GUERNSEY  2   CORINTHIAN-CASUALS  1
RYMAN DIVISION ONE SOUTH
Sat 28th December 2013
by David Harrison
Pics by Stuart Tree

An 05:45 call at Tolworth for the coach journey to Gatwick was an early test for Casuals' players and officials as the party of 27 set off for the club's first Ryman South visit to Guernsey.  After the hour long flight to Guernsey then another coach ride Casuals found themselves taking a leisurely breakfast at a stylish hotel close to the hosts' Footes Lane ground; then having a long warm up and chance to a get used to the wet and windy conditions before the 1pm kick-off - all the more important because Casuals'  two previous games, against Worthing before Christmas and Tooting and Mitcham on Boxing Day,  had both fallen prey to the weather.   

With regulars Midi Nsubuga and Glen Boosey unavailable manager Kim Harris brought in Daryl Coleman, a recent recruit from Lingfield, to midfield and burly newcomer Gareth Witter up front with Jamie Byatt. Behind them was the trusty backline of Tom Williams, Danny Dudley, Joe Hicks and Dave Hodges.

Casuals were quickly under pressure as the hosts showed why they're pushing for promotion in their first season in the Ryman League. With the wind behind them they soon had Danny Bracken's goal under siege.  Striker Ross Allen fired wide after three minutes then on the quarter hour Dave Rihoy forced his way through in the right to give the Guernsey the lead and the 970+ home crowd the chance to break into song, led by the fans' own trumpeter. Moments later, with Bracken beaten, Danny Dudley saved on the line, cutting short another fanfare.

At the other end Casuals, with little width and usually only two in attack, were making scant progress, tho' full backs Williams and Hodges were starting to make sorties on the flanks.  From one, after a header down by Witter, Hodges had Casuals' first shot on goal.  Then on 35 minutes came a real chance. Witter gave Ellis Wilson-Joseph an opening but the winger scuffed his shot wide and the moment was gone.

At half time Joel Thompson took Witter's place and the visitors began to have much more of the play with Green and Jason Turley prompting from midfield. Hodges, from the left gave Byatt a sight of goal but home keeper Tardif pushed the instant shot over the bar. Wilson-Joseph, through on the right, delayed his shot, allowing the keeper to charge it down.  Soon after, Juevan Spencer took the winger's place and Ross Defoe came on for Williams.  At the other end home forward McGrath had a clear run on goal but Bracken came out brilliantly to block the shot. A moment later, there was a near repeat performance by Guernsey's Ross Allen, but this time Bracken was adjudged to have pulled the forward down. From the spot Allen gave the team trumpeter his cue and Guernsey led 2 - 0 with 15 minutes to go.

Casuals, to their credit, kept going to the end and were given a consolation when home defender Jamie Dodd was first to a Hodges cross only to head into his own net.  But that's how it stayed with the visitors frustrated that yet again that they'd been unable to turn territorial advantage in the second half into goals.  Lack of football over the holiday period had probably played its part.  

At the end it was good to see the players pay tribute to the trio of supporters - Roger Stringer, Neil Collins and Barry - who made the long journey to Guernsey at considerable expense... and were still cheering at the end. 

So to the long journey home - coach, plane, coach again, with time to reflect on the generosity of our hosts, Guernsey FC, on their impressively organised club, and on what's needed to put Corinthian-Casuals on the winning path again.  And on the pleasure that Brian Adamson’s youthful grandson Kieran brought to all the party, when he ran out onto the Guernsey pitch as the team's mascot in chocolate and pink.   Thanks also to Richard Benest, long time player and member, who travelled from Jersey to join the party.

Team:   D.Bracken; T. Williams (R. Defoe 65') D.Hodges, D.Dudley, J. Hicks;  J.Turley (C), D.Coleman, D.Green; J.Byatt, G.Witter (J.Thompson HT), E.Wilson-Joseph (J.Spencer 65')

Subs not used: B.Bowra, J.Wadmore

For all the pictures from the day, take a look at Stuart Tree's photos here.

Corinthian-Casuals 0 v 0 Leatherhead

A blustery day made football difficult on the last home match before Christmas as both sides struggled to create many chances throughout.

A local derby, with 168 in attendance, was played in a great atmosphere and the closest either side came to winning all three points was in the final 20 minutes.

Despite the majority of the possession coming from the Chocolate and Pink throughout the second half Leatherhead first had two penalty appeals turned away and then Man of the Match Ellis Wilson-Joseph nearly won it for Casuals with a dipping shot from distance that the Leatherhead keeper did well to tip over.

