Corinthian Casuals 2 Whyteleafe 2

10:05am Tuesday 6th January 2009

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On a freezing cold January afternoon, Casuals opened the New Year with a hard fought draw with Whyteleafe. The result lifts the Casuals to fifth from bottom on goal difference, their highest position for several months, and is testament to the hard work put in by the players and management over the course of the last six games.

Whyteleafe had much the better of the first half and Andrew Martin went close for them early on. Moments later Mark Hammond hit the post for Whyteleafe, but Casuals remained firm and took the lead on 35 minutes when new signing Jamie Byatt ran on to a long ball and slotted it home under the keeper Matthew Mann. Four minutes later Whyteleafe equalised when Callum MacLean’s cross was met by a diving header from Paul Scott.

Casuals started the second half brightly with Byatt being the main instigator of the home sides dangerous attacks. On 61 minutes Byatt gave Casuals the lead when he cut in from the right, before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top left hand corner of the goal. The lead was again short lived as Scott scored his second from close range two minutes later. Both sides had chances to win the match, although Casuals looked the more likely. Tyrone Myton hit the post, before two Tom Jelley lobs flew over for Casuals.

Colin Harris, Joe Funicello, Dale Hennessey (Carlos Talbot), Jamie Reive, Chris Horwood, Joe McNerney, Tom Jelley, Tyrone Myton, Joe Nwoko (Paul Hunt), Jamie Byatt, Kane Sergeant SUBS NOT USED Ryan Hughes, Eseosa Omoregle, Arran Bufton