Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 0 Guernsey
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 9th February 2016
Attendance: 142
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (match pics here)
Emmanuel Akokhia ended his three month goal drought to give Corinthian-Casuals a 1-0 win over Guernsey in the Ryman League Division One South.
The win completes the double over the Islanders and puts Corinthian-Casuals back in the playoff race, gaining ground on their opponents who sit in fifth place.
Casuals made just one change to their starting line up with Kevant Serbony in for the absent Shaun Okojie. It’s well documented that Guernsey have slim pickings from their squad when travelling to the mainland in midweek and this was again confirmed with the Green Lions naming just two substitutes, one of which was a 16 year old debutant.
Corinth started the livelier of the sides and soon had the ever reliable Chris Tardif working hard in goal. Juevan Spencer forced an excellent stop from close range and Josh Uzun fired in a free kick straight into the keeper’s midriff.
With twelve minutes on the clock, Casuals took the lead. Niall Wright fired in a cross and Emmanuel Akokhia beat Tardif to the ball, placing it into the net, much to the delight of the home crowd. Guernsey players vehemently protested, claiming the striker had used his hand to help guide the ball home but the goal stood. Tardif was cautioned in the resulting protests.
Corinth almost made it two when Kevant Serbony used his quick feet to dance past the Lion’s defence along the byline and shooting from a tight angle. Glyn Dyer was on hand to block the shot off the line.
Guernsey always look a threat going forward and unsurprising with the 200 plus goal machine that is Ross Allen in their side. Allen charged down a ball and ends in Craig Young’s path but ended up thwarted by Danny Bracken, who seemed to relish the occasion of contesting ‘best keeper in the Ryman South’ with Tardif.
Corinth continued to look lively and threatened with each surge up-field. Morgan’s pace and Dave Hodges usual high standard of wing play caused problems in the flanks. From a more direct approach, Serbony’s 25 yard effort was well scooped up by Tardif down low. Casuals’ movement looked back to its best and threats came from all sources. Most unlikely was Danny Dudley who surged onto a through ball and found himself with only Tardif to beat. However, the Guernsey custodian was able to match the defender’s shot.
At the other end, Craig Young found space in the box and curled a beauty of a shot which narrowly passed Bracken’s left hand post.
Guernsey did have the ball in the back of the net. However, the linesman’s flag was raised for an infringement in the build-up. At this point, the visitors started to wonder if anything would go for them on this evening.
In what was an open game, chances came thick and fast at both ends with each keeper matching the other for saves.
Corinth looked to put the game out of sight and had the visitors on the back foot. However, as the second half progressed, the goal tally hadn’t and nervous thoughts of recent late goals conceded crossed the minds of many of the 142 in attendance. Niall Wright and Akokhia almost alleviated the pressure after the former’s exquisite turn and shot found the latter who poked in from close range but was deemed to be in an offside position. Juevan Spencer also went close from a great chance but couldn't keep the high ball down and sailed just over Tardif's crossbar.
In the dying minutes Guernsey should’ve equalised. Allen found himself through on goal and with just Bracken to beat, was matched by the Corinth Captain who made an outstanding reaction save to deny the Islanders a share of the points.
The result puts Casuals up to eighth in the league table with the playoffs in clear sight.
After the match, Manager James Bracken gave his thoughts.
“We’ve not really made a big fuss about it but we’ve lost just one league game since the 18th November. That’s nearly three months and whilst we’ve not been winning, we’ve not been losing either.
“We’ve become resilient and hard to beat. Yes – we’ve let in a few last goals recently and lost too many points from winning positions. But we’re still there and we’re still together and we’ll continue to go for it.
“We’ve moved up a few places in the table tonight. Win on Saturday and one next week and we’ll be right up in there where others will take us seriously again.
“The lads played fantastic tonight. We had a real purple patch midway through the first half and again at the start of the second half. The first twenty minutes after the restart, I thought we were outstanding and we did everything but kill the game off.
