Chipstead 1 v 0 Corinthian-Casuals
Man of the Match: Danny Dudley

A weary Casuals were unable to keep their unbeaten run going this afternoon as they succumbed to local rivals, Chipstead.

A 4th match in 8 days was always going to be tough with the squad being stretched to its limits with the recent busy schedule...and one challenge too many today proved to be.

A game of few clear chances, Chipstead took the lead on the brink of half time after a defensive misjudgement by Hicks, the unfortunate Casuals skipper, that allowed Chipstead the easy chance they needed.

1-0 down, Casuals battled hard in the second half and it was Hicks again who was at the centre of the action as it was his header that nearly rescued a point at the end.

And so it's the end of the good run, but the team will be keen to immediately start a new one away to Herne Bay on Tuesday night!

Elsewhere, our reserves side secured a 3-3 home draw against 4th place Metropolitan Police. Gareth Witter ran riot and grabbed a brace before half time. The second half had proven costly though for Paul Stewart's side as the men in blue arrested the situation by nabbing three second half goals. The third goal for Casuals came from the number 9 Ricardo Fraser. The Reserves travel to Bromley on Tuesday, kick off at 7:45pm at Hayes Lane. For more info visit the reserves section.

WORTHING 0 CORINTHIAN-CASUALS 1
RYMAN DIVISION ONE SOUTH
Wed 19th March 2014
by David Harrison


Casuals return to winning ways came with a fighting performance at Worthing that banished the frustrations of three recent defeats and finally moved the club out of the relegation zone. For the evening trip to the south coast manager Matt Howard was forced to make a number of changes. The ever dependable Danny Green came in at right back with Tom Williams switching to the left and forming the back line with Danny Dudley and Joe Hicks. In midfield, newcomer Michael Fahm, recently joined from Redhill , partnered Ellis Wilson-Joseph with Saheed Sankoh, recently returned from a spell with Harrow and Dave Hodges adding his strength on the left.


Worthing began powerfully and soon had the visitors in trouble. Keeper Danny Bracken was forced to make a double save when he fumbled a first shot then brilliantly pushed aside the follow-up. Moments later Bracken was in action again with another fine save from Worthing's George Gaskin. At the other end Joel Thompson was through but was dispossessed before he could get in a shot. Then Fahm, showing pace and control, cut in from the right to present Thompson with a potential opening. But again the striker was blocked by the fast tackling Worthing defence. In between Bracken kept Casuals in the game with another fine save.


Ten minutes before halftime came the breakthrough. Jamie Byatt put Hodges away to shoot powerfully as he approached the box. Keeper Jack Fagan could only parry the ball which bounced back to the advancing Byatt who fired home for his 23rd goal of the season.


In the second half Worthing tried all they knew but Casuals defended for their lives - with Dudley and Hicks ever present, Green as cool as ever under pressure, Williams enjoying his new role at left back and Sankoh adding strength and experience whenever required. Fahm made a couple of runs to relieve the pressure and created Casuals' best chances while Byatt never stopped harrying defenders who dwelt on the ball. But with ten minutes to go a penetrating move from Worthing saw Gaskin through again on goal and real danger. Only an acrobatic tip-over the bar by Bracken saved the day; the points were secure.


It was Casuals' first double of the season, having beaten Worthing by the same score on the first day of the season and a real credit to the whole side. Manager Matt Howard summed it up: "We kept our shape and we kept our heads". And the reward - to escape from the bottom three relegation places for the first time in 2014.


Team: D.Bracken; D.Green, T.Williams, D.Dudley, J.Hicks (C); E.Wilson-Joseph, M.Falm (J.Spencer 78'), S.Sanko, J.Byatt, J.Thompson (S.Barilli 82'), D.Hodges.

Subs not used: M.Quiassaca, D.Llacer

Hastings United FC versus Corinthian Casuals FC
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 15th March 2014
Pilot Field
Final score: 2-1
Report and Pictures by Stuart Tree

Corinthian-Casuals lost out in the battle of Hastings as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Sussex-based promotion chasers in the Ryman Division One South fixture last Saturday.

Although a recent uplift in form had put Corinth within a point of finding themselves outside the relegation zone, two defeats in the space of a week against Hythe Town reunited Casuals with familiar territory. Returning to the south coast for the second time in four days, the Amateurs had a tough task ahead of them. Hastings, sitting in the playoff places, were also looking to return to winning ways after a succession of defeats had hampered promotion hopes.

