Corinthian-Casuals A-A East Grinstead Town
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 29th November 2016
Match Report Cameron Smith
Photo Stuart Tree (Full set here)
After combatting the frigid weather for fifty-nine minutes, the Corinthian Casuals
versus East Grinstead Town game was abandoned due to the frozen surface of King
George’s Field, with the score goalless.
Following a delightful home victory on Saturday in which a terrific Maz Bettache
performance sealed three points against Herne Bay, football was in Tolworth again on
Tuesday. As the spectators shuffled into the ground, it was clear to see the layer of frost
across the pitch. With officials more than happy to get the game underway, the starting XI
of Corinthians was registered- Jamie Byatt and Brandon Johnson warming the bench
whilst Shaun Okojie and Ben Cheklit started.
With two opponents from West Sussex in the last three games, Casuals were looking to
take all three points on this occasion as the clash at East Court ended 2-2. In a worrying
twentieth spot, the Wasps have lost their last four games with convincing scorelines,
especially versus promotion hunters Tooting & Mitcham.
With temperatures hovering below freezing point, the chocolate and pink shirts of Casuals
and the white away kit of East Grinstead positioned themselves on the centre circle for a
minute’s silence. On Tuesday morning, overwhelming news dominated the footballing
world as a plane carrying eighty-one passengers, who were footballers, management, staff
and journalists of Chapecoense, an upcoming Brazilian side, crashed and fatally took the
lives of seventy-five. Travelling to Colombia for the biggest match in the club’s history,
there were only six survivors- three footballers. A devastating day, Casuals, East
Grinstead, officials and spectators stood to remember the lives lost in a beautifullyobserved
minute’s silence. At all levels of football, we stand together. Our thoughts are
with the families, friends and colleagues of Chapecoense.
Cancelling each other out with rued opportunities, the game entered half-time with the
scoreline goalless. After six minutes, a low cross from East Grinstead evaded everyoneincluding
the unmarked player stuck on the back-post ready to pounce. On the fifteen
minute mark, the best chance in the game arose with Josh Uzun so nearly opening the
scoring if it wasn’t for the oncoming Chris Haigh, who parried away. As the quality of the
pitch deteriorated, the quality of football did too. But, moments before half-time, both sides
could have netted. Superb technique from Ben Cheklit saw his dipping free-kick saved by
Haigh before the Wasps were denied by the late Dave Hodges, booting the ball from the
goal-line with the Grinstead attacker convinced he had scored.
Indicating the match was in doubt, half-time passed with uncertainty as to whether the
game would last a full ninety minutes. A series of missed chances for Corinthians, the
tempo was raised until three blows of the whistle ceased play.
Re-scheduled for a later date, fans and players returned to the warm willingly. We thank
East Grinstead for making the trip from West Sussex and we look forward to the replay
soon! A trip to the seaside is next on the agenda for Casuals; a trip to Ramsgate is
arranged for our first game in December this Saturday.
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 29th November 2016
Match Report Cameron Smith
Photo Stuart Tree (Full set here)
After combatting the frigid weather for fifty-nine minutes, the Corinthian Casuals
versus East Grinstead Town game was abandoned due to the frozen surface of King
George’s Field, with the score goalless.
Following a delightful home victory on Saturday in which a terrific Maz Bettache
performance sealed three points against Herne Bay, football was in Tolworth again on
Tuesday. As the spectators shuffled into the ground, it was clear to see the layer of frost
across the pitch. With officials more than happy to get the game underway, the starting XI
of Corinthians was registered- Jamie Byatt and Brandon Johnson warming the bench
whilst Shaun Okojie and Ben Cheklit started.
With two opponents from West Sussex in the last three games, Casuals were looking to
take all three points on this occasion as the clash at East Court ended 2-2. In a worrying
twentieth spot, the Wasps have lost their last four games with convincing scorelines,
especially versus promotion hunters Tooting & Mitcham.
With temperatures hovering below freezing point, the chocolate and pink shirts of Casuals
and the white away kit of East Grinstead positioned themselves on the centre circle for a
minute’s silence. On Tuesday morning, overwhelming news dominated the footballing
world as a plane carrying eighty-one passengers, who were footballers, management, staff
and journalists of Chapecoense, an upcoming Brazilian side, crashed and fatally took the
lives of seventy-five. Travelling to Colombia for the biggest match in the club’s history,
there were only six survivors- three footballers. A devastating day, Casuals, East
Grinstead, officials and spectators stood to remember the lives lost in a beautifullyobserved
minute’s silence. At all levels of football, we stand together. Our thoughts are
with the families, friends and colleagues of Chapecoense.
Cancelling each other out with rued opportunities, the game entered half-time with the
scoreline goalless. After six minutes, a low cross from East Grinstead evaded everyoneincluding
the unmarked player stuck on the back-post ready to pounce. On the fifteen
minute mark, the best chance in the game arose with Josh Uzun so nearly opening the
scoring if it wasn’t for the oncoming Chris Haigh, who parried away. As the quality of the
pitch deteriorated, the quality of football did too. But, moments before half-time, both sides
could have netted. Superb technique from Ben Cheklit saw his dipping free-kick saved by
Haigh before the Wasps were denied by the late Dave Hodges, booting the ball from the
goal-line with the Grinstead attacker convinced he had scored.
Indicating the match was in doubt, half-time passed with uncertainty as to whether the
game would last a full ninety minutes. A series of missed chances for Corinthians, the
tempo was raised until three blows of the whistle ceased play.
Re-scheduled for a later date, fans and players returned to the warm willingly. We thank
East Grinstead for making the trip from West Sussex and we look forward to the replay
soon! A trip to the seaside is next on the agenda for Casuals; a trip to Ramsgate is
arranged for our first game in December this Saturday.
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