“At 1-0 it’s always a dangerous game, especially when you let late goals in as we have. You worry a bit at that point. We should’ve converted the pressure into a two goal lead. We had chances but just lacked a little bit of composure when finishing.
“Saying that, we’ve dug in and shown that resilience, which we do in most games but there’s been no lucky goals go against us and we’ve been able to see it out.
“Danny Bracken was fantastic today. I know we’re brothers and so I don’t speak about him too much. I let him get on with his job and I don’t batter him at home about it. We’re brothers and when we come here, it’s about the football and when we go home, we’re back to being brothers.
“He pulled off a save towards the end where we had one lapse of concentration and gifted them a chance. You’d have put your house on Ross Allen scoring there and you’re already thinking ‘it’s another late goal’ and I’m ready to go mad. But Danny did what he’s there to do and pulled off an absolute worldy of a save.
“He’s been playing well. It’s just understated because he’s not been under as much pressure as he has in previous seasons. He only needs to pull off one or two good saves during a game now whereas before, he’s had to pull out eight or nine great stops.
“He’s still the quality keeper we know he is – probably even more so than when you’re not under pressure for ninety minutes where your concentration can waver.
“Speaking about Emmanuel Akokhia and ending his personal goal drought, Bracken said, “As I’ve said recently, there was a lot of pressure put on Mani’s shoulders, both from within the group and probably within himself. He slightly changed his game, doing slightly different things that ultimately weren’t working. He found himself on the bench, playing on the wing… where we’ve been trying to coach him back. I’ve just seen little glimpses in the last couple of weeks… little signs that makes me think now might be the right time to put him back in and see how he does.
“He looked sharp tonight. He scored a goal, another one where he was ruled offside but he was very alert for him to get onto the end of the ball. He became another threat for us.
“We’ve bought James Cottee back in now and that adds to Stef (Joseph) and Shaun (Okojie) so we have plenty of attacking options and I’m pleased with what we have.”
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 9th February 2016
Attendance: 142
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (match pics here)
Emmanuel Akokhia ended his three month goal drought to give Corinthian-Casuals a 1-0 win over Guernsey in the Ryman League Division One South.
The win completes the double over the Islanders and puts Corinthian-Casuals back in the playoff race, gaining ground on their opponents who sit in fifth place.
Casuals made just one change to their starting line up with Kevant Serbony in for the absent Shaun Okojie. It’s well documented that Guernsey have slim pickings from their squad when travelling to the mainland in midweek and this was again confirmed with the Green Lions naming just two substitutes, one of which was a 16 year old debutant.
Corinth started the livelier of the sides and soon had the ever reliable Chris Tardif working hard in goal. Juevan Spencer forced an excellent stop from close range and Josh Uzun fired in a free kick straight into the keeper’s midriff.
With twelve minutes on the clock, Casuals took the lead. Niall Wright fired in a cross and Emmanuel Akokhia beat Tardif to the ball, placing it into the net, much to the delight of the home crowd. Guernsey players vehemently protested, claiming the striker had used his hand to help guide the ball home but the goal stood. Tardif was cautioned in the resulting protests.
Corinth almost made it two when Kevant Serbony used his quick feet to dance past the Lion’s defence along the byline and shooting from a tight angle. Glyn Dyer was on hand to block the shot off the line.
Guernsey always look a threat going forward and unsurprising with the 200 plus goal machine that is Ross Allen in their side. Allen charged down a ball and ends in Craig Young’s path but ended up thwarted by Danny Bracken, who seemed to relish the occasion of contesting ‘best keeper in the Ryman South’ with Tardif.
Corinth continued to look lively and threatened with each surge up-field. Morgan’s pace and Dave Hodges usual high standard of wing play caused problems in the flanks. From a more direct approach, Serbony’s 25 yard effort was well scooped up by Tardif down low. Casuals’ movement looked back to its best and threats came from all sources. Most unlikely was Danny Dudley who surged onto a through ball and found himself with only Tardif to beat. However, the Guernsey custodian was able to match the defender’s shot.
