Match Report by Kevin Hall

A solitary first-half goal was enough to separate the sides as Corinthian Casuals completed the league double over Ashford United in a game that won’t live long in the memory.

On a wet, cold and decidedly miserable afternoon at the Homelands, the visitors bossed the opening period with Ashford offering little up front, despite three strikers in the starting line up.

The Casuals saw an effort from Gabriel Odunaike strike the post in the 16th minute, before the same player shot narrowly wide four minutes later.

The only goal of the match came when substitute Max Oldham found space in the box to clip a shot past George Kamurasi into the far corner, which ultimately sealed the three points for the visitors.

Within 20 seconds at the start of the second-half the dangerous Oldham almost added a second, but an alert Kamurasi was equal to the task. Comfortably the best player in a game with little skill on show, Oldham was a real handful, but thanks to consistent Pat Kingwell he was prevented from adding to the single goal tally.

The home fans having had little to cheer saw Shomari Barnwell burst into the box but his touch eluded him when it most mattered. A firm header from Dean Grant finally worked visiting keeper Danny Bracken in the 59th minute as the hosts at last showed some urgency.

Jordan Wright fired too high and Matt Day volleyed past the post, before that man Oldham poked an effort wide of the target for the Casuals.

Despite seven minutes of added time following a injury to Ola Williams, Ashford were unable to draw level, before the final whistle blew at the end a disappointing afternoon of football.

The Nuts & Bolts remain in 21st place and seemingly already looking towards next season, whilst the Casuals in sixth are pretty much certain of bagging a play-off spot, which is 12 points above the chasing pack headed by Phoenix Sports.