Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 0 AFC Hornchurch
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 13th October 2018
Report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)
There are some days you look back upon and say ‘that was perfect’. Saturday was a strong contender after Corinthian-Casuals grabbed their second league win in a week, dispatching unbeaten AFC Hornchurch in the process.
Perfect? Close to it. The summer had returned – briefly, even allowing Manager James Bracken to throw on a pair of shorts when just a week ago, he stood shivering in the corridor of Imber Court trying to get warm and dry.
Non League Day saw a bumper crowd through the turnstiles – including the four Preston North End supporters who’ve taken Casuals to heart since their first stumbling across the amateurs at Three Bridges in 2013. They even gave their flag ‘Northern Casuals’ – complete with a tribute to the late Terry Farnworth, to add to the growing number of banners that adorn the ground.
The weather was set. The atmosphere was set. The two captains – uniting to hold a ‘Prostate Cancer UK’ charity message at the coin toss, we set. All that was needed was a performance to match the audience.
Casuals started cautiously but soon grew into the game. The best chance fell early on to Warren Mfula after the ball fell to him around 12 yards out. Callum Chafer saved well to keep the scores level.
Whilst play was good, despite the strong wind blowing down the ground, neither team created too many clear cut chances. Brad Comins had one save to make. Mu Maan’s shot was palmed around the post by Chafer. But both sides exited the field at half time scoreless.
The second half saw Casuals with the wind behind their backs. They looked to capitalise on this early. Jordan Clarke let fly a 25 yard curling effort which whistled past the stanchion and clipped the stand roof.
Pressure started to tell on Hornchurch and to the neutral observer, you’d have been hard pressed to work out who was the unbeaten side and who sat second-bottom in the league. Corinth exploited Hornchurch’s wings. Corner followed corner and thoughts of VCD last season entered some heads. Could all this pressure come to nothing or will it pay off?
It was the latter. On 78 minutes, Jack Tucker found Mu Maan who fooled his marker. A covering defender couldn’t clear and Maan squared the ball for Odunaike to tap in from six yards.
Casuals never looked threatened in the remaining time and Comins was only forced to make one clearance. Bracken’s side had their second win and second clean sheet in four days. Fans celebrated. Punters took part in a post-match crossbar challenge for charity. The Corinthian Ale had been drunk dry. The flags finally taken down after sunset – with many not wanting the day to end. Perfect? Pretty close!
Eyes turn to King George’s on Tuesday as Casuals host Croydon in the London Senior Cup.
Manager James Bracken's post match thoughts can be read here.
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 13th October 2018
Report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)
There are some days you look back upon and say ‘that was perfect’. Saturday was a strong contender after Corinthian-Casuals grabbed their second league win in a week, dispatching unbeaten AFC Hornchurch in the process.
Perfect? Close to it. The summer had returned – briefly, even allowing Manager James Bracken to throw on a pair of shorts when just a week ago, he stood shivering in the corridor of Imber Court trying to get warm and dry.
Non League Day saw a bumper crowd through the turnstiles – including the four Preston North End supporters who’ve taken Casuals to heart since their first stumbling across the amateurs at Three Bridges in 2013. They even gave their flag ‘Northern Casuals’ – complete with a tribute to the late Terry Farnworth, to add to the growing number of banners that adorn the ground.
The weather was set. The atmosphere was set. The two captains – uniting to hold a ‘Prostate Cancer UK’ charity message at the coin toss, we set. All that was needed was a performance to match the audience.
Casuals started cautiously but soon grew into the game. The best chance fell early on to Warren Mfula after the ball fell to him around 12 yards out. Callum Chafer saved well to keep the scores level.
Whilst play was good, despite the strong wind blowing down the ground, neither team created too many clear cut chances. Brad Comins had one save to make. Mu Maan’s shot was palmed around the post by Chafer. But both sides exited the field at half time scoreless.
The second half saw Casuals with the wind behind their backs. They looked to capitalise on this early. Jordan Clarke let fly a 25 yard curling effort which whistled past the stanchion and clipped the stand roof.
Pressure started to tell on Hornchurch and to the neutral observer, you’d have been hard pressed to work out who was the unbeaten side and who sat second-bottom in the league. Corinth exploited Hornchurch’s wings. Corner followed corner and thoughts of VCD last season entered some heads. Could all this pressure come to nothing or will it pay off?
It was the latter. On 78 minutes, Jack Tucker found Mu Maan who fooled his marker. A covering defender couldn’t clear and Maan squared the ball for Odunaike to tap in from six yards.
Casuals never looked threatened in the remaining time and Comins was only forced to make one clearance. Bracken’s side had their second win and second clean sheet in four days. Fans celebrated. Punters took part in a post-match crossbar challenge for charity. The Corinthian Ale had been drunk dry. The flags finally taken down after sunset – with many not wanting the day to end. Perfect? Pretty close!
Eyes turn to King George’s on Tuesday as Casuals host Croydon in the London Senior Cup.
Manager James Bracken's post match thoughts can be read here.
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