Frost Bitten

Herne Bay  3-1  Corinthian-Casuals 
Smith 2                            Ayoola 34 
Thomas 41 
Saunders-Henry 66 
 
Pitching In Isthmian Premier League 
Saturday 21 January 2023 
Attendance 399 
Match Report by Finlay Stubbs  
 
Casuals were left disappointed after a frustrating defeat to fellow strugglers Herne Bay on a cold afternoon in Kent.  
 
After a promising performance away to Lewes last week, Casuals came into the game with confidence they could build on that and claim the three points, while Herne Bay were looking to put together a run of form after a 3-1 victory against Bowers & Pitsea last time out.  
 
On a day when six games were postponed in the Isthmian Premier League due to frozen pitches, the two teams walked out onto the newly laid 3G surface, with Justin Fevrier making one change to the starting XI from last week as Ricardo Thompson returned from injury. 
 
Casuals got off to the worst possible start after two minutes when the ball made its way to Mason Saunders-Henry, who drove forward on the left and squared the ball to Rory Smith at the far post, where he converted from close range to put his side ahead. 
 
The hosts continued to put pressure on the Casuals backline and should have got their second after Marcel Barrington got the better of Sergio Uyi, before finding Kymani Thomas one-on-one against Callum Coulter. However, his effort was well saved by the Casuals stopper, who was called into action again to keep out a long-range effort from the lively Saunders-Henry shortly afterwards. 
 
After a slow start to proceedings, Casuals started to keep possession and looked to break down the Herne Bay defensive shape as the half wore on. The visitors almost got the equaliser when Joe Halsey's looping cross found Sam Dowridge at the far post, but his effort was cleared off the line by a Herne Bay defender. The chances kept coming for Casuals, though, and another excellent passage of play found Shola Ayoola in the box, but he looped his header just over.  
 
Casuals got their deserved equaliser just after the half-hour mark, when a corner found Ayoola at the front post, and he bounced a header in off the crossbar to get his first goal for the club.  
 
However, the hard work to get back in the game was soon undone after a mix-up at the back saw Smith drive forward, before the ball made its way to Thomas to calmly slot home and put the hosts ahead going into the break. 
 
At the start of the second half, Fevrier replaced centre-back Malakai Hyman with Reuben Collins, who was making his first appearance since overcoming an injury, and the early stages of the second half were closely contested with the Herne Bay defence remaining compact, not allowing any chances for the visitors.  
 
However, Casuals kept searching for an equaliser and had a great opportunity to level after Ayoola ran through on goal but saw his effort fly just wide. Casuals continued to probe forward and substitute Collins headed a well-taken Dowridge free-kick just over. 
 
Casuals soon found themselves with a mountain to climb after a goal out of nowhere doubled the deficit and surely sealed the game for the hosts. Saunders-Henry drove forward on the left, cut inside and curled his effort into the top corner from distance.  
 
Despite being pegged back, Casuals continued to dominate possession and put crosses into the box, but failed to get any decent contact on those deliveries to get back in the game.  
 
Overall it was a tough day at the office for Fevrier’s side, who at times kept the ball well but struggled to put any pressure on the hosts defence test the goalkeeper, Jordan Perrin. Herne Bay, however, attacked with pace and quality in wide areas with Saunders-Henry providing a real threat all afternoon to help claim the three valuable points. 
 
Next up for Casuals is a home game against Bognor Regis on Saturday, when Fevrier’s side will be hoping to bounce back quickly and continue the fight for survival.  
 
Corinthian-Casuals: Coulter; Kudyiwa, Uyi, Hyman (Collins); Halsey, Jackson, Thompson (c), Dowridge (Pinney); Lovatt, Stokoe (Donkor); Ayoola