Defeat In Hastings For Unlucky Casuals

In a budding yet indecisive performance, the new-look Corinthian-Casuals side suffered a marginal 2-1 defeat at Hastings United on the opening day of the 2017/18 Bostik League Division One South.

Starting the match with high-tempo football, Casuals began the better side as enthusiasm and energy was pumped into the veins of the visitors. A delightful move inside the first ten minutes resulted in the ball in the back of the net, but celebrations were halted by the referee’s piercing whistle. Casuals’ robust unit Jerson Dos Santos was causing trouble for the Hastings back four as the no.9 towered over a white shirt in the six yard box a little too forcefully so he could nod a Jack Strange help-on home. Ruled out for a push, the brief celebrations in the Casuals end was brought to a halt by Mr. Paul Harris. A scrappy yet entertaining first eleven minutes would soon result in a goal… but not to the ones with the chances. Jack Dixon rose the highest in a packed penalty area as the no.8 gave the hosts the 1-0 lead. A free-kick deflected straight onto the head of Dixon got the Hastings supporters on their feet for the first time in the afternoon- in the battle of Hastings, the U’s drew first blood!

Half chances popped up at various points for Casuals, who just weren’t able to grab the vital equaliser that the vocal supporters behind the goal were hoping for. On the verge of half-time, Jack Dixon positioned himself in the penalty area again, and was looking to ease the risky 1-0 scoreline with another goal- and he did just that. A cross from the left flank saw keeper Bracken and attacker Dixon jump for the ball in the air, but it was the Hastings player that got out of the collision victorious. It was half-time a few moments later, and James Bracken would have been glad to speak to his players following the disappointing display at the break.

Overall, the second-half was ugly. It was a scrappy affair, with fouls committed by both sides across the pitch, with Casuals’ Serbony limping off injured early on. Like fouls, chances were shared between the teams as Hastings had a terrific effort from outside the area saved by Bracken’s fingertips as the score stayed at 2-0.

Until the 78th minute, where Corinthians finally managed to defeat the formidable Josh Pelling in goal. Mu Maan fired a ferocious yet accurate shot into the top left corner of the Hastings no.1’s net. The patient fans behind the goal were able to celebrate at last, with the goal-scorer not getting ahead of himself and pacing backwards so he could start up another attack straight away. With the introduction of veteran Jamie Byatt, Casuals were frantic in their attacking as the tricky feet of Odunaike and Daly bamboozled the full-backs on the right flank. Jack Strange, scorer here last year saw his vicious header whistle inches above the crossbar. Byatt forced a dramatic fingertip save onto the post from Pelling and flashed the ball over the bar in one of Casuals’ last attempts to grab a deserved equaliser, but the full-time whistle terminated any chance of an opening day point. It was a performance with certain potential, but it lacked the cutting edge.

Photo credit: Stuart Tree

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