Corinthian-Casuals 2 - 0 Three Bridges
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 27th September 2016
Attendance: 114
Report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)

Marking his 300th appearance with a goal, the tireless Jamie Byatt aided a fabulous Corinthian-Casuals performance as Three Bridges left King George’s with a 2-0 loss on their record.

The beaming James Bracken said that Saturday’s 1-0 home victory against the courageous Ramsgate was “probably our best win of the season”. Shaun Okojie’s vital nudge on a Juevan Spencer pass sent Casuals into dreamland as an impressive start to the season continued, currently sitting in third place.

Jamie Byatt, who was benched for Saturday’s game, would pick up his 300th appearance award in a chocolate and pink shirt as the club legend’s name appeared on the team-sheet at King George’s. ‘Busy’ chucked the no.11 shirt on as he replaced Jordan Clarke on the left wing. Another change was in midfield as Ramsgate conqueror Spencer earned himself a spot in the starting XI ahead of Josh Uzun.

The visitors to Tolworth on a cold Tuesday night were Three Bridges, who had made the hour-or-so trip from East Sussex to improve on previous meetings between the two. Last season, Corinth had taken six points from Three Bridges by scoring once on each occasion. The more celebratory was when Corinth netted in the 95th minute to grab the victory at Jubilee Walk. A four game losing streak and without a single win away from home, Three Bridges were in a poor run of form.

The seventeen place difference between the teams was showcased after only a few minutes. Fresh from netting his seventh league goal of the season, Okojie was looking sharp as he rounded the keeper with simplicity and ease. However, the super striker was unable to dispatch as the defender skillfully dispossessed him when the ball got trapped between his feet. A few half-chances from Spencer and Okojie filled the first 30 minutes before the deadlock was broken.

A delightful in-swinging corner from Maz Bettache beat the flailing arms of goalkeeper Kieron Thorp and it fell for who else but Mr Three-Hundred man - Jamie Byatt. Byatt nodded the ball into the empty net from a few yards out on the half hour mark. Passionate celebrations from the player driven by passion for Corinthian-Casuals. A true legend.

Three Bridges’ main chance, arrived when Danny Bracken lived up to his title as ‘England’s no.1’ when keeping out a point blank header and a lightning quick rebound which followed. Bettache was terrorising the anxious Three Bridges defence again, this time a pinpoint cross for Okojie but his header flew just over the bar. He had another golden chance as he was allowed through on goal by a defence-splitting ball from the midfield. Okojie attempted to place an effort into the near post but Thorpe’s gloves said otherwise. The half-time whistle blew as Casuals entered the next 45 with a 1-0 lead.

Carrying on from the first half, Casuals remained the dominant force. Spencer was denied again as Thorpe managed to save Three Bridges. The stunning heroics had kept the score-line 1-0 until the 56th minute.

After retaining the ball from edging over the line, Josh Gallagher squared the ball to Maz Bettache, who was in acres of space. The midfielder netted his second of the season as he turned and fired the ball in one quick motion. Eluding the stranded Thorpe, the effort clipped off the post before finding the net in a fantastic finish. Finally, the second goal had arrived for Corinth.

The Bridges nearly brought Casuals back down to earth as a free-kick was so nearly converted as the powerful strike skimmed the crossbar. Kieron Thorpe in the Bridge net continued to stop shots on goal as Jamie Byatt had a 1 on 1 saved, whilst Okojie was denied by a magnificent punch.

Despite dominating the chances and possession, Casuals were unable to add to the 2-0 scoreline as the referee signalled for full-time.

Three Bridges took the late drive back to Sussex with another away loss and a position change to 20th. First-placed Dorking Wanderers are the next competitors who face the Bridge. Meanwhile, Corinthians sit in 3rd, a point behind Tooting & Mitcham, who lost 2-1 to Molesey. A trip to the seaside is next on the agenda with relegation-placed Herne Bay who host James Bracken’s majestic pink and brown army.

