Two Seconds...

Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 0 Greenwich Borough
Bostik League South
Tuesday 15th August 2017
Match report and pics - Stuart Tree
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Two seconds to go… two.

That’s what Referee James Robinson indicated was left to play from the allocated three minutes time added on in the post-match boardroom pleasantries.

But it was enough time for 300+ game veteran Dave Hodges to slip a neat pass through to Mu Maan who beautifully slotted past Ben Bridle-Card in the Greenwich Borough goal to bag his second goal in three days and give Corinthian-Casuals the first three points of the season.

Gary Alexander and Greenwich supporters must hate playing Corinth; four times the sides have met and on each occasion, James Bracken’s amateurs have come out on top. Three of those occasions keeping a clean sheet. The other? A gripping playoff semi-final win in April.

This match would have to be packed with incident if it was to live up to that affair. However, a leading star that fateful night made his entrance once again – the returning Reyon Dillion - in the end, only missing for one competitive Casuals match. Dillon would play a cameo role later in the game with Bracken opting to keep a similar line-up to that which lost 2-1 at Hastings on Saturday. Only Josh Uzun would find himself on the bench in place of Michael Cunningham making his home debut.

Assistant Manager Dan Pringle must’ve felt lonely in the dugout following the departure of his colleague Joe Davies the previous day and with Bracken consigned for the stands serving the last stretch of his touchline ban. Following the game, Pringle was delighted, lamenting the fact that he had a 100% win record as Manager and comically boasted about being the most successful gaffer in Corinth’s history – he’s not wrong!

Truth be told, whilst the action was free-flowing and possessed a high intensity, finishing was lacking for both sides. Perhaps wary of each other’s prowess (Greenwich are tipped for the title by many), both sides looked to figure each other out in the first 45 minutes. A great chance presented itself to Borough when Charlie Macdonald charged down a clearance from Danny Bracken to find Babalola who in turn could only find the side netting.

This report could document the various ebb and flow of the second half, continuing much in the same vein as the first. Only a flurry of disappointing cautions distinguished the two halves. In a match where the proverbial ‘could play all night and not score’ was uttered, half chances went begging-a-plenty.

But if the game is to be remembered for one thing, it’s simply the 93rd minute. Dave Hodges, into his 302nd competitive appearance, still defies defenders with his simplistic but effective wing play, threaded a beautiful ball through to Mu Maan who slotted the ball past Bridle-Card and sent the vast majority of those in attendance into raptures. Is there a better way to win a match than with the last kick of the game? Certainly a bitter way to lose but graciously, once again, Borough Manager Alexander conceded defeat and wished well on his opposition.

“It’s a confidence booster,” said Bracken after the match.

“There’s no better time to score than in the last minute, but obviously we’re looking to score throughout the match.”

“Our build up play and possession was good but just lacking in the final third tonight.”

“I’d have taken two points from the first two games if I’m honest, playing sides who finished in the playoffs last season and who have the biggest budgets in the league.”

“So I’m delighted to come away with three points tonight.”

Casuals start their FA Cup campaign at home to Hythe Town on Saturday.