Faversham Town 0 -1 Corinthian-Casuals
Bostik League South
Saturday 23rd September 2017
Match report & photos: Stuart Tree (full set of images here)
Corinthian-Casuals extended their unbeaten run to five games as they edged out Faversham Town by a goal to nil at Salters Lane in the Bostik League South.
A goal on the stroke of half-time courtesy of Danny Cunningham was enough to seal the three points which left Casuals sitting sixth in the league table come 5pm.
James Bracken’s side have won four and drawn one of their last five matches since the abject performance in the FA Cup at Ashford Town. A solid win at early front-runners Whyteleafe in the week meant selection headaches for Bracken and Dan Pringle – the bench looking every bit as strong as the starting XI.
Whilst chances were few and far between on this bright afternoon, Casuals imposed themselves enough to ensure they had the bulk of possession and territory. Gabriel Odunaike had the first real chance for Corinth but the winger couldn’t quite reach the cross early enough and his glancing header was steered wide.
Jack Strange, imperious in defence once again could’ve bagged a hat-full of goals already this season. Today, his free header from a Josh Uzun cross whistled just over the bar, much to the chagrin of the 18 year old.
With half time looming, the old adage of ‘a great time to score’ came true for Bracken’s side when Casuals snatched the lead with seconds remaining. A failed clearance from the Whites could only find Tommy Smith who clipped a delightful cross to Cunningham. The striker’s scissor kick beat Simon Overland in goal and found the bottom corner, much to the jubilation of the visitors.
Cunningham perhaps should’ve killed the game off after the break when one-on-one with Overland, he could only blaze over the bar.
Casuals continued to dictate play and Faversham’s chances to get back into the game took a blow when Carl Rook was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Despite the dominance of play, a scoreline of 1-0 is fragile and Casuals would’ve felt aggrieved if they let that lead slip. It almost happened; in stoppage time, a launched throw-in found Dan Carrington who’s header was directed to the top corner, but Danny Bracken, who’d had a quiet game to this point, pulled out a stunning reflex save to tip the ball over. Heartbeats could restart!
“One scare at the end but we managed the game well," said Manager James Bracken after the match.
“You’re not going to come out and win every game by three or four goals. You aim to make it more comfortable, get the second goal and kill it off. There’s always going to be games that we’ll only win one-nil through the course of the season, but that’s as comfortable a one-nil as we’ll get.
“We limited them to long balls forward inside their own half. They never once got down and around the outside of us. They never really got any crosses in, through balls or controlled possession in our half.
“That’s testament to us being organised in defence and solid in midfield. We could’ve caught them for a few more goals. I thought one-nil at half time flattered them with the few chances we had.
“We only crafted three or four chances but for me, they were really good chances that we probably should’ve scored. But we got the one, which was crucial and saw the game out in a comfortable manner.
“I still maintain this; there’s a lot more to come from these players. All of them… there’s more to come. Now we’re five unbeaten, four wins and a draw and we’ve only conceded two goals in that period. We’re not shipping goals and we know we’ve got goals in us.
“We’ve put a little run together now and we’ve got to stay on it. Get results in our next few home games and that will put us where I said we want to be. Win the next two and the boys will have done exactly what I asked them to do… win six of the next seven.
“We’re doing well. Competition for places is there. Competition needs to be embraced and the players who are playing need to be keeping zeros against them whilst winning games of football.”
Bostik League South
Saturday 23rd September 2017
Match report & photos: Stuart Tree (full set of images here)
Corinthian-Casuals extended their unbeaten run to five games as they edged out Faversham Town by a goal to nil at Salters Lane in the Bostik League South.
A goal on the stroke of half-time courtesy of Danny Cunningham was enough to seal the three points which left Casuals sitting sixth in the league table come 5pm.
James Bracken’s side have won four and drawn one of their last five matches since the abject performance in the FA Cup at Ashford Town. A solid win at early front-runners Whyteleafe in the week meant selection headaches for Bracken and Dan Pringle – the bench looking every bit as strong as the starting XI.
Whilst chances were few and far between on this bright afternoon, Casuals imposed themselves enough to ensure they had the bulk of possession and territory. Gabriel Odunaike had the first real chance for Corinth but the winger couldn’t quite reach the cross early enough and his glancing header was steered wide.
Jack Strange, imperious in defence once again could’ve bagged a hat-full of goals already this season. Today, his free header from a Josh Uzun cross whistled just over the bar, much to the chagrin of the 18 year old.
With half time looming, the old adage of ‘a great time to score’ came true for Bracken’s side when Casuals snatched the lead with seconds remaining. A failed clearance from the Whites could only find Tommy Smith who clipped a delightful cross to Cunningham. The striker’s scissor kick beat Simon Overland in goal and found the bottom corner, much to the jubilation of the visitors.
Cunningham perhaps should’ve killed the game off after the break when one-on-one with Overland, he could only blaze over the bar.
Casuals continued to dictate play and Faversham’s chances to get back into the game took a blow when Carl Rook was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Despite the dominance of play, a scoreline of 1-0 is fragile and Casuals would’ve felt aggrieved if they let that lead slip. It almost happened; in stoppage time, a launched throw-in found Dan Carrington who’s header was directed to the top corner, but Danny Bracken, who’d had a quiet game to this point, pulled out a stunning reflex save to tip the ball over. Heartbeats could restart!
“One scare at the end but we managed the game well," said Manager James Bracken after the match.
“You’re not going to come out and win every game by three or four goals. You aim to make it more comfortable, get the second goal and kill it off. There’s always going to be games that we’ll only win one-nil through the course of the season, but that’s as comfortable a one-nil as we’ll get.
“We limited them to long balls forward inside their own half. They never once got down and around the outside of us. They never really got any crosses in, through balls or controlled possession in our half.
“That’s testament to us being organised in defence and solid in midfield. We could’ve caught them for a few more goals. I thought one-nil at half time flattered them with the few chances we had.
“We only crafted three or four chances but for me, they were really good chances that we probably should’ve scored. But we got the one, which was crucial and saw the game out in a comfortable manner.
“I still maintain this; there’s a lot more to come from these players. All of them… there’s more to come. Now we’re five unbeaten, four wins and a draw and we’ve only conceded two goals in that period. We’re not shipping goals and we know we’ve got goals in us.
“We’ve put a little run together now and we’ve got to stay on it. Get results in our next few home games and that will put us where I said we want to be. Win the next two and the boys will have done exactly what I asked them to do… win six of the next seven.
“We’re doing well. Competition for places is there. Competition needs to be embraced and the players who are playing need to be keeping zeros against them whilst winning games of football.”
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