“We've addressed our defensive problems and have to be happy with two clean sheets in two games. We've only conceded three goals in the last five games, since the six let in against Hythe," said Bracken after the match.

“Something needed to be looked at, as I said at the time. We've done that, worked on it and now we look far more solid and that's how we'll win games.

“It should've been a lot more than two scored tonight. When you see Carshalton winning by ten goals and Walton Casuals banging in seven, that tonight should've been up there with those scores. Realistically, we've had four or five one-on-one chances, two open goals missed and that's all on top of the two we've scored. If we take those chances, and some were absolute sitters, then you're looking at a big score. But three points is three points, regardless of how many we bagged.

“We've got a nice little attitude at the moment where we're approaching one game at a time. We won't under-estimate anyone. I'll be thinking about the next game this week and picking the team for Saturday.

“It might not be the same eleven that plays as we did tonight. We've won 2-0 but I've dropped goalscorers in the game after regularly. It doesn't seem to be steering us too far wrong at the moment. Everyone has a great attitude and when they're picked they're delivering a performance  that ensures we win games. We'll only focus on the next game.”

Corinthian-Casuals 1-0 Three Bridges
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 23rd April 2016
Attendance: 164
Match report and pics: Stuart Tree (full set here).

Corinthian-Casuals ended the season in utter disappointment as decisions off the pitch scuppered James Bracken’s side’s chances of the playoffs and promotion.

Despite the tumultuous 24 hours which saw three points harshly docked for fielding an ineligible player back in January, Casuals had an outside chance to still make the top five. Six wins on the bounce had put Corinth’s playoff destiny in their own hands but decisions made by the FA and League meant that three vital points were stripped from a side that didn’t deserve such a punishment. Many hundreds of messages of support for the club came in from the Non-League community, not least from scores of Hastings fans, whose side were set to profit the most from Corinth’s loss.

Bracken named his strongest line-up possible with the only notable omission of the suspended Niall Wright. Jamie Byatt resumed his familiar attacking role after filling in at full back last week.

The opposition, Three Bridges had only pride to play for but proved their competitiveness in the week after a 3-3 draw with Peacehaven and a narrow last minute loss to Champions Folkestone.

Byatt almost opened the scoring in a matter of seconds but was to be the story of the first half. Stand in keeper, Alfie Jones was in fine form as he prevented a number of chances, not least saving from Shaun Okojie in the early minutes. Juevan Spencer also came close as did Josh Uzun’s beautifully struck free kick from 25 yards which was well tipped over by Jones.

Tension was in the air as supporters learned that Hastings United were losing to Herne Bay. However, Faversham Town, the only other side who could reach the playoffs were inexplicably beating in-form Hythe Town by a comfortable margin.

Second half and Casuals pushed for the goal which would give them the slim chance for playoff glory. The crucial introduction of substitute James Cottee turned the game; Dave Hodges in a trademark burst down the wing crossed to the near post where Cottee neatly flicked the ball past Jones and sent the fans into rapturous jubilation.

In truth, it was pretty comfortable for Casuals with Danny Bracken in goal only coming into action at the end to neatly stop a Bridges counter attack. However, events in Kent had conspired against the miracle that was needed as Faversham thumped playoff rivals Hythe Town 4-0. Hastings had surprisingly lost and the final scores meant Faversham clinched 5th whilst Casuals leapfrogged Hastings into 6th… one point behind the crucial playoff place.
After the match, James Bracken found it hard to contain his disappointment.

“Every one of those players deserves to be in the playoffs. That’s where my thoughts on the matter begin and end. I don’t think anything else has sunk in at the moment.

“We turned up today to win and we’ve won our seventh game in a row. That’s exactly what I’d said we’d do, even before Christmas. We’ve done enough to get in the playoffs. We should be in the playoffs but we’re not. The reasons are scandalous to say the least.

“It’s not about me… it’s about the lads. I’ve enjoyed every minute of this season apart from maybe three halves of football. Every minute of every game, they’ve done everything I’ve asked of them . They’ve worked their absolute socks off for nothing and they deserved their rewards. That’s what we set out to do but we haven’t got it.

