Bognor Regis Town 3 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 1st February 2022
Report: Stuart Tree. Photos: Andy Nunn (set of photos here)
Corinthian-Casuals Manager James Bracken was left furious with ‘strange decisions’ by the referee as Bognor Regis Town came from behind to clinch a dramatic 3-2 win at Nyewood Lane.
Casuals had led 2-1 at the break and looked to have extended their lead early in the second half but referee Peter Lowe deemed Ollie Sitch to have fouled Amadou Tangara in the build-up. He later went on to over-rule his own judgement on a penalty shout to give Bognor the three points.
Bracken left his side unchanged from the 1-1 draw with Worthing on Saturday including his makeshift defence, as he was still missing his four recognised Centre-Backs. Their performance against the league leaders at the weekend warranted a fair crack once again at holding the line.
But the game got of to a frantic start with Bobby Mills once again living up to his nickname of ‘Lobby’ producing another delicate lob over an oncoming Tangara. Before anyone could breathe, Bognor had equalised. Danny Bracken was forced into a good stop from Jordy Mongoy but Dan Gifford was on hand to tap in the rebound.
The game settled down somewhat after the opening exchanges until 25 minutes in when Tangara upended Ollie Sitch in the box, giving Casuals a golden chance to re-take the lead. Kieron Cadogan made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Then, in Casuals’ eyes, the turning point came immediately after the break. A cross from Ben Cheklit was flapped at by Tangara who’s spilled it to an awaiting Bobby Mills six yards out. However, Referee Peter Lowe deemed there to be a foul on the stopper, rather than him just spilling the ball and even booked Sitch in the process. Video replays emerging since, show that this was mighty soft! VAR huh?
Momentum swung and Casuals dropped off the pace for a spell which allowed Bognor back into the game. Nervous defending saw the Rocks capitalising on errors which led to Finlay Lovatt firing home an equaliser.
Then, on 66 minutes, Hakeem Adelakun was deemed to have brought down Joe Dandy, however the Referee had indicated a corner. Under pressure from Rocks players to speak to his Assistant, he unusually overturned his own decision and awarded a penalty. Despite Bracken getting a hand to the shot, it snuck in off the post and the home side led for the first time courtesy of James Crane.
Casuals pushed for an equaliser yet it just wouldn’t come. Bognor defended resolutely in numbers. The best chance Casuals had was in the last moments when a floated ball into the box saw Tangara come steaming through a group of players, flattening Nat Pinney in the process. Yet a free kick was awarded to the keeper. It had been one of those evenings.
We thank Bognor for their wonderful hospitality and warm welcomes and goodbyes afterwards. The fans are a credit to the league and we look forward to welcoming them for the return fixture on the 15th.
“I’m not pleased with the referee’s performance,” admitted James Bracken after the match.
“I rarely talk about referees. You can look back through the reports to see where I moan about them but they’re poor every week. But I won’t use it as an excuse for anything. We get on with it and I preach that ethos to the players too.
“But tonight, he’s poor. I’ve never known so many strange decisions. The turning point is us going three-one up at the start of the second half, with us on the front foot. It sets the tone for the rest of the match. And to not only disallow the goal but he books Ollie in the process. It’s scandalous.
“Even at the kick-off, Bognor won the toss and chose ends. That makes it our kick-off. But he got that wrong too and gave them the kick-off. We tell him but he refuses to acknowledge the mistake. I’m not being funny, if you can’t work out who’s won the coin toss and who’s kick-off it is, then there’s little hope for the rest of the game.
“The penalty call he’s had a fine view of it and didn’t deem it a foul. The linesman, who’s further away has given it.
“I could rattle on about so many decisions that were erroneous today. Look at the end of the match. We’re chasing the game, We’ve put a ball into a box full of players. The keeper calls it, comes charging out erratically and flattens our centre-forward who’s just standing there. How does he possibly come to the conclusion that it’s a free kick to the goalkeeper? How can that be? It’s got to be a penalty, especially as he hasn’t won the ball. Bottom line, he’s wiped out our player, and the ref has given a free kick to them. If that’s a defender come bowling through your players, it’s a penalty all day.
“He was consistently poor one way. It swung the tide of the game.
“Even at the end, 3-2 down, I fancied us to nick a late one. Considering what they were up against, the boys did great. We had it all to do. Obviously, the 3-1 disallowed goal, he’s got wrong. Too many bad calls at crucial moments of the game. It’s been appalling, quite frankly.
“I don’t feel we’ve been given a fair crack tonight.
“Our centre-halves will be back over the next week. With the injuries and suspensions we’ve had, we know it’s a squad game and we’ve been getting through these last couple as best as we can. The boys who’ve stepped up have done great. But I also said to them, we’ll have players back Saturday which is good for the group.
“We changed our shape tonight after 15 minutes because I didn’t like the look of the game. I get a gut feeling. Had we left it as it was, would’ve been 4-1 either way at half time. And we didn’t need to make it one of those games. We wanted to add more control to the match and we have – going in 2-1 up at half time. We created plenty of chances and should’ve been 4-1 up at half time. Dan’s made a couple of good saves and you could argue it could be 4-4 – but that’s what he’s there to do… make saves.
“I did feel we were the better side in the first half and we were a threat. We were getting in behind them and had two or three opportunities where we could’ve pulled it back for someone to smash it home.”
