Match Report by Josh Lamey
It was a night to remember for the Casuals Youth, as they managed to keep their cool on a freezing night in Tolworth, and fire 7 past a stunned Redhill to reach the semi-finals of the Tony Ford Youth Challenge Cup. It was the definition of ‘champagne football’ on a night that could’ve proven tricky, after a 1-1 draw in the league showed Redhill are not a side to be beaten easily.
Straight from the first whistle, Casuals came flying out the blocks with high tempo and neat passing, which forced the Redhill keeper into a few early saves. Despite this, composure was kept, and the home side took the lead early doors when a deflected free kick fell into the path of George Thompson who made no mistake from close range.
Tom Rolls bossed the midfield all night and produced a moment of quality to double the lead on the half hour mark – flying past Redhill challenges, putting it through the defenders’ legs, and put it on a plate for chief poacher Nathan Downer to slot home and make it advantage Casuals.
Corinthians were at it again only a matter of seconds after, as they won it back straight off the kickoff, went down the other end, and an Owen Laws effort was kept out by the keeper but Oliver Warbey was on hand to surely book a place in the semi-finals. Meanwhile for Redhill, half time couldn’t come soon enough.
If 3 wasn’t enough, it was soon to get better: a carbon copy of the Casuals second, as Rolls played another pass between the lines and Downer was clinical again with the finish to send the supporters into absolute carnage. Getting Kingstonian in the next round can only be a good thing for the boys as the confidence is at an all-time high.
Despite the 7 goals, take nothing away from a mega defensive shift from Casuals, who had the Redhill attack in their pockets all game. Centre back Harry Davidson managed to get on the end of a world class Payne free kick, and there was only going to be one place it ended up. 5-0. Before half time.
Roll on the second 45, and it’s fair to say it was slightly quieter than the first, where game management and squad rotation were the key. Both sides offered little on the attacking front apart from Ted Coumbe having a go from range – with the whole of Tolworth shouting ‘hit it!’, yet it sailed wide.
On the 75-minute mark, yet another cross was floated in, and Davidson was on hand to head it in for his second and a Corinthians sixth as they were in absolute dreamland. However, Redhill got their first of the evening seconds later, as a burst of pace from their winger caught the defense off guard and found the near post to grab a consolation.
There was time for a final Casuals goal, as substitute Sekou Kaba whipped it in and Tom Rolls finished off a quality performance by finding the far post, in a result that will see the boys host Kingstonian for a place in the final against either Raynes Park or AFC Croydon Athletic.
It was a night to remember for the Casuals Youth, as they managed to keep their cool on a freezing night in Tolworth, and fire 7 past a stunned Redhill to reach the semi-finals of the Tony Ford Youth Challenge Cup. It was the definition of ‘champagne football’ on a night that could’ve proven tricky, after a 1-1 draw in the league showed Redhill are not a side to be beaten easily.
Straight from the first whistle, Casuals came flying out the blocks with high tempo and neat passing, which forced the Redhill keeper into a few early saves. Despite this, composure was kept, and the home side took the lead early doors when a deflected free kick fell into the path of George Thompson who made no mistake from close range.
Tom Rolls bossed the midfield all night and produced a moment of quality to double the lead on the half hour mark – flying past Redhill challenges, putting it through the defenders’ legs, and put it on a plate for chief poacher Nathan Downer to slot home and make it advantage Casuals.
Corinthians were at it again only a matter of seconds after, as they won it back straight off the kickoff, went down the other end, and an Owen Laws effort was kept out by the keeper but Oliver Warbey was on hand to surely book a place in the semi-finals. Meanwhile for Redhill, half time couldn’t come soon enough.
If 3 wasn’t enough, it was soon to get better: a carbon copy of the Casuals second, as Rolls played another pass between the lines and Downer was clinical again with the finish to send the supporters into absolute carnage. Getting Kingstonian in the next round can only be a good thing for the boys as the confidence is at an all-time high.
Despite the 7 goals, take nothing away from a mega defensive shift from Casuals, who had the Redhill attack in their pockets all game. Centre back Harry Davidson managed to get on the end of a world class Payne free kick, and there was only going to be one place it ended up. 5-0. Before half time.
Roll on the second 45, and it’s fair to say it was slightly quieter than the first, where game management and squad rotation were the key. Both sides offered little on the attacking front apart from Ted Coumbe having a go from range – with the whole of Tolworth shouting ‘hit it!’, yet it sailed wide.
On the 75-minute mark, yet another cross was floated in, and Davidson was on hand to head it in for his second and a Corinthians sixth as they were in absolute dreamland. However, Redhill got their first of the evening seconds later, as a burst of pace from their winger caught the defense off guard and found the near post to grab a consolation.
There was time for a final Casuals goal, as substitute Sekou Kaba whipped it in and Tom Rolls finished off a quality performance by finding the far post, in a result that will see the boys host Kingstonian for a place in the final against either Raynes Park or AFC Croydon Athletic.