Lewes 0 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Wednesday 18th October 2017
Bostik League South
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
More photos from Simon Roe here
Corinthian-Casuals bounced back from defeat with their biggest scalp of the season – a 1-0 win away at unbeaten Lewes, who sit top of the league.
Substitute Gabriel Odunaike’s 88th minute strike was enough to seal three points against a side who’d only dropped six points so far this season.
Manager James Bracken was able to call upon three players missing from the 4-2 defeat at Cray Wanderers on Saturday. Odunaike returned from a hamstring injury to take a place on the bench whilst Tommy Smith and Danny Cunningham had recovered from a virus. However, it appeared the bug was spreading with the Boss suffering as well as his brother and goalkeeper, Danny Bracken who who had to be treated for his sickness on the pitch just two minutes into the match. The prospect of facing the league leaders without a recognised stopper briefly causing panic amongst the management.
Thankfully, Captain Bracken was able to continue and with aplomb, making a brilliant point blank save from a Lewes set piece – the keeper admitting afterwards there was an element of luck involved… ‘I had my eyes closed and guessed where to stick my hand out’ the keeper of the year announced. Whatever works, I guess.
Lewes pressed hard as you’d expect with a line-up that included the likes of Billy Medlock. Scouts from several clubs watched on with interest at the fine ensemble amassed at the Dripping Pan. Casuals went with counter attacking pace – Max Oldham and Jordan Clarke, who continually attracted the attention of not one, but two markers, being the Amateur’s main outlet. However, the general consensus was that the first half certainly belonged to the Rooks.
Persistent drizzle fell in the second period and Casuals knuckled down and began to encroach more into Lewes’ territory. Josh Uzun’s wicked shot was parried by Chris Winterton in goal and nearly fell kindly to Cunningham. A period of bright play from the visitors showed the 331 in attendance that if Lewes were going to win, they’d have to work for it.
Players grew leggy and with attacking options from the bench for Lewes in the form of Jonte Smith – once a season’s top scorer in the FA Cup and Jamie Brotherton, Casuals back four were tested plenty, but stood steadfast. Lewes threatened plenty, though it was actually Casuals’ replacements that made the real impact on the game. Odunaike joined Ben Cheklit and Jamie Byatt in the latter stages and immediately started to cause problems down the right flank.
But the goal was to come from the opposite side. Trickery from Jordan Clarke saw him beat his men to the by-line where he cut back across the six yard box where both Byatt and Odunaike were waiting – the latter getting the final poke home. Cue rabid celebrations from players and fans alike who hadn’t stopped singing all game despite getting soaked on the uncovered terraces. Not that it mattered. Hands trembled, voices spent and beer consumed, they lamented that it was another day at the Dripping Pan to rival the 3-2 win from the back end of last season.
The win lifts Casuals up to fourth, five points behind Lewes who still top the table.
After the match, James Bracken had these words to say, “I enjoyed that. Nights like this make it a pleasure to turn up and be involved in football.
“Don’t get me wrong; the performance wasn’t great. First half, we didn’t try to pass the ball. We looked panicked, short of confidence and had a real lack of ideas.
“We settled them down at half time and reassured them as to how good they are and if they started to pass the ball, it’d be an even game.
“Lewes bombed in loads of balls from wide but never really got around the back of us. We dealt with it relatively easy. We had a couple of scares but you expect that. They’re top of the league and hadn’t lost a game all season. Playing them on their turf, a couple of scares will happen but they didn’t take their chances.
“We’ve used our substitutes well. One of them has come on and grabbed the winner. A good night’s work.
“Games like this test me and pushes me to be better. Ultimately, if I’m better, we’ll get more out of the boys and these are the sorts of games they want to play in - coming to the team that’s top of the league.
“Lewes are finding out the same as we did last season, that teams will come to shoot you down. They’ll find that extra 10%.
“We didn’t find that extra 10% in quality – first half, we were as poor as we’d been all season, but we found a desire and an attitude to stay in the game and play better in the second half. We put together some decent passages of play without really having a cutting edge with the final ball.
“For this game that was hastily arranged away on the coast on a Wednesday night, we had fantastic support. It’s not round the corner for us. It’s a two hour journey from where most of our fans live. Behind the goal again, they made it a home game. They got behind us like they always do. As I said a few weeks ago, they make a difference.
“They need to keep getting behind us because it really contributes. In a tight league full of teams that are similar in quality, their support really can be the difference. If it means its 3 points more come the end of the season, that might be the difference between winning the league or being in the playoffs and missing out altogether.
“So we need them, but they were fantastic tonight. They turn up and sing and we’ll repay them with three points and give them a decent night out."
