Tooting & Mitcham United 0-2 Corinthian Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday11th August 2015
Report by Darren Pasley.
Pics: Stuart Tree (click here to view)
Video: Steve Wigg (click here to view)
Att:228

Corinthian-Casuals made a winning start on the road as they picked up where left off from the Worthing game in a comfortable victory at Tooting & Mitcham United.

Casuals gave first starts of the season to last season’s regulars Danny Dudley, Juevan Spencer and Niall Wright as James Bracken looked to outwit the side which had claimed the Geoff Harvey Memorial Trophy at King Georges Arena the previous month.

Both sides made a fairly cagey start to the match, getting used to the ball zipping of the slick surface after the early evening rain in South West London.

The games first effort on goal arrived in the 9th minute when after Niall Wright was sized down on the edge of the area Emmanuel Akokhia curled a free kick into the arms of keeper Adam Faith who was well placed.

The home custodian’s handling wasn’t as impressive shortly afterwards as let a Wright cross slip through his grasp but the ball hit the air bound Danny Dudley’s head and wide of the goal as a half cleared corner was returned back into the danger zone.

Casuals were starting to dictate the tempo and Diego Maradona so impressive on Saturday went close to opening the scoring as his deft ball into the box evaded both Akokhia and the far post by inches.

At the other end the home side rarely threatened,their only effort on target in the first half saw Jake Baxter’s low effort held by Danny Bracken after a neat flick from former Casuals reserve striker Michael Salako.

On 37 minutes the deadlock was broken as Faiths luck finally ran out. There seemed to be little on when Brandon Johnson picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and wide of the area. His low drive should have seen a routine save but the keeper once again spilled the ball and although he blocked Akojkhia’s first effort , Juevan Spencer was on hand to latch onto the rebound and chip over his hands into the net.

The Terrors only response was a wild effort from Sol Pinnock after bursting into the box but the River Wandle seemed to be more at risk than Danny Brackens goal.

To their credit the hosts started the second half well and forced a number of early corners which Casuals defended well.

On 52 minutes Pinnock saw a whipped ball from the left lopped over the bar by Jake Baxter as they looked to get back into the match and build on their opening day victory at East Grinstead.

Despite this it was the visitors who still looked the more likely in the final third and Spencer and Akokhia again combined with the latter being denied by a last ditch challenge.

The say football is a game of fine margins and as the game approached the hour mark this was evidently so.

A corner for the visitors saw Kevant Serbony caught on the edge of the box and with the home side breaking at pace the ball was played into Pinnock who once again blazed horribly over his sides best chance of the match.

To compound the misery Casuals launched a break of their own and after Sevant brilliantly found Maradona the young winger played in a delight low cross which was slid home at the back post by Spencer for his second of the match.

This knocked the stuffing out the hosts and it was Casuals who looked for a third. Josh Uzun having an effort deflected just wide moments after coming on.

A 3rd did arrive with 9 minutes remaining as Akokhia picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and after teasing past Harry Knock his shot deflected past Faith.

The result left Casuals one of 6 clubs who maintained their 100% records after 2 games and James Bracken was impressed after the match with the two goal winger. 

“Juevan knows what I want from him. He knows what he needs to do to play in the side. We spoke to him in the Summer and said he needs to add goals to his game and he’s scored two tonight. We haven’t got a bad player here at Casuals and Juevan falls into the category of another good player.

“The boys have been absolutely outstanding again. After Saturday, you worry if they’re going to get to that level again of energy, commitment and quality of football but they went out there and just done it all over again from the first whistle.

“Tooting are another decent side and both teams we’ve played so far have been good but we’re playing well.

“The boys are loving it at the moment. Playing here every week, enjoying it and winning is of course giving them a great feeling. They’re such a good unit and they trust me.

“Let’s see where we are after ten games and again by Christmas but we’ll just keep plugging away, remain focused and work hard.”

Tooting & Mitcham United 1-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 14th March 2015
Match report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree
Attendance: 195

Casuals earned another point in their bid to climb the table and in doing so went some way to showing Tuesdays mauling at home to Hythe was nothing but a blip as they drew 1-1 at the KNK stadium home of Tooting & Mitcham United.

Making two changes to Tuesdays line up Ross Defoe returned, as did striker Carl-Wilson Denis.