As it finished no goals. A point for each. Frustrations for all but Casuals now unbeaten in two. Long may the hard work for points continue but now adrift to safety by six. Come on the Casuals!

Where you at the match? What did you think? Who was your most valued player on the day?

Academy News
Corinthian-Casuals 1 v 0 Farnborough

It's been a long time coming but by jeez did they get there. Victory, topped off with a clean sheet, the goal on 65 minutes by Scott Keary, made coach Barry Wilde and Headteacher of Glenthorne, Hugh Griffen, extremely proud guys on a cold fog swept afternoon at King George's.

The Academy kick off their Wednesday home matches from 2pm at the King George's Arena. Be sure they will be encouraged with your support whilst rewarding you with an eagerness to play football the way the game is supposed to be played, the Corinthian way.

Corinthian-Casuals Football would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the organisation of the football academy in conjunction with Glenthorne. Barry Wilde and Kenny Bremner are UEFA qualified coaches so if you know of any up and coming football stars  who are 15 to 16 years of age check out the trials coming to the GOALS soccer centre in Sutton this December (see poster).

Well done team! Come on the Casuals!

Match Result
Horsham 1 v 3 Corinthian-Casuals 

The chocolate and pink faithful were rewarded with 3 fine points after a scintillating second half performance by the buzzing Casuals left the Hornets dazed in Horsham.

This was a Casuals performance that everyone of Corinthian mind, body and soul craved. A performance where after going 3-1 up saw witness to Kim Harris' side maintain moments of tiki-taka possession combined with a fusion of attacking fervour down the channels and copious measures of defensive composure. However, the mountain climb to peak bliss commenced downhill as in the 13th minute the home side caught the nation of Corinth on the back foot with Junior Kaffo finishing off a powerful counter with a deflected strike over Danny Bracken. Despite the early lead it wasn’t surprising either due to a number of the breaks the home side enjoyed and the number of attempts threatened on goal early on.

Despite the 1-0 disadvantage the Casuals demonstrated hints of determination to get back in the game as witnessed earlier this week in the second half against Ryman Premier opposition. No clear cut chances were carved up though apart from an ambitious off target attempt by Thompson, who by all means had every right to strike from the edge of the box.

After the restart it only took a further 13 minutes for the Casuals to stake a claim for the match with Danny Dudley grabbing his first goal of the season. Firing from 6 yards out into the roof of the net Dudley denied the Hornets defence any chance of stopping it a second time after a goalmouth scramble prior saw the ball being suspiciously cleared from behind the goal line. The tall defender immediately directed his goal celebration to the Faithful in the shed who were as jubilant as the rest of the team and management.

And, it didn´t take long for the Casuals to take the lead either. On 65 minutes, what seemed like a standard corner was accurately swung in from the left corner by midfielder Tommy Williams somehow managing to negotiate it through the populated 6 yard box, getting it to bounce off the keeper and have it negotiate itself over the line. Just as dismayed as the crowd all Chocolate and Pink shirts swarmed over to the number 8 on the far corner relishing in the glory that the summit of victory was in sight and Williams' contribution to the Corinthian cause.

By this time Horsham were finding it difficult to breakdown an impenetrable defence. Green and Turley marshalled well but the beating heart was in midfield. The experienced Tommy Williams throughout the 80 minutes he offered had expertly distributed play out onto the wings time and time again bringing in Hodges down the left and a Tom Williams down the right which resulted in both wing backs linking up well with the front men in Byatt, Thompson and the newly introduced Juevan Spencer. 

The move that sealed the points could easily be argued as goal of the season so far. The third goal on 78 minutes sealed the points, icing the proverbial cake in a move that could only be described as "taken from the training ground". Neat combination through the middle saw the energetic Tom Williams released deep down on the right channel. With time to compose he delivered a Byatt head bound cross into the penalty area which permitted the Casuals number 9 to direct it into the keepers top left corner without any hope. The move was so swift that the home defence was still on the backfoot whilst Byatt conducted a Dudleyesque celebration towards the joyous Faithful and the bench team. 

With ten minutes still remaining the momentum was evidently pro Casuals. Possession was enjoyed, attacking play and shots on goal encouraged, the inspired Byatt threatened and harried the opposition defence whilst the no nonsense Coleman and Wilson-Joseph made steals and won all the ariel attacks...how they played!

As the final three minutes of additional time were announced a throwaway comment was heard from the home support, "beaten by a bunch of amateurs". Little do they know that Corinthian spirit cannot be bought.

Well done team!