Sevenoaks Town 0-1 Corinthian - I don't expect us to be in a relegation battle this year but there's expectation and we have four points from six games which is unacceptable, says Sevenoaks Town boss Harry Hudson

Sevenoaks Town 0 – 1 Corinthian
Location	Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5BX
Kickoff	19/10/2022 19:30

SEVENOAKS TOWN  0-1  CORINTHIAN
Isthmian League South East Division
Wednesday 19 October 2022
Stephen McCartney reports from Greatness Park

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Harry Hudson says no one expected his side to be in a relegation battle after handing fellow strugglers Corinthian their first win of the season in the Isthmian League South East Division.

 

Corinthian remain at the foot of the table with four points from their opening nine games, while bottom-three side Sevenoaks Town do have games in hand on all of the sides in the division but are underperforming with four points from their six league outings.

Combative midfielder Brandon Davey settled an awful local derby in the 57^th minute, smacking home a half-volley following a long throw, which was Corinthian’s first league goal since Monday 29 August, which ironically was the last time that Sevenoaks Town played a league game at Greatness Park.

The Oaks reached The FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round  and lost 2-0 at National League South leaders Ebbsfleet United at the weekend and suffered a FA Cup hangover against a side that play less than 10 miles away.

However, they missed eight-goal talisman striker Ryan Gondoh (hamstring) tonight, while centre-half Corey Holder (knee) and Jordy Ndozid also picked up injuries at Stonebridge Road.

Courtney Dobson’s treatment table will see visits from Yahaya Bamba (knee) and Samuel Johnson (hospital) after picking up knocks tonight.

Sevenoaks Town played their usual passing game, while they found Corinthian a hard nut to crack, a well-organised outfit with plenty of bodies behind the ball, who upped their desire levels as soon as Davey hooked in his first goal of the season.

“It was a poor game of football if I’m honest,” admitted Hudson. 

“Corinthian come and sat in and we haven’t looked like we found a way or knew a way how to break that down.

“They’ve slowed the game down, fair play to Corinthian, they deserved to win the game today.

“I don’t think it’s a particular great style of football or a great game for anyone to watch but we have to be better at what we do.  Corinthian were better at what they did tonight over us therefore the result is the result.”

Corinthian manager Michael Golding said: “Absolutely delighted, it’s been a long time coming.

“It’s been a pretty horrendous start to the season, worse than any of us could ever imagined but I think when we’re realistic we probably knew it would be tough. 

“You never want it to be as bad at what it’s transpired and some weeks we’ve been quite close and other weeks we’ve been a million miles away so for everything to come together tonight, the little bit of luck that we needed, the work-rate, the communication, the desire, I’m just over the moon for the boys to get that first one because it’s a bit of a monkey of your back, so it’s good.

“I think any team that’s 1-0 up playing against a very, very good Sevenoaks side, it’s going to be all hands to the deck trying to keep the ball out of the box and I actually thought Sevenoaks were really effective when they did just put the ball in the box.

“I thought we were relatively comfortable when they were playing it around in the first half. It was the balls into the box that we’re causing us a few problems.

“I suppose if you look at it there were elements of an old Corinthian side and it’s been strange for us trying to mould together this brand new side in the way that they want to and need to play, to get out ideas of what we want and what we expect from a team so that’s probably taken us a little bit longer to achieve than what we maybe wanted.”

When asked what was missing from his side, which appears to be over reliant on Gondah, Hudson replied: “A lot! You probably haven’t got enough time to cover it!  Tempo, movement, decision making, it will take a long time to go through it.  We’re rather disappointed and we have to make some changes.”

Sevenoaks Town created their first opening inside the opening 13 minutes when left-back Karn Miller-Neave delivered a deep free-kick from the right channel for Bamba to steer his free header straight into Daniel Colmer’s gloves at the near post.

Sevenoaks Town’s most promising moves were when they went more direct and they created a clear-cut chance via this method in the 20^th minute.

Centre-half Matthew Wearie hit a long ball forward, the ball was cleared out to striker Freddie Parker, who twisted and turned inside the box before dragging a poor shot across the face of goal.

Bradley Wilson latched onto the ball and his low shot from six-yards was blocked by the legs of the Corinthian goalkeeper.

“I thought it was a good opportunity but we didn’t create enough of them today,” said Hudson.

“There were spaces to go around them and we didn’t see it until too late really.  It dropped to Brad and I thought he was going to put it in.  I’m not going to lie, but the keeper done well with a good safe, definitely.”