“It’s been a fantastic season. When I came here in the summer and said I’d get this team promoted, people looked at me like I was a lunatic.

“If we’d made the playoffs, we’d have won them. People might say it’s easy to say that now but when I’m wrong, you can pull me up on it. Until then, I’ll say what I want to say, and that is we would’ve won it.

“Record points total, record position in the league, record FA Trophy run… I don’t know what more we could’ve done short of getting the fair rub of the green which we deserved.  I wanted the opportunity to pit ourselves against the other top sides in this division over two games to bring Ryman Premier football to a club that never believed it could be done.

When asked if this team could win the league next season, Bracken said, “Of course! I’m very forward thinking. In football, if you don’t move forward, then you go backwards. I’m continually moving forward. We have a squad here that is in my opinion a top three side.

“Next season, we’ll be stronger, I will be wiser, we’ll be more together and the squad will be settled from the start of pre-season rather than the forty-odd group of players we had last year which was too many. We’ll be ready to go.
​
“This group of players have proven what they can do; we’ve lost once in the last ten games and seven on the spin. Not only that, we were leading the league in the early part of the season. We had a dip, come back from that and showed character. They showed everything you need to see in a team to be successful.

I will relax now. I have a few games left with Sutton Youth side, I’ll take a breather – a few weeks off and then I’ll be ready to go again come the start of pre-season.

Three Bridges 0 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 5th December 2015
Attendance: 89
Match report and pics: Stuart Tree (photos here)

Corinthian-Casuals left it late for the second time in a week to seal victory, scoring the winner deep into stoppage time.

Less than three days earlier, Juevan Spencer’s late header gave Corinth a dramatic win over Grays Athletic in the FA Trophy, but this time it was let to Michael Salako to bag the winner at Three Bridges, leaving it until the 95th minute to make his mark.

The win keeps Casuals within four points of the playoff spots and condemned Bridges to a fifth straight defeat.
Manager James Bracken was able to recall Warren Morgan after missing the FA Trophy replay through suspension and many were delighted to see Brandon Johnson back in the starting eleven after missing a number of weeks with a broken toe. Sekou Kaba was still missing through injury and with Dave Hodges unavailable, Ben King stepped in at left back.

Even before kickoff, many knew the game wouldn’t be a classic thanks to the combination of blustery conditions and a boggy pitch, which was particularly heavy in a couple of patches despite no real prolonged rain within the past week. The game was thrown into doubt as to whether it should be played but thankfully, the match officials deemed it suitable to fulfil the fixture.

Neither side showed any real quality and for much of the game, it looked as though the afternoon would remain goalless. In Casuals’ first chance, Emmanuel Akokhia broke free from his marker and forced a fine save from Kieron Thorp in goal. The rebound fell to Juevan Spencer who crossed it to Cherno Mendy with the winger firing wide.
Akokhia looked lively and troubled the Bridges defence once again with neat skills on the byline. Despite Mendy literally screaming out for the pass, Akokhia attempted to beat Thorp at the near post but the keeper was wise to the move.

Mendy almost became provider to another Juevan Spencer goal in an almost carbon copy of Spencer’s late winner against Grays. Mendy, in place of Hodges, whipped a fantastic cross to the far post but Casuals’ top scorer couldn’t add to his tally of 12 this season.

The closest chance of the half fell to Josh Uzun. Always dangerous  from free kicks, Uzun curled his shot over the wall and onto the post.

At the other end, Ben Godfrey shanked a shot wide and Sam MacVicar went close with a header.

Chances were at a real premium in the second half as the wind really took hold – the floodlights swaying side to side gave an indication as to how strong the gusts had become. Bridges came close when Casselman fizzed a shot just wide of Danny Bracken’s far post.

Casuals had a big shout for a penalty when Ben King was scythed down from just inside the box. With the ball returning to him from a corner, he beat his defender to the follow up but was upended in what looked to have been a clear foul. However, despite protests, play was waved on.