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 1st February 2022
Report: Stuart Tree. Photos: Andy Nunn (set of photos here)
Corinthian-Casuals Manager James Bracken was left furious with ‘strange decisions’ by the referee as Bognor Regis Town came from behind to clinch a dramatic 3-2 win at Nyewood Lane.
Casuals had led 2-1 at the break and looked to have extended their lead early in the second half but referee Peter Lowe deemed Ollie Sitch to have fouled Amadou Tangara in the build-up. He later went on to over-rule his own judgement on a penalty shout to give Bognor the three points.
Bracken left his side unchanged from the 1-1 draw with Worthing on Saturday including his makeshift defence, as he was still missing his four recognised Centre-Backs. Their performance against the league leaders at the weekend warranted a fair crack once again at holding the line.
But the game got of to a frantic start with Bobby Mills once again living up to his nickname of ‘Lobby’ producing another delicate lob over an oncoming Tangara. Before anyone could breathe, Bognor had equalised. Danny Bracken was forced into a good stop from Jordy Mongoy but Dan Gifford was on hand to tap in the rebound.
The game settled down somewhat after the opening exchanges until 25 minutes in when Tangara upended Ollie Sitch in the box, giving Casuals a golden chance to re-take the lead. Kieron Cadogan made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Then, in Casuals’ eyes, the turning point came immediately after the break. A cross from Ben Cheklit was flapped at by Tangara who’s spilled it to an awaiting Bobby Mills six yards out. However, Referee Peter Lowe deemed there to be a foul on the stopper, rather than him just spilling the ball and even booked Sitch in the process. Video replays emerging since, show that this was mighty soft! VAR huh?
Momentum swung and Casuals dropped off the pace for a spell which allowed Bognor back into the game. Nervous defending saw the Rocks capitalising on errors which led to Finlay Lovatt firing home an equaliser.
Then, on 66 minutes, Hakeem Adelakun was deemed to have brought down Joe Dandy, however the Referee had indicated a corner. Under pressure from Rocks players to speak to his Assistant, he unusually overturned his own decision and awarded a penalty. Despite Bracken getting a hand to the shot, it snuck in off the post and the home side led for the first time courtesy of James Crane.
Casuals pushed for an equaliser yet it just wouldn’t come. Bognor defended resolutely in numbers. The best chance Casuals had was in the last moments when a floated ball into the box saw Tangara come steaming through a group of players, flattening Nat Pinney in the process. Yet a free kick was awarded to the keeper. It had been one of those evenings.
We thank Bognor for their wonderful hospitality and warm welcomes and goodbyes afterwards. The fans are a credit to the league and we look forward to welcoming them for the return fixture on the 15th.
“I’m not pleased with the referee’s performance,” admitted James Bracken after the match.
“I rarely talk about referees. You can look back through the reports to see where I moan about them but they’re poor every week. But I won’t use it as an excuse for anything. We get on with it and I preach that ethos to the players too.
“But tonight, he’s poor. I’ve never known so many strange decisions. The turning point is us going three-one up at the start of the second half, with us on the front foot. It sets the tone for the rest of the match. And to not only disallow the goal but he books Ollie in the process. It’s scandalous.
“Even at the kick-off, Bognor won the toss and chose ends. That makes it our kick-off. But he got that wrong too and gave them the kick-off. We tell him but he refuses to acknowledge the mistake. I’m not being funny, if you can’t work out who’s won the coin toss and who’s kick-off it is, then there’s little hope for the rest of the game.
“The penalty call he’s had a fine view of it and didn’t deem it a foul. The linesman, who’s further away has given it.
“I could rattle on about so many decisions that were erroneous today. Look at the end of the match. We’re chasing the game, We’ve put a ball into a box full of players. The keeper calls it, comes charging out erratically and flattens our centre-forward who’s just standing there. How does he possibly come to the conclusion that it’s a free kick to the goalkeeper? How can that be? It’s got to be a penalty, especially as he hasn’t won the ball. Bottom line, he’s wiped out our player, and the ref has given a free kick to them. If that’s a defender come bowling through your players, it’s a penalty all day.
“He was consistently poor one way. It swung the tide of the game.
“Even at the end, 3-2 down, I fancied us to nick a late one. Considering what they were up against, the boys did great. We had it all to do. Obviously, the 3-1 disallowed goal, he’s got wrong. Too many bad calls at crucial moments of the game. It’s been appalling, quite frankly.
“I don’t feel we’ve been given a fair crack tonight.
“Our centre-halves will be back over the next week. With the injuries and suspensions we’ve had, we know it’s a squad game and we’ve been getting through these last couple as best as we can. The boys who’ve stepped up have done great. But I also said to them, we’ll have players back Saturday which is good for the group.
“We changed our shape tonight after 15 minutes because I didn’t like the look of the game. I get a gut feeling. Had we left it as it was, would’ve been 4-1 either way at half time. And we didn’t need to make it one of those games. We wanted to add more control to the match and we have – going in 2-1 up at half time. We created plenty of chances and should’ve been 4-1 up at half time. Dan’s made a couple of good saves and you could argue it could be 4-4 – but that’s what he’s there to do… make saves.
“I did feel we were the better side in the first half and we were a threat. We were getting in behind them and had two or three opportunities where we could’ve pulled it back for someone to smash it home.”
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