Burgess Hill Town 2-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 16th August 2014
Corinthian-Casuals Boss Matt Howard believed the blustery conditions played a part in Casuals 2-1 loss to Burgess Hill Town last Saturday.
The Casuals travelled to Sussex for the second time in three days as they took on a Burgess Hill side that finished one point outside the playoff spots last season. Casuals made one change from their impressive 3-1 win over Worthing with Michael Fahm replacing the absent Dave Hodges.
The Hillians came into the match on the back of a 3-3 thriller versus Redhill but were without influential players Spencer Slaughter, Graham Martin, Chris Breach and Stuart Tuck.
Casuals were looking to avoid a repeat of last April where the Hill overturned the visitors 3-0 in the penultimate game of the season.
From the kickoff, Burgess Hill’s intent to take all three points was clear. Goalkeeper Danny Bracken, off the back of a fine performance against Worthing was once again called into action making early saves. Hill’s Greg Luer posed a threat throughout the match and after breaking free of the defence, beat Bracken but couldn’t beat the post, with the ball rebounding safely back in the keeper’s hands.
However, on 37 minutes the deadlock was broken; Greg Luer once again causing problems. Casuals had several chances to clear the ball but Luer’s mazy run across the box ended with a low shot into the bottom corner which even Bracken couldn’t do anything about.
Casuals could’ve been going into the break two down if it wasn’t for a fantastic save from Bracken when he expertly tipped over a close range header. Casuals looked to push for an equaliser but although Michael Fahm often penetrated Burgess Hill’s defence, a shot on goal was rare.
After the break and with the blustery wind behind their back, Casuals pressed to get back into the game. Juevan Spencer caused the hosts all manner of problems with his pace and guile. Jordan Vidal and Mahrez Bettache both tested the Hill’s defence and Joe Hick’s header couldn’t find the net. Clinical finishing was the only part of Casuals’ game that was missing.
Corinth were to rue those squandered opportunites; on 68 minutes, Danny Dudley was caught between a rock and a hard place. Dudley, attempting to clear a dangerous cross could only find his own net. With Hill strikers bearing down on goal, without intervention from the defender, it was likely that the hosts would’ve scored anyway.
Casuals didn’t let up on tempo and with 20 minutes remaining, there was still plenty of opportunity to get something out of the match. That intensity spilled over when Carl Wilson-Dennis’ shot was parried by Josh James and Jamie Byatt, looking to prod home the rebound, clashed with the keeper. As a result, Byatt was booked.
As time ebbed away, so did the points but Casuals continued to hound Hill’s defence and finally, deep into time added on, it broke. Substitute Ellis Wilson-Joseph stabbing home from five yards gave a glimmer of hope only for the referee to blow for full time immediately after the restart.
Burgess Hill remain unbeaten in all competitions since the start of the pre-season and it’s clear that this strong, organised side could be playoff contenders.
After the game, Casuals Boss Matt Howard said, “I thought we done okay today. The wind was a huge factor. If we’d have come in half time 0-0, my personal opinion is we would’ve won the game. To give the goal away was sloppy. They didn’t need telling that… they knew it was a soft goal to give away.
“Half time, we were upbeat. We thought ‘It’s only 1-0’ and the wind was a huge, huge factor. We’ve come out second half and we’ve done well. We probably got a little anxious… a little gung-ho and obviously the second goal killed us. In my opinion it wasn’t a 2-1 game, I thought a draw would’ve been a fair result.
“First half was Burgess Hill’s; no question about it but second half was ours and I don’t think anyone could argue that.
“The lads in the changing room are really upset and that’s good because when I first came to the club, it was a case of ‘oh we lost again, it don’t really matter’. Burgess Hill finished sixth last year and this season, they’ll be there or there abouts again. So for us to lose 2-1 and our boys have the hump about it, that’s a good sign.”
“Going forward, I’ve set the lads a personal target and they know what’s expected from them and what we’d like to achieve. We’re still on course for what we’re hoping for.”
Photos from the game can be seen in our Gallery.
