Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round, Saturday August 24th
The second game of my FA Vase triple header this weekend saw me make a trip to Tolworth in Surrey and a very first visit to the King George's Field, the home of Corinthian Casuals as they welcome Whitstable Town for a First Qualifying Round tie in the Isuzu FA Vase.
Both sides are in Step Five of the non league pyramid, Casuals ply their trade in the Combined Counties Premier South Division, they haven't began the season to well either, as after three league games they have won one and lost two so far, and last time out they dominated against Knaphill by all account but fell to a 1-0 loss, with finishing a problem for them it seems.
There only win did see them net four though, but that's the only league game they have netted in so far in a 4-3 success against Sheerwater, their only other competitive outings saw them lose out in a replay against North Greenford United, with them only netting once over the two games, could they get the better of a Whitstable side today who take part in the Southern Counties East Premier Division?
The Kent side have had an equally mixed start to their campaign, they opened their campaign with a 3-3 draw at Sutton Athletic before an FA Cup loss at Sevenoaks Town was then followed by defeat at home to Rusthall by a 1-3 score line, but they did come into today's cup tie off the back of a first win of the season at Lydd Town, also 3-1 but in their favour this time.
So, what could we expect in this cup tie then? It was a hard one to call as both sides seemed equally matched and had also had similar starts to their campaigns, they were welcomed by what was a superb playing surface which considering the amount of rain that had fallen since the early hours it was in pristine condition and neither side would have any excuses not to play football on it that was for sure.
Harvey Smith, the visitors number nine, thought he had given his side the lead early on when he was played through, but after the striker had slotted home, the flag had gone up for offside, and in my view and even home fans around me, he wasn't offside and was level at worst, so the hosts seemed like they had got away with one there.
And midway through the first period, and just after the hosts had lost Diogo Da Silva to injury, his replacement Ben Cheklit was heavily involved in the opening goal as he managed to get into a promising position before he saw a goal bound effort blocked, however fellow attacker Ryan Murad was on hand to fire home the loose ball and the hosts had the lead, with one home fan nearby shouting ' we have scored a goal!!!', they were certainly happy and surprised for sure.
Could the hosts go on and press home their advantage, they thought they had doubled their money late on in the half when a header back into the path of Shea Cascoe-Rogers saw him fire home via the fingertips of visiting keeper Daniel Colmer, but this time the flag thwarted the hosts and the goal would not stand, it did mean though that the hosts went into the break a goal ahead and with the slight advantage in the tie. They did also lose goal scorer Murad to injury before the break as well, so not ideal.
Ten minutes after the break though, Whitstable levelled, dangerous winger Josh Oliver getting in down the right, and although his first effort was well saved by home keeper Murillo Bernardes, the ball looped up into the air and saw Oliver get to the ball first to head at goal and despite the hosts trying to prevent the ball finding the net, they could only help it into the corner of the goal.
The game was now in the balance and either side could go on and win it now, a wonderful looping header from the visitors found the far corner on one occasion, but again the flag was to deny them for the second time in the contest, Casuals had attacks too but could not find a way through, and as the game entered it's final fifteen minutes, penalties was becoming a strong possibility as well.
Zack Jobe was to enter the fray for the visitors in the 77th minute, and he was to have a hugely positive impact on his side, teeing up Smith to fire home in the 80th minute to hand the visitors the lead, and he was involved again in the 88th minute along with fellow teammates Fin Cotton and Archie Hatcher, as a beautiful one touch passing move ended with a ball across the box seeing Smith stretch to divert the ball into the far corner and seal this contest.
Their was still time for Smith to complete a thirteen minute treble too, as once again Jobe was involved as he started the attack that lead to Smith being laid in on goal before he fired ruthlessly beyond Bernandes once again and cap a wonderful final fifth teen minutes for the visitors who had sealed their passage into the next round where they will face at home tie with Hollands & Blair.
The hosts would have been shell shocked at the way that game ended, it was in the balance until the final fifteen minutes and even up until the clinching third goal in the 88th minute, they will have to lick their wounds and try and bounce back on bank holiday Monday when they face tenants Epsom & Ewell in the league at Kind George's Field.
For Whitstable though it's a lovely way to end the game, Smith now has seven goals this season already in all comps, that over half their goal tally this season, and they welcome Faversham Town to their Belmont Stadium on bank holiday Monday hoping to take this form into the league now, if they can supply Smith with the ammunition, and perhaps start Jobe too, they will be a danger for sure.
Full time Corinthian Casuals 1 Whitstable Town 4
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