The home side started well knocking the ball around with confidence but it was Casuals after 2 minutes who worked the games first opening as Juevan Spencer found Carl Wilson-Denis inside the area but his touch let him down when well positioned. 

Despite keeping the ball well the home side weren’t really threatening a Casuals backline that had conceded 6 in the midweek against Hythe. Indeed it was the visitors who went mighty close in the 14th minute when after forcing their hosts back Wilson-Denis’s flick found Jamie Byatt but the striker thumped his effort against the post. In any case the assistants flag had been raised.

The home sides first effort came in the 19th minute when a long punt downfield from keeper Alex Kozakis found the Casuals backline out of position and Dan Summers stole in to head towards goal from the edge of the area. Thankfully for Casuals Bracken was able to divert the ball away despite being seemingly stranded.

Danny Dudley was inches from opening the scoring in the 22nd minute as he headed Byatt’s corner wide with Kozakis failing to collect the initial delivery

After 27 minutes the visitors took a deserved lead;  a patient buildup on the edge of the area Byatt and Lee Hall exchanged passes. The former clipping in a weighted ball to Carl Wilson-Denis inside the area. The former Tooting striker controlled and turned expertly with his chest for before firing home past Kozakis to open the scoring. (Pictured Below)

7 minutes later the home side came close to levelling as Danny Dudley’s attempted clearance looped up in the air allowing Saidu Khan the opportunity to shoot at Bracken. Thankfully for Casuals his stinging drive was parried away by the stopper and away from danger.

In truth the first half was a very disappointing display from the hosts who by all reports were superb the previous week in their win at Whitstable. The home fans let their frustrations know at half time with the final ball and decision-making lacking all too frequently during the opening period.

Tooting emerged for the second half a changed side and Nathan Gordon was first to test the Casuals defence when after beating Jake Downs his low cross was stabbed away from danger.

The improved start was to pay dividends for the hosts however as they levelled 5 minutes into the second half.
After failing to clear a routine ball into the box the visiting rear guard were made to pay the price as Sol Pinnock picked up the clearance and weaved into the box. Despite Bracken blocking his effort with an outstretched leg Khan’s follow up rebounded into the path of Howard Newton who tucked his effort away inside Brackens near post.

With their tails now up the home side were looking to turn the match around completely and Billy Marshall fired an effort from distance, which Bracken tipped over the bar. 

Dan Summer was the next to try his luck but with an hour gone he fired wildly off target following a well-worked short corner from the home side.

The home sides dominance prompted Matt Howard into making a couple of changes bringing on Max Austin and Reece Placid and the switch in approach seemed to have the desired effect as Casuals once again began looking a threat in the attacking third of the pitch.

It was Austin who nearly gave Casuals the lead back on 69th minute as following Byatt’s knock down his spectacular scissor kick was straight at Kozakis.

Both sides it seemed were happy to settle for a point with neither keeper tested in the final stages. The introduction of debutant Gerald Akosa for the hosts gave them brief hope and his direct play nearly saw a left footed effort go in. The drive just inches over Brackens upright. 

Another substitute Max Noble saw a low cross in injury time diverted away by Bracken and match official Jason Richardson shortly blew an end to the proceedings.

Speaking after the match keeper Danny Bracken spoke of the contest against his former side

“After Tuesday, we’d have taken a point coming into the game today. We didn’t quite find that end product but we defended much better. After a 6-1 defeat, to only let in one goal is much better.

“As a goalkeeper, it’s always disappointing to concede a goal. You don’t ever want to let in any, especially at against an old club of mine like Tooting. I played here a few years ago and really enjoyed my time at the club. It’s a shame we let one in.

“The first half, the way we defended was great and we really restricted them attacking-wise, but it was a shame we couldn’t continue that in the second half. However, it’s still a decent point.

“My personal target for the rest of the season is to keep more clean sheets and as a team, to get more wins. We want to try and get a club record for points in this league. We’ve been pushing up gradually every year. We’ve got a great set of lads here and if we can stay together, push on to the end of the season, let’s wee where we end up.

“Realistically, a top ten position for a club like ours is a great achievement and it’s definitely there for the taking.” 

Stuart Trees pictures can be viewed here

Corinthian-Casuals 1-1 Tooting & Mitcham Utd
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 20th September 2014
Attendance: 221
Report and pics by Stuart Tree

Corinthian-Casuals earned themselves a point with a much improved second half performance against a well organised Tooting and Mitcham side in the Ryman League Division One South.