Golding added: “Freddie Parker is a great player for this level and you look at their whole side, I was really impressed with their number four (Emmanuel Mensah) tonight, I thought he was one of the best players on the pitch, he made everything happen so he’s a great little player.

“Dan Colmer’s been getting better and better each week and that’s absolutely full credit to Peter Burke, the goalie coach and Deren Ibrahim does his little bits on a Thursday with him.

“I think at the start of the season Dan was adjusting to the level and he’s never played consistently at first-team level and he was probably making a mistake a game and when your goalkeeper is making mistakes they often end up in goals but now he’s still not perfect and he’s still got a lot to do but certainly there’s more confidence in Dan’s ability as a goalkeeper and he’s got all the attributes to be very, very good.”

Corinthian’s best moments in attack came from set-pieces with Oscar Housego’s deliveries mainly on the money.

“I thought Oscar’s set-pieces tonight were a real threat,” said Golding.

“I thought we looked good from those and I thought we probably could have had one, if not two more.  We didn’t deserve more but we’ve had opportunities to do so.”

Corinthian won the corner-count 8-7 and Housego’s third corner, from the left, was met at the back post by centre-half James Billings, which he rose to steer over the crossbar in the 25^th minute.

Sevenoaks Town’s centre-half Lexus Beeden released Bamba charging down the left wing and after cutting into the box he played the ball into Parker, who swept the ball out to Oluwadamio Olorunnisomo.

The right-back drilled a shot across the face of goal and the ball rebounded off the hapless Parker and looped over the crossbar.

Corinthian’s next chance naturally came from a set-piece.

Housego’s right-footed free-kick from close to the edge of the penalty area was flicked on at the near post by Billings. 

His centre-defensive partner Harry Sargent recycled the ball back into the box from close to the left touchline and right-back Daniel Correra Lopes steered his header past the right-post.

Miller-Neave released Bamba down the left and after cutting into his box his drilled low angled drive was pushed away by Colmer diving low to his left and diminutive left-wing-back Andre Thompson-Fearon cleared his lines.

Sevenoaks Town missed a decent chance on the stroke of half-time through direct play.

Wearie clipped a long ball down the right channel to release Wilson, who took a touch and put over a decent cross for Parker to nip in front of Lopes to steer his free-header past the left-hand post.

“It was slightly ahead of him.  That was where we got the most success in the first half, was to go around the opposition and when we did that we looked like we could create stuff but it was few and far between,” added Hudson.

Golding added: “They had a couple of chances just before half-time when they got in behind us.  We defended not as well as what we should do. I suppose their half chances for Sevenoaks. When you’ve got players of their quality, you always know they’re going to get some opportunities.”

The small derby night crowd of 110 wanted more excitement in the second half.

“We changed shape to try to be more effective against their block and we said to the boys Corinthian are going to go direct so you have to deal with the first ball well and the second ball well then we’ll be ok and we didn’t really do that today,” admitted Hudson.

“Too many times their goalie can smash it 80-90 yards and it gets territory for them, or a throw-in or a corner and if it was going to be their game today, it wasn’t going to be our game and unfortunately that was the case.”

Golding added: “It was very similar to the Chatham game in terms of how it was playing out, in terms of they dominated the ball, which we were quite happy with.

“Paul Sawyer (assistant manager) does quite a lot of the chat at half-time and my bit was just about doing jobs and ensuring that when we get set-pieces that we are a threat because I thought that was going to be our way in tonight because I felt we had the upper hand in terms of set-pieces.”

Sevenoaks Town changed formation during the early exchanges of the second half with Bentley Graham dropping to sit in front of the back four, with Daniel Hector coming off the bench to play wide right with Kyle De Silva wide left with Parker in the centre.

However, Corinthian’s defence – with Billings outstanding – were resilient and withstood everything that Sevenoaks Town could throw at them.

This dull game sprung into life as soon as Corinthian grabbed the lead with 11 minutes and 17 seconds into the second half.

Jack Beerling’s fourth of seven long throws was looped into the penalty area where Sargent flicked the ball on and the ball fell to Davey, who found a pocket of space in the box to hook his half-volley past Tyler McCarthy into the far corner from 10-yards.

