Worthing 1 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Saturday 4th September 2021
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)
Corinthian-Casuals and Worthing will do it all over again this week after the sides couldn’t be separated in the Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round.
Two early goals cancelled each other out at the Crucial Environmental Stadium on the Sussex coast which takes the tie to a replay at Tolworth.
Ben Cheklit struck for the visitors first, when Alfie Bendle’s ball found Warren Mfula who laid it off for Cheklit to squirm a shot under the body of young keeper Harrison Male. Just three minutes had passed and Corinth were off to the best possible start.
It didn’t last long though. Just eleven minutes later, a cross to Mo Diallo saw the striker rise above Jack Strange to equalise for the home side. It felt like it could be an afternoon filled with goals but alas, didn’t transpire that way.
Casuals custodian Danny Bracken was sharp on this afternoon making a number of top class saves and even when he was beaten, the post came to the rescue. At the other end, Casuals looked to use the counter-attack with the best of the half chances falling to Bobby Mills.
The second half saw play break down more as both sides tired in the rare summer sight of the sunshine. James Bracken’s side defended resolutely but created chances of their own. Manny Mensah probably should’ve scored when Jack Tucker’s ball into the six-yard box was fluffed by Mensah who couldn’t untangle his feet quick enough.
But the two chances that Casuals will rue missing came from substitutes Kieron Cadogan and Nat Pinney. The former Crystal Palace strike force had a couple of gilt-edged opportunities to win it at the death. The first where Cadogan was just pipped to a through ball by the very alert Male. The second, deep into time added on saw Pinney’s ball to Cadogan juggled in the area with several chances to get the shot off, only to eventually be snuffed by the Worthing stopper. It was heart-in-mouth moments.
Overall, Worthing bossed the majority of possession but it will be Casuals who feel unlucky not to be leaving with the win.
"I was pleased with our performance," said Manager James Bracken after the match. "The way we set up, the way we defended well. I watched the Worthing game against Bognor last week and if they’d have scored ten goals against them, you’d have said they deserved all ten. And that’s against another team who’ll likely be pushing for playoffs.
"The early goal from us stunned them. Even when they drew level, there was an expectation that they’d go on and take the lead. Worthing will always create chances against anyone at this level and against us, they could’ve won it, maybe should’ve won it, if they’re honest, with the chances we had at the end, they were bloody lucky to come away with a replay.
"If apply ourselves in the same way again in the replay, with a bit more rub of the green, then we can look forward to a place in the next round. I relish these games. We have another opportunity to face up to a very good side. They’re the favourites for the league and rightly so. But if we can get a draw at theirs and knock them out this week, we’ll take huge amounts of confidence from that.
"Hopefully we can get a good crowd in for the replay. Your support means everything to us... but get behind the boys right from the first whistle. The atmosphere in the second half of games has been better than in the first. Maybe get on the beers earlier! Do what you got to do! Whatever it takes, get behind the boys on the pitch because we want to make the place rock."
Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Saturday 4th September 2021
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)
Corinthian-Casuals and Worthing will do it all over again this week after the sides couldn’t be separated in the Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round.
Two early goals cancelled each other out at the Crucial Environmental Stadium on the Sussex coast which takes the tie to a replay at Tolworth.
Ben Cheklit struck for the visitors first, when Alfie Bendle’s ball found Warren Mfula who laid it off for Cheklit to squirm a shot under the body of young keeper Harrison Male. Just three minutes had passed and Corinth were off to the best possible start.
It didn’t last long though. Just eleven minutes later, a cross to Mo Diallo saw the striker rise above Jack Strange to equalise for the home side. It felt like it could be an afternoon filled with goals but alas, didn’t transpire that way.
Casuals custodian Danny Bracken was sharp on this afternoon making a number of top class saves and even when he was beaten, the post came to the rescue. At the other end, Casuals looked to use the counter-attack with the best of the half chances falling to Bobby Mills.
The second half saw play break down more as both sides tired in the rare summer sight of the sunshine. James Bracken’s side defended resolutely but created chances of their own. Manny Mensah probably should’ve scored when Jack Tucker’s ball into the six-yard box was fluffed by Mensah who couldn’t untangle his feet quick enough.
But the two chances that Casuals will rue missing came from substitutes Kieron Cadogan and Nat Pinney. The former Crystal Palace strike force had a couple of gilt-edged opportunities to win it at the death. The first where Cadogan was just pipped to a through ball by the very alert Male. The second, deep into time added on saw Pinney’s ball to Cadogan juggled in the area with several chances to get the shot off, only to eventually be snuffed by the Worthing stopper. It was heart-in-mouth moments.
Overall, Worthing bossed the majority of possession but it will be Casuals who feel unlucky not to be leaving with the win.
"I was pleased with our performance," said Manager James Bracken after the match. "The way we set up, the way we defended well. I watched the Worthing game against Bognor last week and if they’d have scored ten goals against them, you’d have said they deserved all ten. And that’s against another team who’ll likely be pushing for playoffs.
"The early goal from us stunned them. Even when they drew level, there was an expectation that they’d go on and take the lead. Worthing will always create chances against anyone at this level and against us, they could’ve won it, maybe should’ve won it, if they’re honest, with the chances we had at the end, they were bloody lucky to come away with a replay.
"If apply ourselves in the same way again in the replay, with a bit more rub of the green, then we can look forward to a place in the next round. I relish these games. We have another opportunity to face up to a very good side. They’re the favourites for the league and rightly so. But if we can get a draw at theirs and knock them out this week, we’ll take huge amounts of confidence from that.
"Hopefully we can get a good crowd in for the replay. Your support means everything to us... but get behind the boys right from the first whistle. The atmosphere in the second half of games has been better than in the first. Maybe get on the beers earlier! Do what you got to do! Whatever it takes, get behind the boys on the pitch because we want to make the place rock."
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