At the other end, Craig Young found space in the box and curled a beauty of a shot which narrowly passed Bracken’s left hand post.
Guernsey did have the ball in the back of the net. However, the linesman’s flag was raised for an infringement in the build-up. At this point, the visitors started to wonder if anything would go for them on this evening.
In what was an open game, chances came thick and fast at both ends with each keeper matching the other for saves.
Corinth looked to put the game out of sight and had the visitors on the back foot. However, as the second half progressed, the goal tally hadn’t and nervous thoughts of recent late goals conceded crossed the minds of many of the 142 in attendance. Niall Wright and Akokhia almost alleviated the pressure after the former’s exquisite turn and shot found the latter who poked in from close range but was deemed to be in an offside position. Juevan Spencer also went close from a great chance but couldn't keep the high ball down and sailed just over Tardif's crossbar.
In the dying minutes Guernsey should’ve equalised. Allen found himself through on goal and with just Bracken to beat, was matched by the Corinth Captain who made an outstanding reaction save to deny the Islanders a share of the points.
The result puts Casuals up to eighth in the league table with the playoffs in clear sight.
After the match, Manager James Bracken gave his thoughts.
“We’ve not really made a big fuss about it but we’ve lost just one league game since the 18th November. That’s nearly three months and whilst we’ve not been winning, we’ve not been losing either.
“We’ve become resilient and hard to beat. Yes – we’ve let in a few last goals recently and lost too many points from winning positions. But we’re still there and we’re still together and we’ll continue to go for it.
“We’ve moved up a few places in the table tonight. Win on Saturday and one next week and we’ll be right up in there where others will take us seriously again.
“The lads played fantastic tonight. We had a real purple patch midway through the first half and again at the start of the second half. The first twenty minutes after the restart, I thought we were outstanding and we did everything but kill the game off.
“At 1-0 it’s always a dangerous game, especially when you let late goals in as we have. You worry a bit at that point. We should’ve converted the pressure into a two goal lead. We had chances but just lacked a little bit of composure when finishing.
“Saying that, we’ve dug in and shown that resilience, which we do in most games but there’s been no lucky goals go against us and we’ve been able to see it out.
“Danny Bracken was fantastic today. I know we’re brothers and so I don’t speak about him too much. I let him get on with his job and I don’t batter him at home about it. We’re brothers and when we come here, it’s about the football and when we go home, we’re back to being brothers.
“He pulled off a save towards the end where we had one lapse of concentration and gifted them a chance. You’d have put your house on Ross Allen scoring there and you’re already thinking ‘it’s another late goal’ and I’m ready to go mad. But Danny did what he’s there to do and pulled off an absolute worldy of a save.
“He’s been playing well. It’s just understated because he’s not been under as much pressure as he has in previous seasons. He only needs to pull off one or two good saves during a game now whereas before, he’s had to pull out eight or nine great stops.
“He’s still the quality keeper we know he is – probably even more so than when you’re not under pressure for ninety minutes where your concentration can waver.
“Speaking about Emmanuel Akokhia and ending his personal goal drought, Bracken said, “As I’ve said recently, there was a lot of pressure put on Mani’s shoulders, both from within the group and probably within himself. He slightly changed his game, doing slightly different things that ultimately weren’t working. He found himself on the bench, playing on the wing… where we’ve been trying to coach him back. I’ve just seen little glimpses in the last couple of weeks… little signs that makes me think now might be the right time to put him back in and see how he does.
“He looked sharp tonight. He scored a goal, another one where he was ruled offside but he was very alert for him to get onto the end of the ball. He became another threat for us.
“We’ve bought James Cottee back in now and that adds to Stef (Joseph) and Shaun (Okojie) so we have plenty of attacking options and I’m pleased with what we have.”
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