With four minutes of time remaining, Matt Whitehead was dismissed for a second bookable offence and the home side were down to ten men.

Casuals threw on Michael Salako and Charlie Girdler in an attempt to get three points. Juevan Spencer could’ve wrapped the game up into time added on for stoppages but scuffed his shot wide.

However, Salako made no mistake moments later when finding himself in the box, fired into the top corner much to the dizzy jubilation of the very cold but very happy Casuals’ supporters behind the goal. With the goal coming five minutes into six added on, there was no time for the home side to reply and Casuals once again had grasped the win in the dying moments.

After the match, James Bracken commented on the performance.

“I still agree with myself… stoppage time is the best time to win. It was a very similar victory to midweek against Grays.

“In terms of the pitch and the conditions, it was a lot harder today. It was always going to be a scrappy affair. Even if the pitch was in good condition, with the wind it wasn’t going to be pretty.

“We’ve kept three clean sheets on the bounce and we’re always going to score goals. We continue to do that and we won’t be far away at the end of the season.

“I made it very clear how massive three points was today. Drawing, losing wasn’t an option. We need to win. We’ve gone from the point where we’d played three or four games more than other sides in the league to dropping a few games behind.

“It’s a cliché saying you’d rather have points on the board than games in hand. It’s true… but you don’t mind that if you’re six points behind with four games in hand. You can attack those first two matches and then push on. What you don’t want is to be twelve points behind with four games in hand as that’s too much to ask.

“So it’s important that when we have these league games in between our cup fixtures, we pick up the three points to keep ourselves in it.

“I’m very clear that I want to win every single game. That’s my mentality and I’ve always been like that. Last year, I played in seven competitions, this year, I’ve only played in six.

“We’re only out of one cup so far this season – the FA Cup, and that’s a tough one to win anyway.

“Although we only have one squad of players, they all want to play. They’re young, they’re hungry and their performance levels aren’t dropping off. If you ask them if they need to be rested, they’ll all say ‘no – I want to play’. There’s certainly no fatigue from them. They’re ready to go again and again.”

Corinthian-Casuals 2-1 Three Bridges
FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 3rd October 2015
Attendance: 102
Match report and pics: Stuart Tree (photos here)
​
Corinthian-Casuals pocketed a cool £2,500 in FA Trophy prize money after Josh Uzun struck twice from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win over Ryman League rivals Three Bridges.

Uzun’s first half brace was enough to seal the Tolworth-based side’s place in the next round where they’ll take on either Arlesey Town or Redbridge at home on October 31st.

The win ended a barren run in the FA Competitions for Corinthian-Casuals after they exited both the Cup and Trophy at the first stage last season and again in the Cup back in August. But Casuals’ Manager James Bracken wasn’t letting the past play on his mind.

“I’m used to winning cup games in my career” said Bracken. “I’ve only lost one in my time at Casuals so I’m not going to get hung up on past results.”

“I know the club hasn’t done great in these FA Competitions in the past few years but I said to the lads today ‘this one ends at Wembley’ and if you can’t get yourself up for that, what are you doing playing football?”

Casuals named an unchanged line-up to that which beat Sittingbourne on Tuesday night whereas Bridges were struggling with injuries in key positions.

It only took six minutes for the first goal to be registered; Emmanuel Akokhia was tripped in the box and Referee Mr Bhupinder Gill had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Up stepped Uzun who bagged his sixth goal of the season from the 12 yard mark.

Bridges’ defence had barely woken up to the fact that they were in a cup tie and Akokhia almost made it two but for a fine stop by keeper Kieran Thorp. Uzun was also in on the act with a couple of half chances following some slick interchanges between himself, a lively Sekou Kaba and Kevant Serbony.

On the half hour mark, Corinth doubled the lead; this time Serbony was the recipient of a foul in the box and once again, Uzun neatly converted his penalty much to the delight of the home crowd.

At this point, Bridges were on the ropes and Serbony was closest to putting the game to bed when he beat Thorp to the ball, leaving the keeper stranded but his shot was cleared off the goal-line by a defender.