Wednesday 18th October 2017
Bostik League South
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
More photos from Simon Roe here
Corinthian-Casuals bounced back from defeat with their biggest scalp of the season – a 1-0 win away at unbeaten Lewes, who sit top of the league.
Substitute Gabriel Odunaike’s 88th minute strike was enough to seal three points against a side who’d only dropped six points so far this season.
Manager James Bracken was able to call upon three players missing from the 4-2 defeat at Cray Wanderers on Saturday. Odunaike returned from a hamstring injury to take a place on the bench whilst Tommy Smith and Danny Cunningham had recovered from a virus. However, it appeared the bug was spreading with the Boss suffering as well as his brother and goalkeeper, Danny Bracken who who had to be treated for his sickness on the pitch just two minutes into the match. The prospect of facing the league leaders without a recognised stopper briefly causing panic amongst the management.
Thankfully, Captain Bracken was able to continue and with aplomb, making a brilliant point blank save from a Lewes set piece – the keeper admitting afterwards there was an element of luck involved… ‘I had my eyes closed and guessed where to stick my hand out’ the keeper of the year announced. Whatever works, I guess.
Lewes pressed hard as you’d expect with a line-up that included the likes of Billy Medlock. Scouts from several clubs watched on with interest at the fine ensemble amassed at the Dripping Pan. Casuals went with counter attacking pace – Max Oldham and Jordan Clarke, who continually attracted the attention of not one, but two markers, being the Amateur’s main outlet. However, the general consensus was that the first half certainly belonged to the Rooks.
Persistent drizzle fell in the second period and Casuals knuckled down and began to encroach more into Lewes’ territory. Josh Uzun’s wicked shot was parried by Chris Winterton in goal and nearly fell kindly to Cunningham. A period of bright play from the visitors showed the 331 in attendance that if Lewes were going to win, they’d have to work for it.
Players grew leggy and with attacking options from the bench for Lewes in the form of Jonte Smith – once a season’s top scorer in the FA Cup and Jamie Brotherton, Casuals back four were tested plenty, but stood steadfast. Lewes threatened plenty, though it was actually Casuals’ replacements that made the real impact on the game. Odunaike joined Ben Cheklit and Jamie Byatt in the latter stages and immediately started to cause problems down the right flank.
But the goal was to come from the opposite side. Trickery from Jordan Clarke saw him beat his men to the by-line where he cut back across the six yard box where both Byatt and Odunaike were waiting – the latter getting the final poke home. Cue rabid celebrations from players and fans alike who hadn’t stopped singing all game despite getting soaked on the uncovered terraces. Not that it mattered. Hands trembled, voices spent and beer consumed, they lamented that it was another day at the Dripping Pan to rival the 3-2 win from the back end of last season.
The win lifts Casuals up to fourth, five points behind Lewes who still top the table.
After the match, James Bracken had these words to say, “I enjoyed that. Nights like this make it a pleasure to turn up and be involved in football.
“Don’t get me wrong; the performance wasn’t great. First half, we didn’t try to pass the ball. We looked panicked, short of confidence and had a real lack of ideas.
“We settled them down at half time and reassured them as to how good they are and if they started to pass the ball, it’d be an even game.
“Lewes bombed in loads of balls from wide but never really got around the back of us. We dealt with it relatively easy. We had a couple of scares but you expect that. They’re top of the league and hadn’t lost a game all season. Playing them on their turf, a couple of scares will happen but they didn’t take their chances.
“We’ve used our substitutes well. One of them has come on and grabbed the winner. A good night’s work.
“Games like this test me and pushes me to be better. Ultimately, if I’m better, we’ll get more out of the boys and these are the sorts of games they want to play in - coming to the team that’s top of the league.
“Lewes are finding out the same as we did last season, that teams will come to shoot you down. They’ll find that extra 10%.
“We didn’t find that extra 10% in quality – first half, we were as poor as we’d been all season, but we found a desire and an attitude to stay in the game and play better in the second half. We put together some decent passages of play without really having a cutting edge with the final ball.
“For this game that was hastily arranged away on the coast on a Wednesday night, we had fantastic support. It’s not round the corner for us. It’s a two hour journey from where most of our fans live. Behind the goal again, they made it a home game. They got behind us like they always do. As I said a few weeks ago, they make a difference.
“They need to keep getting behind us because it really contributes. In a tight league full of teams that are similar in quality, their support really can be the difference. If it means its 3 points more come the end of the season, that might be the difference between winning the league or being in the playoffs and missing out altogether.
“So we need them, but they were fantastic tonight. They turn up and sing and we’ll repay them with three points and give them a decent night out."
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