Corinthian-Casuals 0
Haringey Borough 2
Bawling 30
Georgiou 81
Pitching In Isthmian Premier League
Saturday 7 January
Attendance: 265
Match report by Finlay Stubbs
Photo by Stuart Tree
Casuals suffered their first league defeat of 2023 with a frustrating 2-0 loss to a well-organised Haringey Borough side on a gloomy and miserable afternoon in Tolworth.
Casuals came into the game full of confidence following a triumphant victory away to local rivals Kingstonian, while Haringey were looking to bounce back from a defeat to Enfield Town over the festive period. Seeking to build on the win, Casuals manager Justin Fevrier gave two debuts, to defender Sergio Uyi and winger Reon Donkor, as well as a return to the starting XI for striker Nat Pinney.
On an afternoon where flags were lowered to half-mast in honour of Brazilian legend Pele, the two teams battled it out for the three points on a dark and wet early January afternoon at King George's Field in what proved to be a tough game for the hosts.
The opening stages were tightly contested with both teams looking to impose their patterns of play, with the only threat on goal coming from Haringey’s Kaylen Hinds, who put his effort off target. The visitors had another chance to break the deadlock when a strike from Christian Djamas was fired straight at Callum Coulter following a clever turn on the edge of the Casuals penalty area.
The game continued to be closely fought with both teams having spells of possession and putting in strong tackles in the midfield, one of which resulted in Casuals defender Simba Kudyiwa picking up the first yellow card of the game following a late challenge.
Haringey almost took the lead after a free-kick was whipped in by Michael O'Donoghue and headed onto the crossbar. This seemed to have woken the home side up, and they could have had a penalty after debutant Donkor looked to be brought to ground by a combination of goalkeeper Luke Mewitt and defender Scott Mitchell when bursting through on goal, but his appeals were waved away by the referee. Casuals kept creating more openings with Luke Stokoe driving in a low ball across the six-yard box that was cleared for a corner by O'Donoghue.
Despite those Casuals chances, it was Haringey that took the lead in the 30th minute after the hosts gave the ball away in midfield and it was picked up by Alphanso Kennedy. He played a through ball to Alfred Bobson Bawling, who slotted calmy past the outstretched Coulter to put the visitors ahead.
Haringey continued to build on their lead, with a flurry of corners which tested the new-look Casuals back three, although new signing Uyi and Kraig McLeod headed clear any danger. The away side almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when a driven cross from the right was nearly poked home by Johnny Ashman before the whistle was blown.
In an attempt to get back on level terms, Fevrier made two changes at half-time, bringing on striker Lewis Croal for Pinney and midfielder Thomas Jackson for Kudyiwa.
However, the away side continued to create chances and almost got their second, after a shot from the dangerous Djamas was blocked from close range by Uyi.
The conditions continually got worse as the rain poured onto the pitch, making it difficult for both teams to take a foothold in the game while spectators ran for cover to stay dry.
Casuals looked to get in behind the disciplined Haringey defence as Donkor continued to be a nuisance with some excellent sequences of footwork and movement in the final third, but this came to few clear-cut chances.
With the hosts pushing forward for an equaliser, Haringey found openings on the break and Bawling put his effort just wide of the post from close range shortly before the visitors doubled their lead with nine minutes remaining. Stefanos Georgiou drove forward on the left-hand side and fired low into the far corner to seal the victory, leaving the travelling supporters behind the goal delighted.
Despite the goal, Casuals still looked to half the deficit in the closing stages of the game, and Sam Dowridge looked set to pull one back until an excellent block from the resilient Haringey defence denied us any consolation.
In the end, it was a tough day at the office for Fevrier's side who struggled to create a sustained amount of pressure for the Haringey defence and goalkeeper to deal with in treacherous conditions. Despite the result, the game saw two promising debuts from both Uyi and Donkor who look to be solid new recruits for Casuals as they look to climb the table.
Next up is another important home game against Horsham on Tuesday night, before a visit to an in-form Lewes side next Saturday, where Casuals will be looking to add to their points tally following a difficult defeat.
Corinthian-Casuals: Coulter; Kudyiwa (Jackson h/t), Uyi, McLeod; Halsey, Hyman, Thompson (c), Dowridge; Stokoe (Masikini 69), Donkor, Pinney (Croal h/t)
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