Little Common 0 – 3 Corinthian-Casuals
FA Cup 1st Round Qualifying
Tuesday 22nd September 2020
Report and Pic: Stuart Tree
Corinthian-Casuals eased into the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a convincing 3-0 win at Little Common on Tuesday night.
Second half goals from Ben Cheklit, Nat Pinney and an own goal secured Casuals’ place in Friday’s draw as they rolled over their Step 5 opponents.
A long journey down to the coast in midweek had ‘banana skin’ written all over it – saying Corinth could find themselves slipping up to a Southern Combination Premier side unbeaten in the league and already won two games in this season’s premier cup competition.
One look at the playing surface didn’t alleviate fears either; dry like straw, perfect for a spin bowler, the undulating surface wasn’t conducive for slick passing. That told the story in the first half. The ball spent more time in the air than on the ‘grass’ and the wicked bounce deceived both sets of players.
Whilst Casuals weren’t at their free-flowing best, they had the crop of the chances. Max Oldham had his cut-in and shot well charged down by the Common keeper. Ben Cheklit almost scored from 40 yards, spotting the goalie stranded off his line. Keiron Cadogan also fired a rasping shot over the bar. Nerves frayed as the two sides were in stalemate at half time in what cannot be called a classic.
A reminder from Boss James Bracken on playing and passing saw a resplendent Casuals emerge. Suddenly, the passing was crisp. The interlink play was flowing and it wasn’t long before the Amateurs took a grip of the game. The first goal wasn’t a blinder, but they all count. A set piece into the box caused a kerfuffle and eventually fell to Cheklit to thunder home.
Six minutes later and Casuals doubled their lead after Kev Serbony was bundled over in the box and awarded a penalty. Amongst eerie silence, Nat Pinney converted the spot kick to give the Casuals a comfortable margin.
Common never rolled over and looked to impose themselves into the game. This opened the game up and Casuals had a few more chances to extend their lead. It finally came with five minutes left. Cheklit’s swashbuckling run met a neat pass and fired in the cross for Common’s Lewis Parsons to beautifully head home into his own net.
It was job done on a difficult pitch miles from home and as the players departed, Bracken thanked the supporters for their excellent support.
FA Cup 1st Round Qualifying
Tuesday 22nd September 2020
Report and Pic: Stuart Tree
Corinthian-Casuals eased into the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a convincing 3-0 win at Little Common on Tuesday night.
Second half goals from Ben Cheklit, Nat Pinney and an own goal secured Casuals’ place in Friday’s draw as they rolled over their Step 5 opponents.
A long journey down to the coast in midweek had ‘banana skin’ written all over it – saying Corinth could find themselves slipping up to a Southern Combination Premier side unbeaten in the league and already won two games in this season’s premier cup competition.
One look at the playing surface didn’t alleviate fears either; dry like straw, perfect for a spin bowler, the undulating surface wasn’t conducive for slick passing. That told the story in the first half. The ball spent more time in the air than on the ‘grass’ and the wicked bounce deceived both sets of players.
Whilst Casuals weren’t at their free-flowing best, they had the crop of the chances. Max Oldham had his cut-in and shot well charged down by the Common keeper. Ben Cheklit almost scored from 40 yards, spotting the goalie stranded off his line. Keiron Cadogan also fired a rasping shot over the bar. Nerves frayed as the two sides were in stalemate at half time in what cannot be called a classic.
A reminder from Boss James Bracken on playing and passing saw a resplendent Casuals emerge. Suddenly, the passing was crisp. The interlink play was flowing and it wasn’t long before the Amateurs took a grip of the game. The first goal wasn’t a blinder, but they all count. A set piece into the box caused a kerfuffle and eventually fell to Cheklit to thunder home.
Six minutes later and Casuals doubled their lead after Kev Serbony was bundled over in the box and awarded a penalty. Amongst eerie silence, Nat Pinney converted the spot kick to give the Casuals a comfortable margin.
Common never rolled over and looked to impose themselves into the game. This opened the game up and Casuals had a few more chances to extend their lead. It finally came with five minutes left. Cheklit’s swashbuckling run met a neat pass and fired in the cross for Common’s Lewis Parsons to beautifully head home into his own net.
It was job done on a difficult pitch miles from home and as the players departed, Bracken thanked the supporters for their excellent support.
"The first twenty-five minutes from us were a write off," said Bracken following the win. "We never got used to how scrappy the game was and how dusty the pitch was. We never got going. Never done the things we asked them to do.
"We grew into it as the half progressed, so my talk at half time wasn’t as drastic as perhaps it might have otherwise been. I just reminded them that it’s a running and passing game. We needed to put together some play together. We never put two or three passes together.
"The second half we’ve opened them up a bit more.
"This was Little Common’s FA Cup game. If they beat a Step 3 side it’s a massive success. We had to weather their storm when they had a go at us but once we scored the first goal, their heads will drop a little and we capitalized on it. You worry a little at one-nil or two-nil but when we got the third, we were able to relax.
"The attitude of the boys is great at the moment. Their willing, listening and taking on board everything we’re giving them. It’ll take a bit of time to sink in but we’ll keep on going over the same ground and eventually we’ll see a 90 minute performance that’s as polished as we’re looking for.
"I don’t expect that overnight but I ask for at least an hour of dominant play at Potters Bar on Saturday and within that hour, score more goals than Potters Bar can in their 30 minute spell. That’s what I’m aiming for. If we can replicate that against teams in our division and take our chances, then we set ourselves up to win games."
The draw for the next round takes place on Friday 25th September.
"We grew into it as the half progressed, so my talk at half time wasn’t as drastic as perhaps it might have otherwise been. I just reminded them that it’s a running and passing game. We needed to put together some play together. We never put two or three passes together.
"The second half we’ve opened them up a bit more.
"This was Little Common’s FA Cup game. If they beat a Step 3 side it’s a massive success. We had to weather their storm when they had a go at us but once we scored the first goal, their heads will drop a little and we capitalized on it. You worry a little at one-nil or two-nil but when we got the third, we were able to relax.
"The attitude of the boys is great at the moment. Their willing, listening and taking on board everything we’re giving them. It’ll take a bit of time to sink in but we’ll keep on going over the same ground and eventually we’ll see a 90 minute performance that’s as polished as we’re looking for.
"I don’t expect that overnight but I ask for at least an hour of dominant play at Potters Bar on Saturday and within that hour, score more goals than Potters Bar can in their 30 minute spell. That’s what I’m aiming for. If we can replicate that against teams in our division and take our chances, then we set ourselves up to win games."
The draw for the next round takes place on Friday 25th September.
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