Corinthian Casuals FC – Surrey Senior Cup

The consensus view is that this was one of the best performances by the team in recent times that sadly did not bring the win it thoroughly deserved. That it came away to a team in the Isthmian League a step above us and required a penalty shoot out to decide the match makes it even more noteworthy. The pitch was in excellent condition given the recent weather conditions and was perfect for our passing game - the lads took full advantage.

In the opening minute, Josh McArthur-Nolan found space to have a shot at goal. Corinthian Casuals had their first chance on 6mins with a shot from the left edge of the box going wide. It looked ominous as the Casuals continued to make chances – a shot straight at Jack Webb-Olley followed by a cross from the left being headed over the bar. However, that was about as good as it got for them in the first half as The Lingers comfortably took control. Toby Allen was having success on the right and was able to put two crosses into their box that just lacked a Linger on the end of them. On 17mins after a spell of possession on the right side of their box, Richie Wetton had a shot that went over the bar. A minute later the ball was back on the edge of their box and Wetton had another shot at goal.

Then came a controversial decision on 19mins as Jay Simpson attacked down the left, dribbled his way along the bye line into their box, and was felled. A penalty? Well, not according to the referee. There was no need to refer to the competition’s sponsors as the referee had seen it and said that the defender got the ball before taking out Simpson. This was at odds with a recent televised match where the pundits concurred that taking out a player in the box is a penalty regardless of getting the ball; and so did that referee as he pointed to the spot. Would it be a game changing decision?

Undeterred, the lads kept up the good football and a backheel by McArthur-Nolan to Allen put him clear to cross from the right to Simpson. Centrally placed, Simpson could not keep his shot down. Two minutes later, Haydn Dickinson had space to get a shot away but it was straight at the keeper. On 28mins, Stephen Hodge combined with Simpson on the left to allow him to get into box before being dispossessed by a good tackle. From the resulting corner, Hodge was able to shoot from the left forcing a Casuals head to put it behind for another corner. Nothing came of it but on 30mins Jason Stripp took a free kick from the right that resulted in another corner. Again, we couldn’t make it count and the next corner saw a good short routine where Stripp played it to Simpson that just failed to come off.

The chances kept coming as on 36mins another slick move saw the ball played into the box for Simpson but Casuals cleared it. Minutes later Simpson was into the box again, dribbling past a defender along the bye line and forcing the keeper to make a save at the near post. The resulting corner caused a scramble in the box but none of the lads could force it home. The Hodge – Simpson pairing worked another chance for Simpson. As the half moved into a minute of added time, Casuals played the ball forward but an alert Webb-Olley was out to head clear. Half time and somehow it was still 0-0 following as dominant a half of football as you will see.

Corinthian Casuals were more competitive in the second half but the first chance came to The Lingers as Simpson drew a save with a shot from the left on 48mins. Casuals had a shot two minutes later that Webb-Olley saved – their first since the game’s opening ten minutes. This was followed by Simpson setting up Wetton for a shot that was deflected out for a corner. In the play following the corner there was a foul that gave us a nicely placed free kick. Wetton took it but his shot hit the wall. Tom Green was having a good game at the back, retaining possession when required to keep our momentum going, and on 56mins played a superb ball down the right hand touchline to Allen. He controlled it, beat a defender and drove to the bye line where he was blocked. McArthur-Nolan was there to assist but the linesman flagged for an offside where it looked like there had been no movement to the ball or attempt to get involved. On 59mins Casuals won their first corner of the match and the ball flew through our box and out for a goal kick. A change on 65mins saw Jimmy Williams come on for Wetton.

Dickinson had a shot from a central position on the edge of the box on 70mins but he could not keep it below the bar. With all this possession it was a worry that we had not scored. A second corner of the match for Casuals showed why that was true. The ball came into the box low and was not cleared so that a Casuals player laid on the ground was able to hook it into the net to give them the lead. The lads were immediately back on the attack, looking for an equaliser, and Simpson moved the ball around the left edge of their box for a shot that just cleared the bar/post. On 75mins Ellis Newbold came on for Toby Allen. Casuals had a corner cleared on 79mins and then Alec Campbell came on for George Branton. It looked like game over on 84mins when a Casuals corner from the left looped straight into the net. It did look like the goal was given but then it turned into a free kick for a foul in the box. The final two changes were made bringing on Charlie Daniels and Toby Hill for Stripp and Dickinson to push for a goal with fresh legs. That goal came in the final minute of normal time when Simpson went on a slaloming run through Casuals players on the left edge of their box before surprising the keeper with a shot at his near post. In the four minutes of added time, McArthur-Nolan won a corner that found its way to Simpson. His studs lost grip at the vital moment so there was no power in his shot. A final shot by Newbold was blocked so it was 1-1 at full time and on to penalties.

Casuals won the toss and went first. Webb-Olley made a good save to keep the first one out. Unfortunately, Tyrone Magala-Bryan could not take advantage and his penalty was saved. The remaining four penalties were scored - Simpson, Williams, Newbold and Daniels with final pressure penalty. On to sudden death. Casuals scored but Webb-Olley saw his kick saved and we were out of the cup. You had to wonder if the keeper had encroached as that looked the case for a lot of the kicks.

We should really have scored at least once in the first half when we were so dominant, notwithstanding the poor penalty decision. The lads can be proud of playing so well against a higher level team and let us hope they can take confidence from it going forward, especially with the big game ahead.