Golding said: “Jack’s still at school, he’s come in and he’s played every position other than goalkeeper for us this season. He’s come from Cray Valley, he’s an unbelievable kid and he’s got a hell of a lot of talent and he’s got a long throw, which is something that we’ve been asking for years and years.  It’s just a threat and Steve King at Deal would love that.  Every time you’ve got a long throw you’re always in the game and it gives you an opportunity.

“The first contact wasn’t great, it hit their player but Sargent’s put it back into and area and Brandon’s popped up. I’ve criticised Brandon a hell of a lot this year, I’ve been on his case. He’s one of the three boys that stayed on from last year and I just need him to step up and I’m on him more than anyone else so I’m absolutely over the moon for him to get the winning goal tonight.”

Hudson added: “It was going to be a set-play if it was going to be anything and it was and that was what happened.

“It was a second phase. It wasn’t a flick on and directly from it but it went over one of our players, it hit someone else, it ricochets and it fell to them.  If we’re honest, we didn’t defend those situations well today at all and ultimately one of them was going to drop.”

Corinthian’s unpaid players seemed to want it more, even more so they now had a rare lead to protect and put their bodies on the line and it was a traditional Corinthian performance.

Hudson said: “I agree yes.  Their ability to manage the game was very good.  The ability to buy free-kicks and to get across the official was more effective than ours was and the longer the game was slowed down and was bitty, it was going to work in their favour and not in ours and I don’t think the official helped in that regard.

“I agree.  I thought they looked like they had more desire than us the longer the game went on and it played into their hands so it’s not a good evening for us.”

Golding added: “It’s just that belief.  When we’ve been good in games and we were very good for 35 minutes (during our 1-0 home defeat to Burgess Hill Town at the weekend) but it’s been bits and pieces and then all off a sudden you’ve scored a goal, which we haven’t scored a league goal since August and there is something for us to fight for and we’re not just waiting for the other team to score a winner, or a lack of concentration or a mistake.  It gave the boys something to hold on for.”

Housego’s free-kick was cleared out to Davey, who slipped a ten-yard pass to Joshua Leach but the centre-half lacked composure and chipped his shot straight into the hands of the untroubled McCarthy.

Corinthian took 66 minutes to attempt to score from open play as Davey scuffed a poor shot into the artificial turf some 30-yards from goal and was never going to trouble the former Ashford United goalkeeper.

Corinthian nearly doubled their lead at the half way mark when Housego stroked a right-footed free-kick towards the top left-hand corner from 30-yards, only for the ball to kiss the top of the crossbar and drop behind for a goal-kick.

Golding was full of praise for Housego, who has stayed loyal to the club along with Davey and Billings.

“Oscar’s stayed loyal to us and I’ve got full credit to him because it’s not going to be an easy season and he could’ve jumped ship with the others but he’s stuck it out and I’ve got a lot of time and respect for Oscar.  He’s taken on the captain’s role this year and he’s leading from the front.”

Hudson added: “Tyler said he had it covered. I think it dipped last minute. I didn’t think it was going to challenge him.”

Corinthian wasted a glorious chance to kill the game off when Housego’s right-wing corner was hit deep and Sargent came up from the back to smack a volley over the crossbar.

“Yes, I think he’s got to score.  I think he’s got to head it and score.  It’s inside the six-yard box. If I’m being ultra-critical he’s got to go with his head and score.  He probably could have, should have come away with two goals tonight,” said Golding.

Corinthian goalkeeper Colmer then pulled off a double save to frustrate Sevenoaks Town further in the final 13 minutes.

Once again, Wearie hit a long ball out of defence down the right channel, Miller-Neave cut the ball back to De Silva, who cut inside and unleashed a 30-yard piledriver, which Colmer treated like a hot potato and spilt but he got his body in the way to ensure Parker’s follow-up shot looped over the crossbar.

“We had a lot of possession, which was in our favour but that was their game plan (to sit back and be resilient in defence) so I didn’t think we did enough with it,” admitted Hudson.

“Listen, in other games this year I’ve bemoaned our luck, there might be a bit of that tonight but we didn’t knock on the door enough to really question Corinthian.

“There was a parry later on and it’s dropped and it’s not quite.  I’ve bemoaned our luck when we’ve played well but tonight we didn’t play well, therefore we didn’t deserve anything from the game.”

Golding added: “I thought that was Dan’s one mistake of the evening. He got some nice shape on it from the shot but he’s got to catch it and when he hasn’t then he got up and I suppose that’s our little bit of luck tonight that we’ve maybe been lacking and when things have been going against you and you don’t get that rub of the green, the recovery from Dan was good.”