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 16th August 2014
Corinthian-Casuals Boss Matt Howard believed the blustery conditions played a part in Casuals 2-1 loss to Burgess Hill Town last Saturday.
The Casuals travelled to Sussex for the second time in three days as they took on a Burgess Hill side that finished one point outside the playoff spots last season. Casuals made one change from their impressive 3-1 win over Worthing with Michael Fahm replacing the absent Dave Hodges.
The Hillians came into the match on the back of a 3-3 thriller versus Redhill but were without influential players Spencer Slaughter, Graham Martin, Chris Breach and Stuart Tuck.
Casuals were looking to avoid a repeat of last April where the Hill overturned the visitors 3-0 in the penultimate game of the season.
From the kickoff, Burgess Hill’s intent to take all three points was clear. Goalkeeper Danny Bracken, off the back of a fine performance against Worthing was once again called into action making early saves. Hill’s Greg Luer posed a threat throughout the match and after breaking free of the defence, beat Bracken but couldn’t beat the post, with the ball rebounding safely back in the keeper’s hands.
However, on 37 minutes the deadlock was broken; Greg Luer once again causing problems. Casuals had several chances to clear the ball but Luer’s mazy run across the box ended with a low shot into the bottom corner which even Bracken couldn’t do anything about.
Casuals could’ve been going into the break two down if it wasn’t for a fantastic save from Bracken when he expertly tipped over a close range header. Casuals looked to push for an equaliser but although Michael Fahm often penetrated Burgess Hill’s defence, a shot on goal was rare.
After the break and with the blustery wind behind their back, Casuals pressed to get back into the game. Juevan Spencer caused the hosts all manner of problems with his pace and guile. Jordan Vidal and Mahrez Bettache both tested the Hill’s defence and Joe Hick’s header couldn’t find the net. Clinical finishing was the only part of Casuals’ game that was missing.
Corinth were to rue those squandered opportunites; on 68 minutes, Danny Dudley was caught between a rock and a hard place. Dudley, attempting to clear a dangerous cross could only find his own net. With Hill strikers bearing down on goal, without intervention from the defender, it was likely that the hosts would’ve scored anyway.
Casuals didn’t let up on tempo and with 20 minutes remaining, there was still plenty of opportunity to get something out of the match. That intensity spilled over when Carl Wilson-Dennis’ shot was parried by Josh James and Jamie Byatt, looking to prod home the rebound, clashed with the keeper. As a result, Byatt was booked.
As time ebbed away, so did the points but Casuals continued to hound Hill’s defence and finally, deep into time added on, it broke. Substitute Ellis Wilson-Joseph stabbing home from five yards gave a glimmer of hope only for the referee to blow for full time immediately after the restart.
Burgess Hill remain unbeaten in all competitions since the start of the pre-season and it’s clear that this strong, organised side could be playoff contenders.
After the game, Casuals Boss Matt Howard said, “I thought we done okay today. The wind was a huge factor. If we’d have come in half time 0-0, my personal opinion is we would’ve won the game. To give the goal away was sloppy. They didn’t need telling that… they knew it was a soft goal to give away.
“Half time, we were upbeat. We thought ‘It’s only 1-0’ and the wind was a huge, huge factor. We’ve come out second half and we’ve done well. We probably got a little anxious… a little gung-ho and obviously the second goal killed us. In my opinion it wasn’t a 2-1 game, I thought a draw would’ve been a fair result.
“First half was Burgess Hill’s; no question about it but second half was ours and I don’t think anyone could argue that.
“The lads in the changing room are really upset and that’s good because when I first came to the club, it was a case of ‘oh we lost again, it don’t really matter’. Burgess Hill finished sixth last year and this season, they’ll be there or there abouts again. So for us to lose 2-1 and our boys have the hump about it, that’s a good sign.”
“Going forward, I’ve set the lads a personal target and they know what’s expected from them and what we’d like to achieve. We’re still on course for what we’re hoping for.”
Photos from the game can be seen in our Gallery.
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