Folkestone Frustrated as Casuals Continue Run

Corinthian-Casuals 0-0 Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 7th March 2015
Match report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree

Corinthian-Casuals held high flying Folkestone Invicta to a goalless draw at King Georges Arena as Matt Howard’s men continued their impressive form.

And former AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian defender, now Casuals’ First Team Coach, Wayne Finnie thinks this crop of players is the best he’s seen at the Tolworth-based side.

“As a group of players, individually are really good...  I’ve been here a while and they’re the best. Better than anything I can think of in that time.

“There’s a real feel good factor both on the pitch and off it. The boys acknowledge that and seen how we’ve performed out in Sao Paulo against a fantastic team. We now ask ourselves ‘why can’t we do that every single week?’

“Since returning home, we’ve played five league games and are unbeaten in that time. We’re hoping we can carry that form.”

Skipper Joe Hicks returned after a two game absence whilst Carl Wilson-Denis reclaimed his place after missing the midweek draw at Walton Casuals.

With a strong overhead wind behind them, the visitors made the brighter start with Casuals set-up to get as many men behind the ball as possible in an effort to frustrate their opponents.

There was an early shout for a penalty waved away as skipper Joe Hicks rose above Ian Draycott with Invicta claiming the Casuals skipper was climbing on the back of the dangerous front man who has hit over 30 goals already this season.

On 10 minutes Matt Newman picked out the lively Jon Pilbeam down the right hand side who found himself in space but his low centre was gathered at the second attempt by Danny Bracken.

Returning skipper Hicks nearly paid the price for being caught on the ball 3 minutes later but after robbing the defender Draycott attempted to lift the ball over Bracken from some distance and only succeeded in sending the ball bobbling wide of the unguarded net.

It was all Invicta with Casuals at times having 11 men behind the ball. This seemed to have the desired effect with the visitors restricted to opportunist efforts. Draycott again this time curling a free kick just wide from 25 yards.

The striker felt perhaps he should have done better as James Everitt’s long ball found head of the ex-Leatherhead poacher but his effort was straight at Bracken.

Casual’s first real foray into the opposition half came after half an hour when Hicks took matters into his own hands linking well with Juevan Spencer. However after receiving the ball following a one-two he stumbled inside the area with the ball rolling into the hands of keeper Tim Roberts who had a relatively trouble free opening period.

The home side comfortably saw out the latter stages of the first half, which saw both sides even going into the break.

With the wind behind them Matt Howard’s side set out making an instant improvement to their offensive stats as the half began. Indeed inside the first few minutes they recorded their first shot of the match when Jamie Byatt volleyed wide of Roberts goal following Brackens long punt downfield.

A few minutes later and Casuals nearly opened the scoring with the best chance of the match.

Down the right following Spencer’s trickery the ball broke to Ross Defoe and his low cross evaded both Byatt and the covering Frankie Chappell. Mason Welch-Turner arriving at the back post saw his sidefooted effort blocked by the legs of Roberts and away for a corner.

Invicta tested Bracken for the first time in the half when Pilbeam’s free kick was grabbed at the second attempt after bouncing in front of the home stopper.

The home side introduced Max Austin for Carl Wilson-Denis on the hour mark and then saw the striker just fail to get onto Danny Dudley’s header following a Byatt corner,

The Seasiders made a change of their own with Ronnie Dolan coming on for Pilbeam and after robbing Lee Hall down the right his ball across the box saw Jordan Wright sidefoot over when well placed at the edge of the area,

With 18 minutes remaining both sides came close to breaking the deadlock. Firstly Michael Everitt headed Dolan’s free kick down into the ground and just wide whilst at the other end following Bettache’s nutmeg of James Everitt and Defoe’s subsequent cross Reece Placid saw a low volley at the back post well held by Roberts on the line.

Casuals sensing maximum points could be on offer continued to ask questions of the visiting backline and Max Austin drove a fierce effort the wrong side of the post and into the side-netting.

At the other end James Everitt was inches away from heading Wrights cross into the back of the net. With 5 minutes remaining Lee Hall’s in-swinging free kick was met by Byatt who failed to divert his effort goalwards. In the dying stages both Ashley Miller and then Draycott worked themselves half chances but both times Bracken was down comfortably to save.

A well-earned point for both sides that will aid their relative causes going into the final stage of the season.

After the match, ex-Casuals Captain turned first-team Coach, Wayne Finnie spoke of the performance and the belief that’s around the football club.

“I think today was a fair point. In terms of possession, Folkestone dominated but in terms of chances, you could argue we edged it. The conditions were difficult; very windy and with the sun right in player’s eyes.

“Folkestone are a very good side. They’re third in the league and after thirty-something games, it’s not by accident that they’re in that position. So the fact that we can compete with these clubs and even be a little disappointed at the end shows how far we’ve come.

“A lot of the players here have played at a good youth level but maybe haven’t got the experience at senior level and as some of the older guys will know, you play at this level, you’ll get plenty of games where you just can’t get the ball down and play… where you can’t do all the things you want to. You have to grind out results and on Wednesday against Walton, we didn’t seem to be at the races. Matt and Luke (Garrard) have addressed that before today’s match and reinforced that message to them. As a result, today was much much better.

“I know not everyone went to Brazil and that was unfortunate that they all couldn’t go, but those who did travel, it’s given them a kick up the backside. It’s evident that it has revitalised everyone.

“There’s a real feel good factor both on the pitch and off it. The boys acknowledge that and seen how we’ve performed out in Sao Paulo against a fantastic team. We now ask ourselves ‘why can’t we do that every single week?’

“Since returning home, we’ve played five league games and are unbeaten in that time. We’re hoping we can carry that form. The playoffs, notwithstanding other results, are probably just a little too far but certainly, we’ll avoid relegation… though I don’t want to speak too soon!

“We’ll look to the remainder of the season and break whatever records we’ve got and finish as high as we can in the league.

“As a group of players, individually are really good...  I’ve been here a while and they’re the best. Better than anything I can think of in that time.”

Stuart Tree's photos from the match can be seen here.

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