Leaving on a Jet Plane... Without the Win

Jersey Bulls 2 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties League Premier South
Saturday 12th October 2024
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set can be seen here).

​Corinthian-Casuals returned home from Jersey on Sunday having left the island like most other visiting teams in the Combined Counties… pointless.

The Channel Islanders cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory, though having been gifted two goals – one via the assistant referee and one via Casuals’ stand-in keeper.

The fact remains that whilst Casuals sit in 10th in the table, they’ve only picked up four points from teams above them, having played nine matches against those opponents. They can take some solace that they have maximum points from the four teams they’ve played below them in the table. There’s no doubt that it’s been a very tough run against higher table opposition, mostly on the road. Arguably easier days back at King George’s do lay ahead.

But if Casuals are to push for playoffs, they’ll need to start sticking some points on the board following a lean run of just one point in the last six.

Casuals set off on Saturday morning with a number of players not able to make the trip. Most notable was the addition of debutant keeper Webber Silva-Sobrinho who took his place between the sticks for the first time since pre-season following the absence of Murrillo Bernades and with the injury to Mo Maan at Knaphill on Tuesday. Further shuffling of the pack was required after Man-of-the-Match from the last game, Diogo Da Silva was also absent alongside Warren Morgan and the impressive Tareiq Holmes-Dennis.

Mu Maan’s enforced re-shuffling continued just one minute into proceedings when Tommy Castelo was fouled and had to be taken to hospital with a suspected ankle break. Thankfully, scans indicated it was ‘only’ badly sprained and was released on crutches later that evening.

Despite the setback, Casuals looked comfortable going forward but failed to create too many chances of note. Shea-Cascoe Rogers’ header landing just wide of the post. The first half played out evenly matched with the video highlights surely not extending much past a few seconds.

Due to the injury to Castello, it was the fifth minute of time added on when Jersey struck the first blow. A ball lofted through to Karl Hinds saw him cross to Rai Dos Santos who couldn’t miss from inside the box. Hinds looked yards offside, with even those watching the excellent live stream agreeing with the commentator that the Jersey winger had been fortunate with the flag staying down. A tough one to take.

But Casuals never really got going in the tie and the expected comeback didn’t materialise. Jersey looked the more threatening though Mu Maan’s side kept them under wraps. That was until Silva-Sobrinho gave Jersey the gift of a season. Trying to prevent the ball going out for a corner, he spilt the ball straight into the feet of Hinds who had the easiest tap in he’ll receive this campaign. The goal sucked the life out of the game for the visitors and never felt as though Casuals would get back into it. Frazier Osunkoya came closest, testing Van Der Vliet in the Jersey goal with an effort on target.

But that was that. Jersey notched up their fifth consecutive clean sheet – something Casuals haven’t achieved once this season. They remain unbeaten in the league sitting very comfortably in fourth but with enough games in hand to take top spot. It’s hard to defeat such well organized sides as Jersey most evidently are, especially in their own backyard, so to gift them the three points is criminal.
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A big thanks to everyone at Jersey Bulls for making our trip a pleasant and enjoyable one. The organization from our hosts was exemplary. Also, a big thank you to our sixty or so fans who made the journey, naturally spending hard earned money on flights and hotels. Your support is unrivalled.