Boss Matt Howard made changes from Tuesday’s narrow 4-3 loss by including new signing Michael Falim, bought in from fellow strugglers Redhill.

In a cagey first half, both teams looked a little edgy, determined not to throw away the match in the early stages. Hastings had the better possession and came close twice, with Danny Dudley making a last ditch block from Frankie Sawyer and keeper Danny Bracken expertly tipping over from point a Josh Jirbandey header which left Hastings Boss Terry White stunned as to how the Casuals’ stopper kept the scores level.

As the half progressed, the home side’s recent lean spell never looked like coming to an end. Casuals started to gain in confidence and in-form striker Jamie Byatt found himself one-on-one with keeper Josh Pelling, but couldn’t find a way past the stopper. Half chances also fell to Falim and Ellis Wilson-Joseph, but the deadlock remained as the teams left the field for the break.

An invigorated Casuals emerged from the tunnel and immediately looked the more threatening – Byatt once again causing trouble for opposing defenders.  The enigmatic Dave Hodges forced Pelling into a fine stop after Byatt played the winger through. It was all Casuals at this point and the pressure paid off. A penalty was awarded on the hour mark to Corinth when Tim Olorunda downed Byatt after the striker was played through from a defence-splitting pass by Mario Quiassaca. Byatt duly smashed the spot kick down the middle leaving Pelling in goal no-chance. 1-0 to the Casuals.

With the realisation that they could go four games without a point, Hastings began to play much more attacking football. Sawyer’s left foot shot was helped on its way from an in-form Bracken in goal. However, the Casuals’ No.1 had no chance in stopping a sublime effort from Hasting’s Trevor McCreadie. Sawyer wrangled his way through the visitor’s defence before the ball sat up nicely for McCreadie whose instinctive overhead scissor kick left Bracken, the Casuals defence and all at the Pilot Field stunned with its premium quality.

Reeling from the strike, five minutes later Hastings were ahead. Sam Cruttwell blasted his way down the left channel and delivered a neat, low cross that Frankie Sawyer dispatched into Bracken’s net at the near post. Matt Howard instantly made two changes to try and rescue something from the game, but Hastings held on for the victory and Casuals can feel aggrieved not to come away from the Pilot Field with any points. 

More pictures can be seen here.

Corinthian-Casuals 4 v 0 Eastbourne Town
Match Sponsor:
Man of the Match: Jamie Byatt
Teams: See below

3 wins in succession. 11 goals scored. 6 goals by the wee number 9. A few Casuals fans making the noise of loads. Finally, the Casuals are making lots of noises and numbers. The Number 9 by the way is Jamie Byatt and there’s only one of him.

It was always going to be a positive Tuesday night. Already playing with spirit and purpose, encouraged with the 3-2 away win on Saturday and the culling of the Swans prior to that a week long ago even top of the table would have a game on their hands against us. It's just we played bottom of the league and came out 4-0 winners.

Up until last week really Corinthian-Casuals and Eastbourne were looking doomed at the foot of the table on 20 points. Now the Chocolate and pink leave them stranded with nothing to hang on as we close the gap on almost the whole bottom half of the table, many now  taking note of Corinthian Spirit – a play to the end, right to the very end, until the last breath type spirit.

The game started out even enough, Both teams probed and attacked each other but couldn't find the net. Juevan Spencer came close midway through the half when his deflected shot hit the post whilst Goddard, Byatt and the rejuvenated Wilson-Joseph saw shots either go over, go wide or be saved. Recently, Casuals have shown that they power the opposition to submission when they least expect it.  On this occasion and on 43 minutes Steve Goddard drove past an Eastbourne defender in the penalty box and nudged the ball beyond the keeper to put the Chocolate and Pink 1-0 up bagging his second goal in just a handful of matches. For the second match running Corinth went into the break leading the score line.

The second half was when most of the action was enjoyed. Just one minute after the restart Wilson-Joseph launched a right footed corner from the left channel. Joe Hicks managed to outjump everyone in the penalty area to header towards goal but it was blocked poorly by a defender. Byatt saw the loose ball and without hesitation blasted into the net from only a few yards out. His screamer of a shot 20 minutes later however sent the fans behind the Tolworth Tower end dancing and cheering with delight as he picked up the ball on the outside of the box and as a rocket blasted his effort well beyond the helpless Eastbourne keeper. 3-0.

