PRE SEASON FRIENDLY
Att : N/A
CORINTHIAN CASUALS – 0
SUTTON UNITED – 5 [OG 14. Cornwell 23. Tomlin 26.38. Douglas 37]
With the cancellation of two early friendlies, I guess it’s not surprising JR went looking for other opponents to help boost our pre-season programme. Fortunately, our old friends and fellow users of the colour chocolate, Casuals were on hand to offer us a game.
It seems that due to the short notice, we’re a bit short player wise. McDonald isn’t present again. Watkins is also absent. But apart from that, the line up is exactly the same that started saturdays game with Charlton. The only new addition is forward Gavin Tomlin who was apparently with St Albans at the end of last season.
Right, usual summary stuff then…..
14 mins – GOAL 1-0. After a quiet start, the scoring is opened. Gray puts in a teasing ball from the right that the ‘keeper fumbles. His defence half clears and the ball drops to Douglas. He immediately attacks the space and gets to the bye-line, drilling a low ball in that the Casuals no5 can only crash into his own net.
16 mins – Good ball down the right hand channel sends Tomlin into space. Decent meduim height cross is aimed towards Cornwell around the near post, but he gets a bad bounce in front of him and his attempted stooping header goes nowhere.
23 mins – GOAL 2-0. Short corner on the right between Gray & Honey. Gray cross is called for by the ‘keeper at the near post, but he completely misses it and the ball flies between him and his no4 before falling to Luke Cornwell totally unmarked at the far post for an easy tap in.
26 mins – GOAL 3-0. Gray whips in a free-kick from the right side and picks out a completely unmarked Tomlin 8 yards out. His downward header defeats the ‘keeper, despite him getting his hands to the ball and it bounces up into the top corner.
35 mins – Lovely exchange of play down the right between Palmer & Gray sends the defender clear. He clips a teasing ball into the box that’s just headed over for a corner at the near post with both Tomlin and Cornwell arriving in the centre.
37 mins – GOAL 4-0. Another excellent bit of play on the right and a little threaded ball puts Gray through and he pulls the ball back across for Douglas to thump in on the line at the back post.
38 mins – GOAL 5-0. Gonsalves plays a superb, diagonal ball forward over the Casuals defence, sending Tomlin clear who draws the ‘keeper before lobbing the ball over him into the net despite the last ditch attempts of a defender to hook the ball off the line.
To be honest, not a lot can really be taken from the first 45 minutes as Casuals were absolutely pitiful at the back. Still, it was enjoyable to watch the lads play some really nice stuff at times and Tomlin looks a decent enough player.
Having said that, we ambled round at the break looking forward to a complete rout in the second half. 9 or 10 would be nice! JR introduces his two subs at the break with Wilson replacing Emberson and Marvell taking Gray’s place on the right.
47 mins – Casuals first sight of goal. The huge no17 shows some neat footwork and turns Gonsalves on the edge of the box, but his shot is bobbled straight at Wilson.
50 mins – Douglas, now up front with Cornwell, collects the ball and simply cuts through the centre of the home defence before firing a low drive just beyond the far post.
67 mins – Ball over the top sends Douglas clear down the right. He drives for goal, but unselfishly squares the ball for Cornwell instead of shooting, but a defender gets a toe in before he can finish & the chance is gone.
70 mins – A quick, short free-kick sends Douglas through and he smashes the ball into the roof of the net, only to have the effort disallowed by a dreadful offside decision.
73 mins – Gray returns and replaces Tomlin.
76 mins – Cornwell beats his man on the left and puts in an excellent cross that Marvell meets at the far post, but the ‘keeper makes a very good point blank stop and foils any follow ups by somehow clinging onto the ball.
82 mins – Some poor defending and a flick on sends the no17 clear. But his finish lets him down and Wilson makes the save.
90 mins – Ball over the top once agani opens up the hosts defence, sending both Marvell and Cornwell clear. Marvell takes a touch and slips a clever little pass inside for Cornwell, but somehow he manages to lift the ball just over the target from 6 yards.
All in all, a reasonable workout. But it seems we got complacent in the second half and tried to be a bit too clever at times. Tomlin looks useful and it was good to see Castledine come through the 90 minutes, albeit as a centre back!
Onto Leatherhead on saturday then….
TEAM : Carl Emberson, Gary Elliot, Stuart Castledine, Lewis Gonsalves, Ryan Palmer, Matt Gray, Paul Honey, Tony Quinton, Steve Douglas, Gavin Tomlin, Luke Cornwell. SUBS : Dale Marvell, Phil Wilson