Comfortable Win For Casuals Against Molesey

After the floodlight failure in November, the replay of Corinthian Casuals versus Molesey resulted in a comfortable 5-1 victory for Corinth, who netted four times during an explosive second-half performance.

On Saturday 5th November, Corinthian Casuals faced Molesey in the Ryman Division One South. All was well (Casuals were winning 2-0!) until the seventy-first minute, when the floodlights around King George’s were judged insufficient. The referee called the players off the pitch as the game was officially abandoned. Goals from Okojie and Gallagher sealed three points before the result was cruelly removed as the rematch was scheduled for the New Year.

Now, it’s Tuesday 10th January 2017- both sides have finally locked horns for the rematch. Molesey, who have only collected a point from four games, travelled to King George’s hoping to complete ninety minutes of football. Gritty, Molesey have a structured set-up but are located in the bottom half of the table this season, in 20th place.

Silky wing play saw half-chances pop up for the hosts inside the first ten minutes as the darting runs of Cheklit menaced the full-backs. Another provider of danger was the tricky Warren Morgan. Despite playing in his unnatural position, Morgan managed to fool Molesey’s Josh Andrews with a cheeky prod which left him space to deliver a cross to Jamie Byatt in the centre. Scuffing his first chance, Byatt then chipped the ball with his right-foot into the top corner of the net as he jokingly celebrated with the Casuals contingent in the fourteenth minute.

Chances heavily one-sided, the game was unexpectedly levelled. Light-blue jerseys of Molesey took advantage of stationary defending as a low cross was fired past Danny Bracken and across goal for… Casuals’ Warren Morgan. The left-back could only slot into his own net as the power on the assist caught him by surprise- the score was 1-1. Attempting to repair a period of lost concentration, Casuals continued with their attacking duties in the form of Cheklit. The winger beautifully crossed the ball on the by-line to Byatt, who peeled away from his marker at the back post but could only guide a looping header into the hands of keeper Liam Allen. First-half brought to a close, Corinthians must have been wondering how the score was equal.

Fluidity in movement created a few half-chances for Casuals as the home side struggled to find the edge until the 52nd minute, where Josh Uzun netted a screamer. With the famous ‘Two Joshes In Our Team’ chant echoing around the ground, Gallagher stabbed the ball towards Uzun and from around twenty-five yards, ejected a remarkable effort, which seamlessly sailed into the top corner of the net as Corinth were ahead- in style. Never putting on the brakes, Casuals were on the move once more as Gallagher powered a shot towards goal but it was wide of Allen’s post.

With the third lingering, Juevan Spencer took the matter into his own hands as his mazy run left defenders for dead before delivering for the oncoming Okojie, who slammed the ball into the net. Cue the cool celebrations from Super Shaun as the score was made 3-1. Nine minutes later, Byatt’s inch-perfect cross was satisfyingly nodded on with accuracy and power by the danger-man Okojie, who was lurking in the centre. Easily beating Allen in net, the well-worked goal adjusted the score-line to 4-1.

Chances for both sides arose as Danny Dudley heroically hooked the ball from the goalline to prevent Molesey from scoring their second. However, Corinth comfortably dominated and somehow did not add a fifth when substitute Max Oldham connected to a failed Jack Strange chance from yards out. Strange, who was the Man Of The Match, had a header cleared off the line by Moles’ Ashby Charles. Then, the fifth arrived, with substitute Jordan Clarke wonderfully shrugging off defenders to slot home, through the legs of keeper Allen.

Photo credit: Andy Nunn

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