But the Crawley-based side almost snuck a goal back on the stroke of half time – Ben Godfrey connected with a well-placed cross but struck the bar in a chance that’s often described as ‘harder to miss’.

Although the first half had been mostly one-way traffic, Casuals’ lead was halved just six minutes after the break. Ben Godfrey struck past Danny Bracken in goal to end a neat move which showed that Bridges weren’t just here to make up the numbers.

In fact, Casuals had to ride out some pressure from the visitors as they pressed for an equaliser. However, with Paul Faili’s side pushing up, this gave opportunities for Casuals to seal the win. Akokhia’s shot rebounded over from ten yards and Cherno Mendy’s pacey runs caused numerous problems. For all the efforts on goal, the game wasn’t graced by any more goals and it’s Casuals who progress to the next round of the competition.

After the match, boss James Bracken spoke of his side’s resolve.

“We came out in the second half a little lackadaisical and to be honest it was the same old story where we should’ve killed the game off 3-0 in the first half but we haven’t. But then again, we’ve got a young team and if you look back on those times when we’ve lost the lead, we’ve lost our way. But today was different.

“Three Bridges pulled a goal back but everyone’s kept their composure, doing the basics and keeping us in it. As a result, we’ve ended up having a few chances ourselves to increase the lead.” 

Three Bridges 2-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 31st March 2015
Report by Darren Pasley

Casuals hope of a top 10 finish suffered a setback as they went down 2-1 at cold and windy Three Bridges on Tuesday evening.

Andy Mills returned in defence for the suspended Joe Hicks whilst Jake Downs switched over to left back as Casuals looked to make it back to back wins on the road following Saturdays commanding   2-0 victory at Chipstead.

Their hosts are on course to cement their best ever finish at Step 4 and came into the game knowing a win could yet propel them even further up the table.

The early exchanges saw both sides struggle to keep the ball down on a bobbly pitch but in the 7th minute following a neat passage of passing saw the ball slipped through the middle and Sam MacVicar ran through and slotted past Bracken with the visiting defenders appealing for offside.

It was a rare bit of quality in what in truth was a dour half of football. The swirling wind not helping matters.

Following the goal Casuals nearly produced an immediate response but Dave Hodges could only volley at keeper Keiron Thorp.

In the 24th minute the lively Tony Garrod was inches away from doubling his sides lead when after working his way well into the box, his low left footed effort skimmed the base of Danny Brackens far post.

Casuals moments during the first half were few and far between with only a half chance to Jamie Byatt of note. However after the ball was nodded into his path by Carl Wilson-Denis the hitman couldn’t bring the ball under control and a rare opportunity was lost.

With seconds remaining of the half the home side added to their lead. Full back John Lansdale clipping the ball into Garrod on the edge of the box and despite the attentions of both Danny Dudley and Mills the striker manager to turn in-between his markers and finish well past Bracken.

It was a superb finish but the visitors would have been very disappointed with the defending for the goal.

As predicted a different Casuals emerged for the second half and with the wind in their favour took the game to their opponents in an effort to get back into the match

Andy Mills went close 5 minutes into the half but he couldn’t direct his header from Byatt’s corner goalwards.

The flanks it seemed were the more promising outlet for a route to goal and Juevan Spencer crossed for his opposite flanker Hodges to head wide as the early pressure continued.

Casuals did reduce the arrears in the 56th minute. Down the left this time Hodges was allowed two opportunity’s to cross and substitute Max Austin found enough space to bring the ball under control and fire home from 10 yards.

Moments later Bracken had to be alert to keep out Nathan Crabb’s effort with his legs after Garrod had worked himself space down the byline.

Spencer continued to be a menace down the right and after twisting Matt Daniel inside out his cross found Austin whose blocked effort fell to Maz Bettache but the young midfielders effort was blasted well over.

After weathering the visitors storm the home side looked to make the game safe and only the fingertips of Bracken denied Garrod a second goal. MacVicar taping home but given offside from the rebound.

