Casuals FA Cup Curse Continues Corinthian-Casuals limped out of the FA Cup on Saturday with an under-par performance losing 2-0 to Ashford Town in the First Qualifying Round.

It continues a miserable run in the prestige competition for the Casuals having only won 4 ties in 14 years and never progressing past this stage of the competition.

Despite playoff finishes in the league and records broken in his time at the club, even Manager James Bracken appears to fall foul of Casuals FA Cup Curse. Bracken’s record in this competition is played six, won two.

Casuals fell behind on 25 minutes when Mark Bitmead found the top corner. The hosts doubled their lead just five minutes later when Danny Bracken could only parry a cross to Dan Fleming who finished from a couple of yards out.

Chances went begging for Casuals in the second half; most notably, Gabriel Odunaike missing an open goal, putting his shot over the bar.

Ashford almost put the tie to bed when they were awarded a penalty but Bracken guessed correctly to make the save and keep Corinth in the tie.

Things went from bad to worse for Casuals when substitute Reyon Dillon was dismissed for two bookable offences.

Casuals Boss James Bracken was puzzled as to why his side had limped out of the competition.

“When you think we were one player removed from the team that played last Saturday and won 5-0, the chalk-and-cheese of the performance is startling.

“We’ll try to put our finger on why that is but ultimately I think it comes down to a bit of attitude on the day amongst a few of them. We never got started and we didn’t play well. Our touches were poor and distribution worse. It’s not one to remember for sure.

“It didn’t help that there was a definite foul in the lead up to one of the goals. Their player has climbed all over our centre forward – his arms over the top of the shoulders but the referee tells me there’s no contact! He’s come down on top of our player in a pile.

“It was the type of challenge that he gave to the opposition from the first whistle and we never got them the other way.

“At half time, we had words with the lads and we changed things around. Second half, we were slightly the better side and certainly improved on our first half performance. But we never created much. Gabby (Gabriel Odunaike) will be disappointed he didn’t find the empty net. If we’d have got a goal back, we might have pushed on and got something from the game.

Speaking of Dillon’s dismissal, Bracken wasn’t best pleased with the decision.

“Reyon’s come on to make an impact. But the challenge he got a second yellow card for isn’t even a foul. Reyon’s body is between the centre-back and the ball and the defender has run into him and fallen on the floor. The assistant referee ten yards away didn’t give anything but the referee brandishes a second yellow card from 30-40 yards away.”

Bracken is hopeful that they can rectify mistakes made.

“We’re aware of our shortfalls today. Now it’s up to us as a coaching set-up to get that across to the team and to improve.”

Casuals travel to Guernsey in the league on Sunday.