On 66 minutes manager Matt Howard made his first change of the night by replacing winger Juevan Spencer with ex Harrow Borough attacker Daniel Llacer. Making an immediate impact he marvelously shimmied down the left channel on one occasion, he got beyond his marker and zoomed towards goal only for his legs to be swiped and the referee to award a Casuals corner. A minute later, on 77 minutes, Jamie Byatt confidently converted giving the keeper no chance.

The olé's came from the crowd and the Casuals overwhelmed their opposition to submission. Numerous attempts on goal were squandered and it could be argued that the final score flattered our visitors – it could have been more. The players were no doubt encouraged by the magnificent home support again where some say this was the loudest heard from our faithul fans for a long, long time.

Finally, the Casuals nation is flying at its highest as yesterday our reserves side made it through to yet another semi final this time beating Frimley Green reserves 4-1 away. Femi Balogun opened the scoring with a penalty whilst Gareth Witter bagged a hat trick to secure our safe passage to the penultimate round of the Surrey Premier Cup where we play either Camberley Town (reserves) or Worcester Park (1st team). Manager Paul Stewart takes his side to Berkhamstead this Saturday for another cup match this time in the 3rd round of the Suburban Challenge Cup.

Finally, finally, finally if I can get this in our academy team led by coach Barry Wilde has just reported that his giant killing youngsters have defeated borough neighbours, Kingstonian, 4-3 in their corresponding league fixture. With back to back wins Barry mentioned "when they work hard the nice stuff follows but one doesn't work without the other". Congratulations Barry on a magnificent victory.

Where you at any of the games this week? How would you define your week as a Corinthian-Casuals fan/player/official?

Faversham Town 2 v 3 Corinthian-Casuals 
Man of the Match: Danny Bracken
Match report by Gary Weir

New first team manager Matt Howard got off to winning ways with an astounding victory against an in-form Faversham Town at Salters Lane at the weekend.

Faversham started the match as favourites according to the local press however the Chocolate and pink reacted early prompting the Lilywhites keeper to keep out two Jamie Byatt efforts on goal. Despite the early casuals charge Faversham gradually calmed further pressure and opened their account on 29 minutes when Brendan Cass confidently slipped the ball beyond Bracken. Although the home side maintained pressure on Bracken's goal a corner after a rare first half casuals attack on 41 minutes was the catalyst that brought us back in the game. Defoe, playing a central role with Wilson-Joseph, looped over a left footed corner, it crash landed into the back end of the 6 yard box where Dudley with all his strength and might jumped highest within a pack of 5 or 6 players and powered it beyond the goalkeeper into the back of the net. Luckily, on 45 minutes Juevan Spencer decided he wanted a piece of action. After a wonderful through pass from the midfield, Spencer beat the defender for pace and positioned himself to blast a low hard driven shot from just inside the penalty area into the net, deafening the home crowd.

In at the break with a 2-1 lead the players and officials couldn't be any more delighted. There was a hint of another Tuesday night as Joe Hicks extended the lead further. With Hodges pressing ever more forward he had won a corner on 66 minutes which was pumped into box by Wilson-Joseph met with the head of the Captain who this time out jumped Dudley putting it beyond the keeper's reach.

To be honest there was not much between the two sides after the third, however, Faversham pegged a goal back on 82 minutes to set up a nervy finale which had seen numerous balls bombarded into the away box, Bracken pulling of a point blank stop and a goal getting chopped off due to an infringement.

At the full time there was relief that the game was over from both sets of fans, never mind from Casuals. Although delighted, manager Matt Howard commented, "one swallow doesn't make a summer, there much hard work to be done".

Man of the match without a shadow of a doubt was Danny Bracken. His inspired performance with those standard world class saves ensured Corinthian were difficult to beat on the day. It's a team game though and they players have shared more than their fair share of losses, now they are on a winning streak. Well done team!

Simultaneously, at King George's in Tolworth, Paul Stewart's reserve side managed to reach the semi final of the London Premier Trophy beating Peckham Town 3-2 after extra time. Peckham scored after 50 seconds but Jake Wilgoss replied with a penlty 5 minutes later. It stayed that way to the final whistle meaning extra time. Peckham scored again after 5 mins of first half maintaining the scoreline until the halfway stage. Femi Balogun brought the scores level again after the restart and with 5 mins from the end Kristian Childs grabbed the winner for the chocolate and pink setting up an exciting home tie against Cockfosters on the 15th march. Keep abreast of the reserves and their progress here.