The final minutes saw Casuals throw Mills up front but the Three Bridges defence stood firm and looked more likely to add to their lead on the counter.

Deep into stoppage time Lee Hall picked up a second yellow card after hauling down Garrod and the Sussex side had another victory in what is becoming a fine end to the season.

Corinthian-Casuals 1-4 Three Bridges
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 13th September 2014

Casuals suffered a bad day at the office as they succumbed 4-1 to Three Bridges in the Ryman League Division One South.

Corinth were riding on the crest of a wave after reaching top spot in the table following their 1-0 win at Carshalton Athletic. And although Three Bridges were thumped 8-1 in midweek at Guernsey, the side they faced was markedly different to the one that travelled to the Channel Island on Wednesday.

Matt Howard had one enforced change, bringing in Danny Green at Centre Back in place of Danny Dudley, suspended for his red card at Horsham. Other changes included Mason Welch-Turner, in for the absent Jordan Vidal and Juevan Spencer for Steve Goddard, who can only feature in midweek.

Normally regarded as slow starters, Casuals bucked the trend when in the first minute, Maz Bettache played in Juevan Spencer who cut inside and drilled a low shot past Kieron Thorp in the Bridge’s goal.

Spencer’s pace continued to cause problems on the wing and created a couple of more early chances for the Casuals. The winger almost returned the favour to Bettache when playing a neat cross only for the young Algerian to have his shot blocked.

The visitors begun to get a foothold in the match and a warning shot across Casuals’ bows from Louis Gray woke the home side’s defence. However, on 22 minutes, Williams Peauroux was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded. Bridges’ striker, Tony Garrod stepped up but his effort was comfortably gobbled up by Danny Bracken.

A few minutes later, tensions boiled as Maz Bettache, who was fouled stirred reactions from both sides in a fracas that saw two from Bridges booked along with Lee Hall and Carl Wilson-Denis.

Bridges continued to apply pressure and on 38 minutes, they struck the crossbar and the post in the space of 30 seconds; first from Ben Godfrey and a rasper of a shot from fullback Matt Whitehead. Breaking from the resulting rebound, Jamie Byatt beautifully dispatched a cross from Dave Hodges into the net only to be ruled offside. Hodges throughout the first half continued to break quickly and through his efforts, Casuals had a number of shots blocked, including those from Wilson-Denis, Byatt and Bettache.

Unlike Tuesday against Carshalton, Casuals were to rue the chances missed to make it 2-0. Wilson-Denis and Hicks both went close after the break but the scoreline remained 1-0 until an uncharacteristic mistake from Captain Joe Hicks let Tony Garrod have an uncontested shot on goal and although Bracken was quickly down to meet the shot, his fingertips were not enough to prevent the visitors from equalising.

Now on the up, Bridges continued to push forward and Casuals conceded a free kick on the edge of the box which was duly converted by Sam MacVicar on 65 minutes. In truth, Casuals had rode their luck in the first half but now were paying for it.

Looking for the equaliser, Casuals began to press forward more and Bettache could only shoot just wide after being played in by Wilson-Denis. Hodges’ crosses still caused problems and one particular cross that picked out Juevan Spencer saw the scorer’s shot neatly saved.

Casuals had strong claims of an equaliser. A free kick from Danny Green launched deep into the box saw Carl Wilson-Denis rise above the keeper and in the resulting melee, the ball was thought to have crossed the line, but the assistant didn’t give it despite strong protestations from the Casuals players and supporters. In the resulting break, Bridges almost extended their lead.

The game was wide open by this point and Three Bridges capitalised on this scoring two late stoppage time goals. First from Lee Carney and then a prod home from a couple of yards by Jamie Crellin to flatter the visitors if in scoreline only.

In truth, Bridges deserved their win despite Casuals taking the lead. Wanting to bounce back quickly from this result, Corinth were to quickly learn that their Tuesday night fixture away to Folkestone has been postponed due to the Kent side’s draw in the FA Cup. Matt Howard’s men will have to wait for the visit of Tooting and Mitcham to make amends.

