Guernsey 0 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Bostik League South
Sunday 10th September 2017
Match report: Stuart Tree
Corinthian-Casuals saw several gilt-edged chances go begging before Jerson Dos Santos finally bagged up the three points ready for the luggage hold back to Gatwick as they ran out 1-0 winners at Guernsey.
It’s not every day that you write a match report on a Bostik League fixture after watching the game on the big screen in a pub, some 300 miles from the venue. But the logistics of flying to the Channel Islands on a Sunday at fairly short notice meant that for all supporters, the hefty price of a return ticket wasn’t worth it for 90 minutes of football.
Step in the fine work of GFCTV. Utilising their streaming service, viewers around the world can tune into any Guernsey game live. Thanks to website maintenance issues, the game was broadcast live via Facebook and using Casuals’ fan Neil Collins' mobile phone, hooked up to the TV, those at the Cricketers pub in Chessington were able to choose between the Burnley vs Palace game in one corner or Guernsey vs Casuals in the other. Perhaps out of intrigue, the vast majority of the pub snubbed the Premier League for the Bostik League.
Even birthday boy, Jamie Byatt, who wasn’t on the plane having scored for the reserves the day before tweeted a photo of his lounge as he tuned in to cheer on his fellow teammates. Dave Hodges replacing Byatt from the previous match and thus, his seat on the plane also taken. Reyon Dillon also missed his first flight to the island serving a one match suspension from the red card issued at Ashford Town.
Writing the report after watching in the warmth of the pub, pint in hand and crisps on the table seemed to be the winning choice looking at the weather at Footes Lane. Blustery winds and persistent rain made for uncomfortable viewing if sat on a stool pitchside trying to photograph the action. Thankfully, Guernsey have very dedicated photographers who’d capture all the action whilst I admired from my bar stool, choosing another chicken drumstick over mini sausage roll at the complimentary buffet.
Burnley had opened the scoring against hapless Palace after four minutes and Max Oldham almost matched his professional counterpart when he found himself bearing down on goal in the opening stages. Oldham denied by AFC Bournemouth loanee Callum Stanton in what would prove to be a recurring theme as the afternoon progressed.
Casuals had the better of the play throughout the contest – no question. The key would be if they could break the deadlock early or would their hosts frustrate? Considering both Jack Strange and Mu Maan could only direct their free headers over the bar, it looked to be the latter.
The afternoon soon turned into a game of ‘who could miss the easiest chance?’ Gabriel Odunaike staked his claim when Maan’s precision pass found the forward but dragged his shot with just Stanton to beat.
The second half was much of the same. Plenty of good possession and territory without turning it into goals. Stanton saved brilliantly from Jerson Dos Santos who lashed a shot from well within the box but somehow the young stopper instinctively stuck out an arm and deflected the ball away to safety.
Time ticked on and thankfully, with eight minutes of the ninety left, Dos Santos broke the deadlock. Lashing a shot from the left, it looked to have taken a deflection and out of the reach of Stanton. The pub erupted in scenes reminiscent of World Cups gone by. Residents of Clayton Road must’ve wondered who this ‘Dos Santos’ was, as well as James Bracken, who’s face adorned the front of the pub on an oversized flag.
Casuals held on for the win, despite a heart-in-mouth moment at the end via Gauvain’s effort but the biggest groan of the ninety minutes came when the ‘battery low’ message on the phone interrupted the stream. Casuals had relatively, comfortably deserved the three points. Now all that was left to navigate was the Force 8 gales whipping across the runway at Guernsey’s airport.
Bostik League South
Sunday 10th September 2017
Match report: Stuart Tree
Corinthian-Casuals saw several gilt-edged chances go begging before Jerson Dos Santos finally bagged up the three points ready for the luggage hold back to Gatwick as they ran out 1-0 winners at Guernsey.
It’s not every day that you write a match report on a Bostik League fixture after watching the game on the big screen in a pub, some 300 miles from the venue. But the logistics of flying to the Channel Islands on a Sunday at fairly short notice meant that for all supporters, the hefty price of a return ticket wasn’t worth it for 90 minutes of football.
Step in the fine work of GFCTV. Utilising their streaming service, viewers around the world can tune into any Guernsey game live. Thanks to website maintenance issues, the game was broadcast live via Facebook and using Casuals’ fan Neil Collins' mobile phone, hooked up to the TV, those at the Cricketers pub in Chessington were able to choose between the Burnley vs Palace game in one corner or Guernsey vs Casuals in the other. Perhaps out of intrigue, the vast majority of the pub snubbed the Premier League for the Bostik League.
Even birthday boy, Jamie Byatt, who wasn’t on the plane having scored for the reserves the day before tweeted a photo of his lounge as he tuned in to cheer on his fellow teammates. Dave Hodges replacing Byatt from the previous match and thus, his seat on the plane also taken. Reyon Dillon also missed his first flight to the island serving a one match suspension from the red card issued at Ashford Town.
Writing the report after watching in the warmth of the pub, pint in hand and crisps on the table seemed to be the winning choice looking at the weather at Footes Lane. Blustery winds and persistent rain made for uncomfortable viewing if sat on a stool pitchside trying to photograph the action. Thankfully, Guernsey have very dedicated photographers who’d capture all the action whilst I admired from my bar stool, choosing another chicken drumstick over mini sausage roll at the complimentary buffet.
Burnley had opened the scoring against hapless Palace after four minutes and Max Oldham almost matched his professional counterpart when he found himself bearing down on goal in the opening stages. Oldham denied by AFC Bournemouth loanee Callum Stanton in what would prove to be a recurring theme as the afternoon progressed.
Casuals had the better of the play throughout the contest – no question. The key would be if they could break the deadlock early or would their hosts frustrate? Considering both Jack Strange and Mu Maan could only direct their free headers over the bar, it looked to be the latter.
The afternoon soon turned into a game of ‘who could miss the easiest chance?’ Gabriel Odunaike staked his claim when Maan’s precision pass found the forward but dragged his shot with just Stanton to beat.
The second half was much of the same. Plenty of good possession and territory without turning it into goals. Stanton saved brilliantly from Jerson Dos Santos who lashed a shot from well within the box but somehow the young stopper instinctively stuck out an arm and deflected the ball away to safety.
Time ticked on and thankfully, with eight minutes of the ninety left, Dos Santos broke the deadlock. Lashing a shot from the left, it looked to have taken a deflection and out of the reach of Stanton. The pub erupted in scenes reminiscent of World Cups gone by. Residents of Clayton Road must’ve wondered who this ‘Dos Santos’ was, as well as James Bracken, who’s face adorned the front of the pub on an oversized flag.
Casuals held on for the win, despite a heart-in-mouth moment at the end via Gauvain’s effort but the biggest groan of the ninety minutes came when the ‘battery low’ message on the phone interrupted the stream. Casuals had relatively, comfortably deserved the three points. Now all that was left to navigate was the Force 8 gales whipping across the runway at Guernsey’s airport.
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