Flackwell Heath 0 - Corinthian Casuals 1

Casuals recorded their third straight victory to finish off an excellent week. Having progressed in the Vase and hammering Epsom and Ewell 3-0 on Tuesday confidence was high, but it took all their grit and determination to get three points from this tricky fixture.

In windy conditions on a sloping pitch the Casuals had the first fright. Keeper Geoff Smyrk, made a good save in the first minute from Flackwell's Stuart Marks. Casuals gained the first corner in the ninth minute, but nothing came of it.

Flackwell began to put pressure on the Casuals' defence and an effort from Lee Elliott was taken well wide by the wind. On 13 minutes a looping punt forward almost caught the Casuals' defence out but Marks failed to connect. Two minutes later a goalmouth scramble almost saw Heath go ahead but the defence stood firm.

Leroy Griffiths had the ball in Flackwell's net on 16 minutes after good work by Leon Raishbrook. This though was pulled back due to offside. Casuals won another corner on 21 minutes. Again the wind played a major part as the ball was cleared. Mark Freeborough scored another offside `goal' a minute later.

Flackwell regrouped and were unlucky after Stuart McLeod robbed Smyrk, but his shot from an acute angle was cleared by Freeborough on the Casuals' line. Casuals were settling down a bit at this point and began to link up well. A move involving Simon Shergold, Kevin Glavey and Bruce Martin broke down on 34 minutes, but it was the first time either side had knocked it about.

On 40 minutes Glavey broke down the right wing, but Griffiths put his resulting shot over the bar. Flackwell bounced back and forced several corners at the end of the half which Smyrk dealt with well.

As with the first, the second half saw the sides taking a while to settle down. Smyrk was forced to punch clear on 52 minutes, then Glavey failed to connect as he slid in; instead it went off for a goal kick.

Casuals were starting to create openings as Jamie White began to run at Flackwell. On the hour a cross went straight across the Flackwell goal but there was no one to tap it in.

Three minutes later though Griffiths was injured, sliding in on a White cross, and was replaced by Cliff West who recently broke the 200 goal barrier for the club.

Casuals had a let off on 67 minutes as Smyrk who had a good game till that point fumbled the ball in the six yard box but this was cleared. He made amends though six minutes later as he raced out of this area to clear the ball just as Flackwell's Elliott was about to collect and bear down on goal.

With 15 minutes remaining a mad scramble in the Casuals' six yard box almost saw Flackwell take the lead, but Smyrk saved well and the defence did fine job of clearing the ball. How Flackwell did not score from that was a miracle.

Casuals went on the attack immediately and Raishbrook set up a glorious opportunity for Glavey to score but his effort from three yards flew over the bar.

Glavey shot over the bar from 20 yards on 83 minutes as the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw. It was not to be as with three minutes to go Cliff West sprayed a ball out to the right wing to Bruce Martin. He passed to substitute Tony Blunt who put a pin point cross over for Cliff West to head home the winner.

Corinthian Casuals: Geoff Smyrk, Simon Shergold (Tony Blunt, 70 mins), Steve Smith, Mark Freeborough, John Russell-Smith, Leon Raishbrook, Tony Leslie, Jamie White (Ian Waghorn, 81 mins), Kevin Glavey, Leroy Griffiths (Cliff West, 63 mins), Bruce Martin.

The reserves won 5-2 at home to Raynes Park Vale in their Suburban League fixture.

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