Robert Dyas League Cup 3rd Round
Tuesday 8th December 2015
Attendance: 88
Match report: Darren Pasley
Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Corinthian Casuals bowed out of the league cup as a much changed side went down 2-1 at Imperial Fields at the hands of Tooting & Mitcham United.
With the biggest match in the clubs history in recent years looming as well as a busy and vitally important festive period it came as no surprise that James Bracken made 6 changes to his line-up.
Jake Baxter headed over in the second minute as the hosts who have struggled on their own turf so far this season looked for an early breakthrough.
In the 14th minute Robinson was denied at the near post by a superb Charlie Girdler intervention as Casuals defended deep.
In the 21st minute Josh Uzun had the visitors sight of goal but his first time volley from Matt Reece's pass was off target.
At the other end Lalor-Dell curled just over following O’Neil’s persistence to win the ball back,
The best change of the half came in the 21st minute when Sekou Kaba on for the injured Diego Maradona linked well with Brandon Johnson before slipping inside to Uzun who wildly side footed over the bar,
The Terrors continued to ask questions of the Casuals defence and Danny Dudley playing in an unorthodox right back position denied Makofo with a heroic block after the winger had spun and got a shot away 8 yards out.
Makofo was now in the thick of the action and this time after spinning again he was to draw a fine save from Danny Bracken who was full length to his left to keep out the effort.
After a Casuals attack broke down 6 minutes before the break the home side broke at pace and wonderful flowing move ended with Baxter through but firing just wide. To Brackens credit he was out quickly to close down the opportunity.
In first half stoppage time Bracken again kept the game goalless with an instinct block to deny the hapless Makofo from point blank range again.
It took Tooting just five minutes to open the scoring after the interval. After losing possession the ball was quickly worked out to Lalor-Dell who saw his shot saved by Bracken but with the ball looping in the air Makofo this time couldn’t miss heading home despite Girdlers best efforts into the empty net.
It was almost doubled as Baxter sprung the offside trap moments later but Bracken came out victorious in the one on one situation parrying the ball away.
The same player had another half chance on 55 minutes but after Lalor-Dell has at pace played the ball into his path he couldn’t control the ball sufficiently enough and the attempted volley was well over.
It proved costly as Casuals levelled barely 60 seconds later. A high ball was missed by Simeone and Sekou Kaba showing great composure in the area beat his man and fired across the keeper into the goal,
Within 2 minutes however the home side had regained the lead. Patterson- Bohner allowed too much time down the right and his low cross was met by Makofo for his second.
The final half hour saw the visitors throw caution to the win and Reece was the first to test Pierson with a first time volley at the keeper.
The best chance for a leveller came in the 75th minute. Fine inter-play between Kaba and Kevant Serbony saw the latter through on goal but Pierson was able to take the sting out of the shot and pounce on the rebound.
With Casuals seeking the equaliser gaps appeared all over the pitch and Lalor-Dell had two opportunities to win the game firstly hitting well over after a mazy run past 3 defenders. With 2 minutes remaining he shot straight at Bracken when well placed.
The 4 minutes of stoppage time were seen out by Tooting and they booked a quarter final tie away at Sittingbourne.