Take Away the Positives from Cray

Cray Wanderers 0 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 17th August 2019
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (photos here)

​Corinthian-Casuals earned the first point of the season in a gritty 0-0 stalemate at Cray Wanderers that couldn’t see the sides separated.

Earning points at Hayes Lane has always been tricky. Memories of a 4-2 defeat when the sides last met at Bromley were still fresh. Undoubtedly, James Bracken will be the happier of the two Managers taking a point from home.

Wanderers - last season’s Bostik League South East champions had already drawn a blank at King George’s this season in another 0-0 draw against tenants Kingstonian. They were unlucky not to pick up at least a point against Folkestone in the week, losing 3-2 in time added on.

Casuals had been somewhat unlucky not to already pick up points, with two narrow defeats in the opening fixtures. Whilst the Amateurs were still awaiting their first goal, they also had the best defence in the league, only conceding twice.

Therefore, only two changes were required from the disappointing loss to Merstham last Tuesday; in came Matty Bakare for Josh Uzun and Mike Dixon replaced the absent Nat Pinney.

Ever present in goal was captain Danny Bracken, celebrating his 400th competitive appearance for the Casuals – a remarkable feat for a player about to enter his tenth year at the club, and all before the schoolteacher reaches his thirtieth birthday. A clean sheet was all he could ask for on this special occasion.
​
A match report usually details pivotal moments in the ninety minutes, but there were few to pick out as both sides cancelled each other out. Casuals arguably started the brighter of the two sides and exploit space. Kevant Serbony found himself in the action firing wide on a couple of occasions. At the other end Freddie Parker’s low shot was well stopped by Bracken who wasn’t going to let anyone spoil his day.

The closest anyone came to breaking the deadlock was on the half hour mark. Juevan Spencer’s low cross to the back post was met by a sliding Ollie Sitch, who finished well, all in vain as the Assistant Referee raised his flag for offside. Fans would have to wait to celebrate their first of the season.

Mike Dixon also tested Lewis Carey in goal after a good run from the channel, taking on the shot himself and forcing the corner.

The second half never reached the highs of the nearby Biggin Hill Airshow display as the pace of the game dropped and loose passes became more common. The adage of ‘it’s got 0-0 written all over it’ from local Palace fans rang true despite a late surge from Cray who had two good chances to win it. Bradley Prichard’s header from just yards out tested Bracken’s reaction time and the keeper made a sharp stop. More fortunately, Charlie Allen’s shot just wide of the post left a few Casuals hearts in mouths.

Just like last season, Casuals pick up their first point of the campaign in the third game of the season. The positives are how defensively tight James Bracken’s side are looking with the joint best record in the league. Start adding goals to the tally and Casuals will themselves, be looping the loop.

Read James Bracken's post match thoughts here.