hopefully, one day you’ll come back and play for me.

"Leatherhead are a form side but so are we. That’s going to make for a good game.”

Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 0 Burgess Hill Town
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 24th November 2018
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set here​)

​Corinthian-Casuals notched up their third successive Bostik League Premier Division win with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over struggling Burgess Hill Town.

Casuals have climbed to eleventh in the table with the playoff positions in tantalising reach. Manager James Bracken will also be pleased with defensive form having kept two clean sheets in the trio of wins.
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The Hillians arrived at King George’s for the first time in four seasons, on the back of a 3-0 win and a 3-0 loss in the past seven days. New boss Simon Wormull has given the Sussex side some pep and could’ve easily been a threat – especially with Andre McCollin, a player fond in the hearts of old Casuals supporters. McCollin played his early days in Chocolate and Pink and was reminiscing with old strike partner Jamie Byatt prior to kickoff.

If Burgess Hill were to get anything from this game, then they’d have to keep Casuals at bay in the early stages. Alas, in the sixth minute, Warren Mfula broke down the left and finished well to give Corinth the early lead.

The home side enjoyed much of the play and looked dangerous on every attack. A plethora of corners saw Casuals almost score a second. Jack Strange’s header appeared to have crossed the line before Josh James scooped it away, though wasn’t given.

As the half continued, Hill managed to get a foothold in the game but was abruptly halted by a fine effort from Hamilton Antonio. Picking up the ball in his own half, the midfielder evaded a couple of tackles before unleashing a beauty into the corner to make it 2-0. It’ll be hard to top that effort this season.

Casuals had a firm grip on the game and wasn’t going to let that slip. They reduced Hill to long range efforts of which the closest came from McCollin who’s strike clipped the outside of the post. Bracken only had to be sharp to one other effort in the half.

By contrast, at the other end, it was Casuals who continued to pile pressure on the visitor’s back line. Moves were free flowing and neat interactions were aplenty. Coskun Ekim forced a fine stop from James and Reece Hannigan also went close. But it was Strange who got his just rewards with five minutes left, converting a Jordan Clarke cross to condemn Hill to a successive 3-0 loss. 

Read James Bracken's post match comments here.

Burgess Hill Town 2-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 16th August 2014

Corinthian-Casuals Boss Matt Howard believed the blustery conditions played a part in Casuals 2-1 loss to Burgess Hill Town last Saturday.

The Casuals travelled to Sussex for the second time in three days as they took on a Burgess Hill side that finished one point outside the playoff spots last season. Casuals made one change from their impressive 3-1 win over Worthing with Michael Fahm replacing the absent Dave Hodges.

The Hillians came into the match on the back of a 3-3 thriller versus Redhill but were without influential players Spencer Slaughter, Graham Martin, Chris Breach and Stuart Tuck.

Casuals were looking to avoid a repeat of last April where the Hill overturned the visitors 3-0 in the penultimate game of the season.

From the kickoff, Burgess Hill’s intent to take all three points was clear. Goalkeeper Danny Bracken, off the back of a fine performance against Worthing was once again called into action making early saves. Hill’s Greg Luer posed a threat throughout the match and after breaking free of the defence, beat Bracken but couldn’t beat the post, with the ball rebounding safely back in the keeper’s hands.

However, on 37 minutes the deadlock was broken; Greg Luer once again causing problems. Casuals had several chances to clear the ball but Luer’s mazy run across the box ended with a low shot into the bottom corner which even Bracken couldn’t do anything about.

Casuals could’ve been going into the break two down if it wasn’t for a fantastic save from Bracken when he expertly tipped over a close range header. Casuals looked to push for an equaliser but although Michael Fahm often penetrated Burgess Hill’s defence, a shot on goal was rare.

After the break and with the blustery wind behind their back, Casuals pressed to get back into the game. Juevan Spencer caused the hosts all manner of problems with his pace and guile. Jordan Vidal and Mahrez Bettache both tested the Hill’s defence and Joe Hick’s header couldn’t find the net. Clinical finishing was the only part of Casuals’ game that was missing.

Corinth were to rue those squandered opportunites; on 68 minutes, Danny Dudley was caught between a rock and a hard place. Dudley, attempting to clear a dangerous cross could only find his own net. With Hill strikers bearing down on goal, without intervention from the defender, it was likely that the hosts would’ve scored anyway.

Casuals didn’t let up on tempo and with 20 minutes remaining, there was still plenty of opportunity to get something out of the match. That intensity spilled over when Carl Wilson-Dennis’ shot was parried by Josh James and Jamie Byatt, looking to prod home the rebound, clashed with the keeper. As a result, Byatt was booked.

As time ebbed away, so did the points but Casuals continued to hound Hill’s defence and finally, deep into time added on, it broke. Substitute Ellis Wilson-Joseph stabbing home from five yards gave a glimmer of hope only for the referee to blow for full time immediately after the restart.

Burgess Hill remain unbeaten in all competitions since the start of the pre-season and it’s clear that this strong, organised side could be playoff contenders.

After the game, Casuals Boss Matt Howard said, “I thought we done okay today. The wind was a huge factor. If we’d have come in half time 0-0, my personal opinion is we would’ve won the game. To give the goal away was sloppy. They didn’t need telling that… they knew it was a soft goal to give away.

“Half time, we were upbeat. We thought ‘It’s only 1-0’ and the wind was a huge, huge factor. We’ve come out second half and we’ve done well. We probably got a little anxious… a little gung-ho and obviously the second goal killed us. In my opinion it wasn’t a 2-1 game, I thought a draw would’ve been a fair result.

“First half was Burgess Hill’s; no question about it but second half was ours and I don’t think anyone could argue that.

“The lads in the changing room are really upset and that’s good because when I first came to the club, it was a case of ‘oh we lost again, it don’t really matter’. Burgess Hill finished sixth last year and this season, they’ll be there or there abouts again. So for us to lose 2-1 and our boys have the hump about it, that’s a good sign.”

“Going forward, I’ve set the lads a personal target and they know what’s expected from them and what we’d like to achieve. We’re still on course for what we’re hoping for.”

Photos from the game can be seen in our Gallery.