Bowers and Pitsea 1 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 9th November 2021
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (set of pics here)
Corinthian-Casuals continued their fine midweek form with a gritty 2-1 win at Bowers and Pitsea in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
In eight midweek outings, Casuals have lost just once. The victory at the Len Salmon stadium puts their win tally on Tuesdays up to six in all competitions. Chocolate and Pink under lights appears to be a winning combination.
On this evening in Essex, there would be one major absentee – Manager James Bracken was unable to travel due to illness… the first match the boss has missed in fifteen years. Assistant Manager Dan Pringle stepped up for this occasion.
There was a belief that Bowers might suffer an FA Cup hangover after their magnificent run to the First Round was finally ended in a narrow 1-0 loss to Lincoln City just three days before. Casuals looked to capitalise early and it paid off after just 13 minutes. Elliott Bolton’s shot was aided with a slice of luck as a deflection saw the ball balloon up and over Mitchel Beeney in the Bowers goal.
Casuals pressed hard and the second never seemed far away. Bobby Mills’ was unfortunate not to see his low cross turned in from six yards by Kieron Cadogan. Bolton was unfortunate not to see his floated free kick not headed goalbound by Warren Mfula at the back post. But just after the half hour mark, it came good when Bolton found a splitting pass to Mills who made no mistake hammering his strike past Beeney to double the scoreline.
Much like Margate last Tuesday, Corinth seeked a third before half time. Cadogan’s tight angled rasper would’ve been the icing on the cake.
Bizzarely, despite no stoppages or substitutions, Referee Michael Robertson-Tant added on four minutes of time. In the fourth minute, Bowers forced a corner from which Callum Leahy pulled one back. Unsurprisingly, the Official then blew up for half time as soon as the damage was done.
Step-in Manager Dan Pringle admitted it had changed his half-time team talk and undoubtedly had given Bowers impetus to seek an equaliser early. It was no surprise that Casuals’ penalty area came under significant bombardment. The game became increasingly difficult to watch, not just from a Corinth perspective but as it descended into ‘proper non-league’. Casuals fans were twitchy every time Bowers bombed one in the box. Danny Bracken made one smart save low to his right to prevent the hosts equalising.
At the other end, the outlets of Mfula and Mills still posed a threat on the counter-attack but it was the other Mills – Andy, who went closest. Brought on from the bench to combat the arial threat, he became his own when his header was brilliantly tipped over by Beeney to keep Bowers in it.
And as the game entered the final minutes – however long that might have been with the Official – Casuals looked more and more comfortable in countering the threat from a then unsurprisingly leggy Bowers.
Another Tuesday and another win. This time on a cold evening in deepest Essex in front of 170 onlookers. It might not have been pretty. It might not have been a glamourous fixture but those three points are as important as any other gained in the season.
“We started really bright,” said Pringle after the match. “We got on the front foot early and pressed them nice and high. So it was pleasing to go two goals up. We had a few chances after that and perhaps should’ve come in at half-time like we did against Margate, three or four up.
“I’d written that the only way they were going to score was from a set piece. I couldn’t see them breaking us down on the floor. Wherever they won a free kick, no matter where, they attempted to stick it in our box. Fair play to them, if that’s how they want to score.
“Just before half time, I jotted down not to give away cheap free kicks. We conceded one, which was never a free kick incidentally, and it’s gone for a corner from where they’ve scored. It altered the team talk slightly but I just had to re-iterate to the boys to lift their heads.
“Bowers were a threat from set-pieces. We defended resolutely. We probably had less possession in the second half but we possibly created more chances than we had in the first.
“It didn’t feel too different from a personal perspective running the side today. James and I speak to each other most hours of the day anyway. It was odd to not have those conversations that we do have throughout a game, but Jon and Ryan stepped up and were brilliant.
“James is quite superstitious so do we break a winning run with me in charge now? To be fair, James is still the best Manager in the league. He’s unbelievable in what he does. I feel we make a really good team. As his Assistant, it’s my job to challenge him and ask questions and play devil’s advocate at times. I think the last six or seven years has proven that.”
