Match Preview - Merstham

​Merstham vs Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 18th February 2020 – 7.45pm
The Whisky Bible Stadium, Weldon Way, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3QB
 
Tuesday night sees Casuals travel the short distance to Merstham in what is a crucial Isthmian League Premier fixture for both sides.
 
Merstham are two points above Casuals but have played three games more. It’s all looking a little tight at the wrong end of the division; just five points separate the bottom six sides. But both managers will take heart in their recent good form.
 
Frank Wilson’s Moatsiders picked up another crucial point on Saturday in an unlikely result at promotion-chasing Hornchurch. They grabbed a last-gasp 2-2 draw thanks to an untimely Mickey Parcell own goal.
 
Merstham have picked up points in each of their last five league matches. Two wins (1-0 over Horsham and Margate) have been complimented with three draws (Leatherhead, Bowers & Pitsea and Hornchurch). It’s stark contrast in fortunes which had seen Wilson’s side concede 61 goals this season – the highest of any side. However, they’ve stopped the rot and only let in a miserly three goals in their recent five game run of form.
 
Perhaps the turn of fortunes is in part to some of the newcomers at the Whiskey Bible Stadium. Recent acquisitions include Southend United loanee O’Shane Stewart (surely that name is the wrong way round) and former Casual Andrew Herring, who has already scored nine times for South Park this season.
 
They’ve also brought in Calvin Ekpiteta from Tilbury. Luke Ige arrived from Colchester United and Emmanuel Fernandez arrived from Gillingham. It appears all-change and it looks to be paying off.
 
Top scorer Omar Folkes, who netted for Merstham in the 1-0 win at Casuals in August has been out of goalscoring form recently and hasn’t found the target this year. Perhaps that’s commentator’s curse now it’s been mentioned.
 
Casuals Boss James Bracken will be looking at his side’s own good form for inspiration. Whilst the Haringey match was postponed at the weekend, Casuals have only lost three of the last ten league matches and have conceded fewer goals this season than the league leaders, Worthing.
 
“We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up,” said Bracken. “I’m realistic – every game is winnable, but we don’t want to be relying on our run-in at the end of the season. We need to pick up as many wins as we can and see where we are. We can’t be looking at other team’s results – we need to take care of our own matches.”
 
The Whisky Bible Stadium can be found along Weldon Way, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3QB. The nearest railway station is Merstham (on the Southern network) and is a ten-minute walk to the ground. Admission to the ground will cost Adults £10. Concessions £6 (Over 60, Registered Disabled, Student Card Holders). Children 16 and under can enter for £3.