Casuals came into the game after missing a midweek fixture due to their scheduled opponent’s involvement in the FA Cup. Manager Matt Howard made two changes from the side that lost 4-1 against Three Bridges; Jordan Vidal and Danny Dudley returned to the centre of defence for Corinth – the latter serving his red-card ban with Danny Green and Mason Welch-Turner moving to the bench.

The early exchanges were played with caution and neither side exploded into the match. In the fifth minute, ex-Casuals’ Jordan Cheadle, usually deadly from set pieces fired over from a free kick. At the other end, Jordan Vidal’s deep cross found Carl Wilson-Denis but keeper Paul Smith was on hand to keep the striker from scoring.

On 22 minutes, the first real clear cut chance fell to the home side. The pacy Juevan Spencer found himself one-on-one with Paul Smith and with just the keeper to beat, Spencer dragged the ball too close to Smith who was able to gather up the ball. Seven minutes later, Causals were to pay for not taking the opportunity.

Dan Summers beat two defenders and crashed in a low shot past Danny Bracken and into the bottom corner. Casuals shoulders slumped and Tooting’s dominance was telling. The home side were quickly turning in an insipid performance with the Terrors first to every ball and clearances from the Casuals back line quickly falling back into the feet of the visitors. Tooting went into the break the deserved leaders and Casuals with much work to do.

With a stern talking to behind them, Casuals emerged a different side in the second half. Their attacking intent was evident to all 221 in attendance. Jordan Vidal and Dave Hodges interlinked beautifully and the majority of the attack came from the left side. Joe Hicks and Jamie Byatt both had chances go begging from crosses provided on the wing.

That’s not to say Tooting were on the backfoot; the Terrors were looking to kill the game off and had a couple of solid chances to do so. Tinashe Nkoma continued to haunt the Casuals defence and his skilful run ended with a rasping shot that sails over the bar… and in truth should have scored.

The Amateurs continued to pile on pressure and get back on level terms and did so on 65 minutes. Maz Bettache worked his quick feet to dance round three Tooting defenders before laying off the ball in a one-two with Hodges and cooly slotting past Paul Smith to bury the ball from a tight angle. It was a goal befitting of the skill that the young midfielder possesses and was of real quality.

Tinashe Nkoma had a golden opportunity to restore Tooting’s lead but with acres of space out wide, he once again blasts his shot over… the youngster seemingly leaving his shooting boots at home.

Casuals can feel aggrieved that they weren’t awarded a penalty. Carl Wilson Denis, on controlling a cross is clattered into and the big forward tumbled to the floor. Whilst the referee’s view may have been blocked, for those supporters behind the goal (and an iPhone video replay) there was no uncertainty as to what the decision should have been.

Almost immediately, Wilson-Denis found himself once again centre of attention after his header almost found the net but a scramble by Paul Smith was enough to keep it out.

By this point, the game was wide open and both sides sensed that three points were up for grabs. Danny Bracken was called into action after Sol Pinnock weaved through the defence and Danny Dudley also making a decent last ditch block. Casuals also had another penalty shout turned down when Michael Fahm was clattered into by the onrushing Paul Smith.

In time added on, Tooting should’ve taken the points after Billy Marshall found himself free in the middle of the Casuals six yard box. But with the goal seemingly easier to score than miss, he blazed his shot high over the bar. Tooting could’ve taken the three points and if this was Rugby, Marshall would’ve had them.

On reflection, a draw seemed to be the right result for both sides and an entertaining game was played in good spirits in front of a decent crowd.

After the match, Manager Matt Howard spoke.

“That wasn’t nearly good enough from us today. If we think we can just coast through games and be acceptable, then Luke and I let them know in no uncertain terms that it’s not good enough.”

“I was disappointed overall but pleased that we got the reaction that we did after half time.

“I didn’t see the Carl Wilson-Denis incident, but Luke said that it was a stonewall penalty… he was absolutely adamant. But forget Carl’s shout… that was a penalty at the end. If Michael (Fahm) wins the ball like the assistant says he does, then the goalkeeper has wiped him out.

“On another day, Tooting could’ve scored four or five and we could’ve got a couple more but I think the draw is a fair result. If I’m honest, before the game, I’d have taken that.”

Stuart Tree’s match photos can be seen here.