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 9th November 2021
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (set of pics here)
Corinthian-Casuals continued their fine midweek form with a gritty 2-1 win at Bowers and Pitsea in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
In eight midweek outings, Casuals have lost just once. The victory at the Len Salmon stadium puts their win tally on Tuesdays up to six in all competitions. Chocolate and Pink under lights appears to be a winning combination.
On this evening in Essex, there would be one major absentee – Manager James Bracken was unable to travel due to illness… the first match the boss has missed in fifteen years. Assistant Manager Dan Pringle stepped up for this occasion.
There was a belief that Bowers might suffer an FA Cup hangover after their magnificent run to the First Round was finally ended in a narrow 1-0 loss to Lincoln City just three days before. Casuals looked to capitalise early and it paid off after just 13 minutes. Elliott Bolton’s shot was aided with a slice of luck as a deflection saw the ball balloon up and over Mitchel Beeney in the Bowers goal.
Casuals pressed hard and the second never seemed far away. Bobby Mills’ was unfortunate not to see his low cross turned in from six yards by Kieron Cadogan. Bolton was unfortunate not to see his floated free kick not headed goalbound by Warren Mfula at the back post. But just after the half hour mark, it came good when Bolton found a splitting pass to Mills who made no mistake hammering his strike past Beeney to double the scoreline.
Much like Margate last Tuesday, Corinth seeked a third before half time. Cadogan’s tight angled rasper would’ve been the icing on the cake.
Bizzarely, despite no stoppages or substitutions, Referee Michael Robertson-Tant added on four minutes of time. In the fourth minute, Bowers forced a corner from which Callum Leahy pulled one back. Unsurprisingly, the Official then blew up for half time as soon as the damage was done.
Step-in Manager Dan Pringle admitted it had changed his half-time team talk and undoubtedly had given Bowers impetus to seek an equaliser early. It was no surprise that Casuals’ penalty area came under significant bombardment. The game became increasingly difficult to watch, not just from a Corinth perspective but as it descended into ‘proper non-league’. Casuals fans were twitchy every time Bowers bombed one in the box. Danny Bracken made one smart save low to his right to prevent the hosts equalising.
At the other end, the outlets of Mfula and Mills still posed a threat on the counter-attack but it was the other Mills – Andy, who went closest. Brought on from the bench to combat the arial threat, he became his own when his header was brilliantly tipped over by Beeney to keep Bowers in it.
And as the game entered the final minutes – however long that might have been with the Official – Casuals looked more and more comfortable in countering the threat from a then unsurprisingly leggy Bowers.
Another Tuesday and another win. This time on a cold evening in deepest Essex in front of 170 onlookers. It might not have been pretty. It might not have been a glamourous fixture but those three points are as important as any other gained in the season.
“We started really bright,” said Pringle after the match. “We got on the front foot early and pressed them nice and high. So it was pleasing to go two goals up. We had a few chances after that and perhaps should’ve come in at half-time like we did against Margate, three or four up.
“I’d written that the only way they were going to score was from a set piece. I couldn’t see them breaking us down on the floor. Wherever they won a free kick, no matter where, they attempted to stick it in our box. Fair play to them, if that’s how they want to score.
“Just before half time, I jotted down not to give away cheap free kicks. We conceded one, which was never a free kick incidentally, and it’s gone for a corner from where they’ve scored. It altered the team talk slightly but I just had to re-iterate to the boys to lift their heads.
“Bowers were a threat from set-pieces. We defended resolutely. We probably had less possession in the second half but we possibly created more chances than we had in the first.
“It didn’t feel too different from a personal perspective running the side today. James and I speak to each other most hours of the day anyway. It was odd to not have those conversations that we do have throughout a game, but Jon and Ryan stepped up and were brilliant.
“James is quite superstitious so do we break a winning run with me in charge now? To be fair, James is still the best Manager in the league. He’s unbelievable in what he does. I feel we make a really good team. As his Assistant, it’s my job to challenge him and ask questions and play devil’s advocate at times. I think the last six or seven years has proven that.”
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