Playoff Heartbreak For Casuals
- Cameron Smith
- May 1, 2017
- 4 min read
A heart-breaking ending to the 2016/17 fairytale saw Corinthian-Casuals miss out on Ryman Premier Division football after losing 5-4 in a penalty shootout with Dorking Wanderers following a frustrating 120 minute stalemate in the jam-packed Westhumble Ground.
Casuals started the brightest with sustained pressure on the fatigued legs of Dorking’s back four with the pace of Shaun Okojie and Reyon Dillon causing problems early on. Of course, it wasn’t just the Corinth strike-force that left the hosts in a tangle as Jordan Clarke was involved in the first opportunity. A scramble on the left flank fell for Shaun Okojie, who let rip with a curling piledriver that was on course for the top corner, but the effort was denied by the flailing arms of keeper Huk. Swerving in and out, Mu Maan nearly netted his fifth of the season, but his shot darted wide. The rest of the first 45 saw a harsh booking for Casuals’ Dillon and a powerful effort from Dorking’s Tolfrey that lacked direction as it comfortably flew into the hands of Bracken.
The sun had slowly slipped onto the scene at the Westhumble as the sides switched ends. A substitute had been made by James Bracken- the cautioned Dillon was replaced by Max Oldham. In the 54th minute, the travelling fans were almost in raptures as a Jack Strange header was hastily cleared off the line by no.7 Jerome Beckles as Dudley narrowly missed the inviting flick on. Set-pieces were the source of Casuals attack when a looping header from Maan was easily gathered by the valiant Huk in net. And then, the chance of the half arrived via Gallagher. Minutes later, the midfielder was clean through on goal, an unfamiliar position for Super Josh, but had a stinging shot magnificently saved by the Slovakian keeper before a rebound was again denied by Huk. It was disbelief in the Casuals end as another dangerous corner was volleyed at the back post by Dudley, but it just well over the bar.
A flat fifteen minute period concluded when Jack Strange bundled the ball into the net, but was correctly disallowed due to a foul on the keeper in the yellow jersey. The final five minutes of normal time was greeted with suspense and uncertainty as the white and red stripes were throwing everything at a late winner all of a sudden…
The pressure was swiftly dealt with before the full-time whistle blew: it was 0-0, and the game would go to extra-time. The first-half of extra-time started well for Casuals who almost ended the goal drought thanks to substitute Warren Morgan, as his shot was saved again by the consistently impressive reflexes of Huk. The presence of winger Briggs prevailed for Dorking as the no.8 had a half-volley and a 1on1 shot saved by the heroic Bracken. The second-half of extra time was nail-biting as chances were limited, but misplaced passes and injury breaks were a plenty. These anxious moments were nothing compared to what supporters would be subjected to after the thirty minutes of extra-time. Dorking and Casuals had finished the game- it was 0-0. Now, it was time for the most nerve-wracking experience a football fan could ever experience: a penalty shootout.
Kicking towards the Casuals end, Dorking had won the toss and opted to go first. Jack Beecroft hammered the ball down the middle to put Dorking 1-0 up before Mu Maan equalised with a conversion into the bottom right corner that beat Huk, who dived the right way. Substitute Dan Pearse slotted home confidently, but fellow sub Warren Morgan couldn’t reel away in relief as his penalty was brilliantly tipped past the top left corner of the net by the delighted Huk. Dorking made it 3-1 when Dean Gunner dispatched a pinpoint effort. Casuals were already one behind, so the contingent behind the goal were jubilant when Bettache composedly fired into the roof of the net. No.11 James McShane may have scored a fantastic spot-kick, but was disappointedly unsportsmanlike when he celebrated in-front of the Casuals supporters. Goalkeeper and a proven penalty kick scorer Danny Bracken sent Huk the wrong way and adjusted the score-line to 4-3 Dorking. Bracken switched from scoring back to saving when he faced Dorking striker Tom Tolfrey. Punching the air with genuine glee, Bracken’s outstanding one-handed stop sent Casuals fans haywire- Casuals were back in it! Club legend Jamie Byatt grabbed the ball for Casuals’ fourth penalty and calmly rifled the ball in off the post. Bracken was ever so close to keeping out Brigg’s clean penalty, but it ended up in the back of the net. David Hodges had the courage to take a spot-kick, but the bearded full-back could only find the gloves of Huk, who brilliantly dove to his bottom left corner to claw away. The no.1 picked himself up and sprinted to the ecstatic Dorking players. Rare cheers from the Wanderers supporters and a rare moment of agonising silence from the Casuals supporters. Dorking had defeated Casuals 5-4 on penalties and were heading for the Ryman Premier Division.
A pitch invasion followed as the red shirts were mobbed by celebratory fans. However, Casuals supporters were soon chanting again and consoled the dejected members of the pink and brown army. One sight caused every Casuals fan to well up; captain Danny Bracken was in tears as promotion to the Premier Division was cruelly snatched from Casuals’ grasp via twelve, single kicks from twelve yards.
It was a victory for the Casuals squad just being a play-off finalist after years of continuous unsuccessful shots at glory. A magnificent performance during the 120 minutes was something to be very proud of.
Stuart Tree spoke to the reflective James Bracken for the final time:
“One game to decide a whole season is always hard in the first place but to go out on penalties is even harsher.”
“We’ve taken them apart time and time again. We were too fit, too strong, too quick and created so many chances.”
“I think that’s what makes it harder to swallow. If we came here and got rolled over 2-0 or 3-0 by a better team, you can say fair play and we’d have to look at ourselves. After today, we couldn’t do any of that.”
“We just didn’t get the goal that all our play and performance warranted. Fair play to their keeper. He was outstanding.”
“Next year, I’m hoping everyone stays here because I believe if they do, I think we can win this league. I honestly believe that. We’ve got something special here.”
Photo credit: Stuart Tree