Corinthian-Casuals suffered a fatal blow to their play-off hopes in a 3-1 defeat to Chipstead in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.
It’s been eight years since Casuals last defeated Chipstead – two injury time goals to clinch a 2-1 win back in February 2018. Since then, the two sides have met on no less than seven occasions with the Chips coming out on top on six of those encounters. The last of those was a 6-0 drubbing back in October. Bogey side? They’re the right colour for it.
But with Chipstead having shipped 12 (twelve) goals in their last match, eyes were on them to turn around a horrifying result. As often is the case following a heavy defeat, losing sides rally – they shore up their defence, pull together as a team. That was certainly the case for the visitors. They showed resilience, tenacity, drive, passion – all of the traits missing from the Casuals on this afternoon.
Was it complacency? Did Casuals score too early and think it would be a canter? Rafa Barbosa’s first goal since his return certainly gave most of those in attendance something to cheer about. Not giving up on a half-chance, Barbosa snuck in to grab a ninth minute opener, with the ball-up-shirt celebration a nod to Rafa’s impending new dad status.
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Chipstead could’ve been in further hot water when captain Peter Wedgeworth’s late challenge might have commanded a red card but received a caution only in a lenient decision from youthful referee Aaron Beswick. It was Wedgeworth’s wicked free kick that put Chipstead back on level terms, when his effort struck the post to fall kindly to Marley Burton Bell, who prodded home the rebound.
It wasn’t the liveliest of performances from either side and so Casuals manager Mu Maan switched up his midfield at half-time, replacing the physicality of Scott Day, Hakeem Adelakun and Marcos Dos Santos with playmakers Diogo Da Silva, Vitinho and new signing Azeez Elegushi. It was a bold move, replacing the entirety of the centre of the park – and one that didn’t pay off.
Within 10 minutes of the restart, Chipstead were in front; A free kick from wide was met, unmarked in the penalty box by Burton Bell, who smashed home from six yards. It was criminal defending and a situation that Casuals have struggled with all season. Set-piece defending has cost Corinth multiple points and, very likely, a playoff place.
Ex-Casual Mike Dixon caused problems all afternoon and when he was able to add a third for the Chips, that was game over. The home side rallied in the last 10 minutes but it was all too late. Barbosa’s wicked shot, tipped over by Jacob Bennett, was the first time the Chipstead keeper was really called upon to make a save. That was deep into time added on.
While it is mathematically possible to make the play-off places, Casuals now sit nine points adrift of fifth place, with some sides above having played less. Tadley Calleva, who defeated champions-elect Cobham, have three games in hand over Casuals with six points more on the board. It’ll be nigh-on impossible to overcome the odds within the ten fixtures left for Maan’s side.
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