Chipstead 1 - 4 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 17th September 2016
Match report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Corinthian Casuals bounced back after a catastrophic 6-3 loss in the league last week to convincingly beat Chipstead 4-1 away from home.
A feeling that no Casuals player would want to feel again, the morale-destroying defeat against Hythe Town last Saturday was still fresh in their minds. However, on Tuesday, Casuals beat Whyteleafe 2-0 under the lights at King George’s in the Robert Dyas League Cup thanks to goals from Josh Uzun and man-of-the-match Shaun Brown.
Chipstead (located near Banstead) having not won in four games in all competitions, sat in 16th position. Four changes from the Hythe Town game saw Warren Morgan and Danny Dudley replace Niall Wright and Terry Murray at the back. Also, Ben Cheklit and ‘Super Maz' Bettache were left out ahead of Uzun and Brandon Johnson. The Chips played in their inaugural green and white hoops while it was the classic chocolate and pink for Casuals. A chill in the air and an occasional gust of wind kept everyone in the ground wrapped up in layers.
The suspect surface of High Road certainly impacted the way James Bracken had wanted to play as the game took a sharp turn into fouls, complaints and yellow cards. Brandon Johnson was the first in the book after a few tough challenges in the opening fifteen. Another yellow was handed out by the whistle-happy referee, this time to a Chipstead player. The darting run of Jordan Clarke had caught green shirts off guard in the 17th minute and after expertly rounding the oncoming keeper, Clarke slotted into the empty net to score. Appeals for offside were rejected as the position of the linesman’s flag remained by his side.
Minutes later, Casuals were hungry for a second. Jack Strange’s accurate pass allowed Shaun Okojie to have a chance on goal but was rebuked by the gloves of Sheik Ceesay, diving low to save the unlucky effort. Chipstead soon edged back into the game with chances coming through set-pieces that Casuals had given away. Danny Bracken was kept busy as a low shot evaded the net and was parried away by the keeper. Corinth were ahead at half-time by a single goal.
Corinthians started the second-half brightly, Danny Bracken assisting an Okojie shot which lacked connection as it sailed past the post. Nonetheless, the visitors were dealt a discouraging blow when defensive rock Danny Dudley signalled to the bench as he plummeted to the floor and was subsequently replaced by Niall Wright. Dudley walked off the pitch clearly distraught with the injury. Chipstead took advantage of Casuals’ defensive struggles as right-back Steve Betancourt punted the ball upfield. A green shirt controlled and set up Jason Henry to power the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area. The hosts had equalised as the scoreline read 1-1.
Not for long. On the front foot, Corinth had a golden chance soon after the Chipstead goal as Kevant Serbony reacted first to a ricochet that fell for him. The midfielder took a touch before burying the ball into the far corner. Passionate celebrations ensued from both the scorer and the fans as Corinth were back in the driving seat.
Marauding left-back Jamie Byatt was close to scoring another for Casuals as he hit a low shot narrowly past the post. Whilst on the search to score the third, Josh Uzun was awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area; the referee correctly judged a Chipstead player to have used his hand. Uzun superbly converted the set-piece into the top corner of the net, which left keeper Cisse stunned. There was swerve and accuracy on the strike which was the midfielder’s fifth of the season.
Three was obviously not enough as substitute Juevan Spencer netted his first of the campaign. Latching onto a defence splitting cross, the winger took a confident touch and composed himself before rifiing in. Spencer scored to finish the game once and for all.
Manager James Bracken was pleased with the performance.
“It's another four goals scored today. We're always going to score goals but it's pleasing that we've only conceded the one.
“That's six goals scored and only one against us in the last two games after making one or two positional changes. So we're happy and much closer to the level I expect us to perform.
“There's still more to come, but that was much better today.
“Four goals from four different scorers. We've got so many good players at this club. I've had selection problems ever since I got here. But they're good problems. The boys in the changing room knows there isn't a bad player.
“They have to trust me to pick a team which will go out there and win the majority of the time."
Chipstead move into 17th with a visit from high-flying Dorking Wanderers this Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, Casuals return to Tolworth in second place behind Tooting, who have a game in-hand. A meander to East Grinstead on Tuesday is next on the agenda before King George’s host the game against Ramsgate next weekend.
