Corinthian-Casuals 3 Leatherhead 5
Leatherhead retained the Harvey-Hill Vase following an entertaining 5-3 win against Corinthian-Casuals at the Armada Group Stadium on Saturday.
Leatherhead made the best possible start, opening the scoring with less than forty seconds played. The ball was delivered into the Casuals’ box from the right and nodded on towards the far post for James Richmond to head home past goalkeeper Sanghyun Baek.
Casuals levelled three minutes later as Wilgnner Ewerthon’s brilliantly taken thirty yard free kick flew past Tanners keeper Sonny Wheeler into the top corner of the net.
Casuals almost took the lead moments later when Richmond attempted to square a pass back to Wheeler. But there was too little weight on the ball and it was intercepted by a Casuals forward who struck the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Casuals hit the Tanners woodwork again on 15 minutes when Tobi Falodi’s long range effort thundered against the top of the bar.
Leatherhead continued to press forward and restored their advantage on 25 minutes after a Lucas Franzen-Jones cross was turned behind for a corner. Nathan Hogan’s in swinging delivery picked out an unchallenged George Hedley to head home.
Tanners nearly scored a third goal three minutes later when Niran Butler fed the ballthrough to his younger brother Tyrell, who forced a fine block from Baek.
Ross Stepney made it 3-1 to the visitors on 36 minutes with an almost carbon copy of Leatherhead’s second goal. Stepney rose unchallenged to meet another in swinging Hogan corner, heading the ball into the corner of the net.
Tanners added a fourth goal just before half time. Casuals were unable to clear another Leatherhead attack, allowing Hogan to smash the ball home from close range.
Casuals reduced the arrears on 57 minutes after a penalty was awarded in their favour. Leatherhead’s Rodney Dos Santos made an untidy challenge on the edge of the box allowing the referee to make an easy decision, with the subsequent spot kick dispatched hard and low into the corner of the net.
Casuals scored again ten minutes later with a close range finish. But the visitors restored their two goal advantage on 72 minutes to make it 5-3.
Tanners sub Isaac Olaniyan delivered a probing free kick into the Casuals penalty area and Stepney outmuscled his marker to bundle the ball across the line.
The match briefly descended into a series of untidy scuffles on the pitch involving several players from both teams, resulting in one of the Casuals players being dismissed for violent conduct. The referee eventually restored order without further incident.
Following the final whistle Tanners skipper Kane Fitzgerald went up to collect the Harvey-Hill Vase, presented by Corinthian-Casuals Vice President, David Harrison.
Leatherhead complete their pre-season build up on Tuesday when they host Farnham
Town at Fetcham Grove. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Leatherhead (Starting XI): Sonny Wheeler, James Richmond, Kelvin Massango, Niran Butler, Ross Stepney, Kane Fitzgerald, George Hedley, Nathan Hogan, Lukas
Franzen-Jones, Tyrell Butler, Rodney Dos Santos
