Casuals Stung By The Hornets

Two lightning-quick goals inside three second-half minutes thwarted Corinthian Casuals’ promotion-push as mid-table Horsham won 2-0 at the overcast Goring’s Mead.

In the first-half, the pink and brown strips of Casuals started the brightest as the yellow shirts of Horsham was forced to retain possession and defend. Danny Dudley, who had a yellow card to his name inside the first five minutes, had a header collected by keeper Josh Pelling. Magnificent play from Mahrez Bettache saw the midfield maestro delightfully dance past the Hornets left-back before using the outside of his boot to curl a cross towards the six yard box. The chance was convincingly cleared as the score was still goalless. The opening proceedings concluded with the score 0-0 as Mu Maan’s diving header and Horsham’s only chance (in which Casuals booted the ball off the line) were not converted.

As the referee re-started the match, Corinth fans gathered in Horsham’s carpark to stand behind the goal and support their team. The contingent were nearly rewarded when Shaun Okojie was allowed through on goal. The striker slotted the ball towards the corner but a confident punch from Pelling eliminated danger. Or did it? The ball fell perfectly at the feet of Ben Cheklit but the winger agonisingly sent an effort just wide of the post. In the 60th minute substitute Tony Nwachukwu capitalised on Terry Murray’s failed clearance with a sweet finish, to make it 1-0 Horsham. The hosts had undeservedly taken the lead. Picking themselves back up, Casuals attempted to insert more creativity with the substitution of Dan Summers. However, the striker could not make an instant impact due to Horsham’s quick attacking play. Sprinting down the wing, a yellow shirt crossed for the dangerous Nwachukwu in the area, who controlled before slamming the ball past Bracken and into the net. It was 2-0.

Half-chances for both sides saw the remaining twenty-seven minutes seep down the drain. With the referee concluding the game, the dejected Corinthians applauded their away support and drove back to Tolworth.

Manager James Bracken spoke to Stuart Tree after the match:

“Sometimes football is cruel. For the first hour of the match today, we were by far the better side. We created the better chances. Mu Maan himself has had six shots on his own.”

“Their manager said to us afterwards that we didn’t deserve that result and he’s right. We didn’t deserve to lose. But that’s football. You don’t always get what you deserve week-in, week-out. But over the course of the season, you do.”

“We’ve got eleven games left and sit just outside the playoffs. If we finish outside the playoffs, then we haven’t been good enough. If we can get in those spots, then of course, we have been good enough.”

“It’s up to us now. One result doesn’t make a season but tally those up and you get what you deserve. We need to make sure we push for the playoffs on a good run of form, which we’ll have to show in order to get there.”

“Don’t write us off just yet. We’re still buoyant. We’re still ready. I don’t think we’re out of this at all.”

Photo credit: Stuart Tree

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