Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 1 Merstham
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 13th August 2019
Report: Cameron Smith. Photos: Stuart Tree (set here)
Corinthian-Casuals’ second attempt at drawing blood in the new season was gate-crashed by Merstham, who held onto a 1-0 win at King George’s Field despite two controversial refereeing decisions and a second-half domination of possession from the hosts.
“It’s an intense 90-minute battle for every point. Wins and draws should be celebrated. All sides have our respect because the level here is good. If your intensity is not up to scratch, you’ll lose no matter who you play.” James Bracken’s post-match comments after the 1-0 defeat at Haringey Borough on Saturday was a rousing and truthful omen of what is to come in the 19/20 Premier Division.
Just like Corinthians, Merstham were dealt with a difficult blow on the weekend in their season opener. Despite taking the lead, the Moatsiders conceded twice in the last thirty minutes to lose 2-1 versus Hornchurch- a short trip to Tolworth on Tuesday was their chance to rectify the lost points.
There was one change from the energetic Casuals side that were condemned in North London: Hakeem Adelakun was at left-back ahead of Warren Morgan.
Red shirts invaded Danny Bracken’s box in the opening ten minutes, with the visitors clearly starting the brightest. Splitting the pink and brown defence completely, Merstham’s impressive football allowed Omar Folkes to side-foot a cross from the left into the net with ease. The few behind the goal celebrated as King George’s seemed shell-shocked- it was 1-0 Merstham. Moments after the definitive strike, Frank Wilson’s team nearly grabbed another when Folkes blasted a golden opportunity over the bar. It was a lifeline for the Casuals, who began to read the game better and settle. Set-pieces failed to be capitalised upon even with specialist Josh Uzun donning the no.7 shirt again.
Merstham missed another great effort down one end, and in truth, Wilson's side could’ve easily had the game wrapped up at half time. For Casuals, there were clusters of half-chances when Oliver Sitch’s work-rate and Nathaniel Pinney’s hold-up play excited the Casuals contingent behind the goal. A Sitch effort was blocked by a Merstham player’s hand, but hadn’t been spotted by the referee, which riled the Casuals fans and players. These little sparks of anticipation carried on until half-time with the home side 1-0 down.
Improvements were clear from as soon as the game was re-started; a Pinney shot narrowly missed the keeper’s left-hand post as the new no.9’s quest for his first competitive goal for Casuals continued. It would be short-sighted to not speak of another clear penalty that were turned down by the referee but Casuals deserve credit for a lively second-half full of possession that just seem to fizzle out, whether it was Merstham’s committed defensive display or the lack of clinical finishing.
If one penalty claim against was not enough, there was another one, which was worse. In the area again, Morgan was causing trouble and when Sinn Kaye Christie clattered into the no.15 with two feet without winning any of the ball, Casuals fans deserved to be outraged when the referee not only did not give the stonewall penalty, but decided it was a free kick to the opposition.
Casuals were determined to equalise but it was to no avail. Their second game of the season was another 1-0 loss. There can be no complaints about the visitors being the winners seeing as Casuals failed to seriously test Merstham stopper Matte Pierson on any single occasion. Merstham once again prove to be Casuals’ bogey side, with just two wins from the previous 17 Isthmian League encounters – a record that’s unlikely to be matched for its one-sidedness by any other club.
Find out what Manager James Bracken had to say after the match.
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 13th August 2019
Report: Cameron Smith. Photos: Stuart Tree (set here)
Corinthian-Casuals’ second attempt at drawing blood in the new season was gate-crashed by Merstham, who held onto a 1-0 win at King George’s Field despite two controversial refereeing decisions and a second-half domination of possession from the hosts.
“It’s an intense 90-minute battle for every point. Wins and draws should be celebrated. All sides have our respect because the level here is good. If your intensity is not up to scratch, you’ll lose no matter who you play.” James Bracken’s post-match comments after the 1-0 defeat at Haringey Borough on Saturday was a rousing and truthful omen of what is to come in the 19/20 Premier Division.
Just like Corinthians, Merstham were dealt with a difficult blow on the weekend in their season opener. Despite taking the lead, the Moatsiders conceded twice in the last thirty minutes to lose 2-1 versus Hornchurch- a short trip to Tolworth on Tuesday was their chance to rectify the lost points.
There was one change from the energetic Casuals side that were condemned in North London: Hakeem Adelakun was at left-back ahead of Warren Morgan.
Red shirts invaded Danny Bracken’s box in the opening ten minutes, with the visitors clearly starting the brightest. Splitting the pink and brown defence completely, Merstham’s impressive football allowed Omar Folkes to side-foot a cross from the left into the net with ease. The few behind the goal celebrated as King George’s seemed shell-shocked- it was 1-0 Merstham. Moments after the definitive strike, Frank Wilson’s team nearly grabbed another when Folkes blasted a golden opportunity over the bar. It was a lifeline for the Casuals, who began to read the game better and settle. Set-pieces failed to be capitalised upon even with specialist Josh Uzun donning the no.7 shirt again.
Merstham missed another great effort down one end, and in truth, Wilson's side could’ve easily had the game wrapped up at half time. For Casuals, there were clusters of half-chances when Oliver Sitch’s work-rate and Nathaniel Pinney’s hold-up play excited the Casuals contingent behind the goal. A Sitch effort was blocked by a Merstham player’s hand, but hadn’t been spotted by the referee, which riled the Casuals fans and players. These little sparks of anticipation carried on until half-time with the home side 1-0 down.
Improvements were clear from as soon as the game was re-started; a Pinney shot narrowly missed the keeper’s left-hand post as the new no.9’s quest for his first competitive goal for Casuals continued. It would be short-sighted to not speak of another clear penalty that were turned down by the referee but Casuals deserve credit for a lively second-half full of possession that just seem to fizzle out, whether it was Merstham’s committed defensive display or the lack of clinical finishing.
If one penalty claim against was not enough, there was another one, which was worse. In the area again, Morgan was causing trouble and when Sinn Kaye Christie clattered into the no.15 with two feet without winning any of the ball, Casuals fans deserved to be outraged when the referee not only did not give the stonewall penalty, but decided it was a free kick to the opposition.
Casuals were determined to equalise but it was to no avail. Their second game of the season was another 1-0 loss. There can be no complaints about the visitors being the winners seeing as Casuals failed to seriously test Merstham stopper Matte Pierson on any single occasion. Merstham once again prove to be Casuals’ bogey side, with just two wins from the previous 17 Isthmian League encounters – a record that’s unlikely to be matched for its one-sidedness by any other club.
Find out what Manager James Bracken had to say after the match.
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