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 17th September 2016
Match report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Corinthian Casuals bounced back after a catastrophic 6-3 loss in the league last week to convincingly beat Chipstead 4-1 away from home.
A feeling that no Casuals player would want to feel again, the morale-destroying defeat against Hythe Town last Saturday was still fresh in their minds. However, on Tuesday, Casuals beat Whyteleafe 2-0 under the lights at King George’s in the Robert Dyas League Cup thanks to goals from Josh Uzun and man-of-the-match Shaun Brown.
Chipstead (located near Banstead) having not won in four games in all competitions, sat in 16th position. Four changes from the Hythe Town game saw Warren Morgan and Danny Dudley replace Niall Wright and Terry Murray at the back. Also, Ben Cheklit and ‘Super Maz' Bettache were left out ahead of Uzun and Brandon Johnson. The Chips played in their inaugural green and white hoops while it was the classic chocolate and pink for Casuals. A chill in the air and an occasional gust of wind kept everyone in the ground wrapped up in layers.
The suspect surface of High Road certainly impacted the way James Bracken had wanted to play as the game took a sharp turn into fouls, complaints and yellow cards. Brandon Johnson was the first in the book after a few tough challenges in the opening fifteen. Another yellow was handed out by the whistle-happy referee, this time to a Chipstead player. The darting run of Jordan Clarke had caught green shirts off guard in the 17th minute and after expertly rounding the oncoming keeper, Clarke slotted into the empty net to score. Appeals for offside were rejected as the position of the linesman’s flag remained by his side.
Minutes later, Casuals were hungry for a second. Jack Strange’s accurate pass allowed Shaun Okojie to have a chance on goal but was rebuked by the gloves of Sheik Ceesay, diving low to save the unlucky effort. Chipstead soon edged back into the game with chances coming through set-pieces that Casuals had given away. Danny Bracken was kept busy as a low shot evaded the net and was parried away by the keeper. Corinth were ahead at half-time by a single goal.
Corinthians started the second-half brightly, Danny Bracken assisting an Okojie shot which lacked connection as it sailed past the post. Nonetheless, the visitors were dealt a discouraging blow when defensive rock Danny Dudley signalled to the bench as he plummeted to the floor and was subsequently replaced by Niall Wright. Dudley walked off the pitch clearly distraught with the injury. Chipstead took advantage of Casuals’ defensive struggles as right-back Steve Betancourt punted the ball upfield. A green shirt controlled and set up Jason Henry to power the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area. The hosts had equalised as the scoreline read 1-1.
Not for long. On the front foot, Corinth had a golden chance soon after the Chipstead goal as Kevant Serbony reacted first to a ricochet that fell for him. The midfielder took a touch before burying the ball into the far corner. Passionate celebrations ensued from both the scorer and the fans as Corinth were back in the driving seat.
Marauding left-back Jamie Byatt was close to scoring another for Casuals as he hit a low shot narrowly past the post. Whilst on the search to score the third, Josh Uzun was awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area; the referee correctly judged a Chipstead player to have used his hand. Uzun superbly converted the set-piece into the top corner of the net, which left keeper Cisse stunned. There was swerve and accuracy on the strike which was the midfielder’s fifth of the season.
Three was obviously not enough as substitute Juevan Spencer netted his first of the campaign. Latching onto a defence splitting cross, the winger took a confident touch and composed himself before rifiing in. Spencer scored to finish the game once and for all.
Manager James Bracken was pleased with the performance.
“It's another four goals scored today. We're always going to score goals but it's pleasing that we've only conceded the one.
“That's six goals scored and only one against us in the last two games after making one or two positional changes. So we're happy and much closer to the level I expect us to perform.
“There's still more to come, but that was much better today.
“Four goals from four different scorers. We've got so many good players at this club. I've had selection problems ever since I got here. But they're good problems. The boys in the changing room knows there isn't a bad player.
“They have to trust me to pick a team which will go out there and win the majority of the time."
Chipstead move into 17th with a visit from high-flying Dorking Wanderers this Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, Casuals return to Tolworth in second place behind Tooting, who have a game in-hand. A meander to East Grinstead on Tuesday is next on the agenda before King George’s host the game against Ramsgate next weekend.
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