After the match, Howard spoke of the loss, “It was a bit of a strange one today. We’re normally slow starters, yet we’re one-nil up after 42 seconds. But I thought we were poor. We were poor first half but to come in one-nil up, that was brilliant, and if we got a second, I think we would’ve killed the game off.

“It’s just a disappointing result. We’re on course for where we want to be, so I’ll just put that down to a bad day, so I’m not going to get carried away. It was just a bad day.

“The first goal that they’ve scored, you can’t do anything about really. It’s just a mistake that’s been punished. The second goal was cheap. The third, the lad has just come on and shouldn’t have got the ball where he did. We should’ve been on it more, but I’m not going to place any blame there.

“We’ve played a couple more games than teams around us but points in the bag are better than games in hand and with ten games gone, we’re well on course for where we want to be.”


Stuart Tree's pictures from the game can be seen here.

CORINTHIAN-CASUALS 1   THREE BRIDGES  0
RYMAN DIVISION ONE SOUTH
Thurs 27th March 2014
by David Harrison

Casuals continued their impressive form, keeping a clean sheet for the fourth game in a row. With the only goal of the match they beat Three Bridges,  leap-frogged them in the League,  and moved another step away from the danger zone.  The team showed one change from the side which had demolished Redhill two nights before,  Ross Defoe coming in for the injured Jordan Vidal at left back.

Casuals began as they had finished on Tuesday,  with purpose and style.  Ellis Wilson-Joseph had a shot within two minutes; then a run by Juevan Spencer on the right saw Steve Goddard's shot saved.  The goal that followed on 12 minutes was worth the admission money by itself.   Saheed Sankoh controlled a difficult ball out of defence before cleverly putting Dave  Hodges away on the left.  He made ground before hitting a trade-mark left foot cross into the visitor's box.   It arrived waist high to the advancing Jamie Byatt who volleyed it left foot past the bemused keeper.  Goal of the month and perhaps even better.  It was Byatt's 26th strike of the season.  "There's only one Jamie Byatt", they sang behind the goal.

Casuals could and should have had more before half time;  Spencer was showing his pace on the right combining regularly with Goddard;   Byatt had another shot saved.  Wilson-Joseph made a run from the halfway line only to see his shot hit the post. Goddard even "tried a Rooney" from 50 yards. At the other end Danny Green was enjoying himself at full back while Danny Dudley and Joe Hicks in the centre made the territory their own with powerful support from Ross Defoe on the left.  A Three Bridges corner and shot over the bar was the nearest the visitors came to disturbing Danny Bracken's evening.

At the interval Joel Thompson took the place of Goddard who was feeling the hamstring that he had tweaked at Redhill two days before. Within moments Thompson found himself barely five yards out.  Hodges forced the ball across but somehow Thompson could hit only the underside of the bar.   Another run by Spencer offered a chance but the winger's shot was just wide.

Then developed another small drama. Linesman Erroll Walker damaged an Achilles tendon  and had to withdraw.   After a tannoy appeal failed to produce a qualified replacement  regular First Team sub Chris Watney volunteered his services.  But the visitors weren't keen  to let him officiate. Happily referee  Michael Hayden decided he would manage without a linesman and the game finally continued after a 15 minute hiatus.               

Sadly the match never regained the intensity that had gone before.  Hodges offered another chance to Thompson but the big man hit the bar again.  Sankoh continued to prompt from midfield.  Bracken remained untroubled in goal and the game rather petered out.  But the final whistle marked up three wins and a draw in the last four games - a run of form  when it really matters.    

Team:   D.Bracken;  D.Green, R. Defoe, D.Dudley, J.Hicks (C);  E.Wilson-Joseph, J.Spencer,  S.Sankoh;  J.Byatt, S.Goddard (J.Thompson 45'),  D.Hodges.  Subs not used:  M.Falm, T.Williams,  J.Wadmore, B.Bowra