Corinthian hit the home side on the counter-attack when Beerling’s ball over the top skimmed off Miller-Neave’s head in midfield and substitute striker Oladapo Michael Olatunji cut onto his right-foot and his 25-yard drive deflected off a pressing Emmanuel Mensah and curled around the far corner.

The home side were getting frustrated the longer the game was going on and assistant manager Mark Dacey (who was sitting on a black plastic stool on the corner of the home technical area) said too much to assistant referee Christopher Stobart, who called over referee Billy Woods, who pulled out a red-card (43:48).

The referee had earlier warned Hudson about his conduct so it was hardly surprising.

Hudson threw the physically strong Beeden up from centre-half to an emergency target man in a bid to snatch an equaliser during the later stages of the game and he had his big moment with 47:19 on the clock.

Showing silky skills to weave his way into the Corinthian box he poked his right-footed shot rolling across the keeper, only for the ball to bounce against the foot of the far post and Corinthian put several bodies on the line to ensure they survived the goal-mouth scramble.

The desperate Sevenoaks bench claimed to assistant referee Christopher Stobart that the ball had crossed the line, it was one of those nights for the home side.

“I thought it was in, some people said it hit the stanchion, the corner of the goal, I didn’t see it well enough,” said Hudson.

“When he slid in I thought it was going to be a goal.  Although we could’ve nicked a goal from it, although there were goal line scrambles, although this didn’t fall for us we ultimately didn’t deserve points from the game, so I’m not going to bemoan our luck because I think we need to be doing a lot more to earn the rub of the green to earn the luck.”

Golding added: “I think Jamie Billings cleared two off the line as well.

“As pretty as they are when they had the big lad up front (Beeden) and Freddie Parker and they’re hitting diags into the box, they’re a real threat and then all off a sudden the movement off that was alright as well, which I know it’s not their natural game plan.

“Listen, we’re going to have to defend for our lives and when you go 1-0 up and you’ve got one point from eight games and you’re getting deeper and deeper and I’m just surprised we weren’t defending on the six-yard box for the last 10 minutes and Paul’s going mad on the side trying to drive us forward.”

McCarthy came up for a couple of late corners but the goalkeeper volleyed his shot past the near post after Miller-Neave put in a great corner from the right and with 54:30 now showing on the clock, referee Woods blew for time.

Tensions spilled over at the final whistle with both dug-outs and players exchanging angry words as Sevenoaks Town failed to deliver in a game that they had to win to kick-start their league campaign, especially as their last five outings have been in three cup competitions.

Hudson said: “It’s probably just frustration of the group and where we’re at (in the bottom three) and where we want to be.

“Corinthian have a style and fair play to them, that style won out today, so I’m not going to dispute that or say anything about that.  I think we’re just cutting frustrated figures at this football club because really we’ve been on the large part good this year but tonight was a huge low point, there’s no doubting that.

“We have to be dispatching teams at home and I said to the players’ afterwards there’s going to be changes.”

Golding replied: “I didn’t see the original thing and what I didn’t it to do, we’ve not achieved anything by winning here tonight but other than getting that monkey of our backs.  I didn’t want that to spoil or take away from what the young group of players have done.  I don’t know what it was, I don’t care!”

Both teams had contrasting playing styles and both managers are going to keep playing their way for the rest of the season.

Hudson said: “I dispute that you have to play a certain way to be an Isthmian League side.  I’d like to dispel the myths that you have to be like Corinthian to play at this level.  I know how to win football games by playing football properly, not properly, how I believe football should be played and I’ve always had results in my career of doing that so no I wouldn’t start to do other stuff.

“We should be trying to develop young players and build them a platform where they can go up the levels and play football the right way, or the way I think it should be played.  I’m not saying (Corinthian’s style) it’s wrong or not the right way, I’m just saying that it’s not the way I believe that non-league should just be like that because I think there’s a lot of talented young players coming through now that maybe get lost to the game because the ball’s in the air for 90 minutes.”

Golding, meanwhile, defended his style, one that relies on set-pieces, especially as one sealed the deal here tonight.

“We always want to create chances. I couldn’t care less if we win 1-0 for the rest of the season and it’s from a long-throw, a free-kick or a corner, that doesn’t bother me, I’ll take the chances as they come.

“I think when you come to Sevenoaks, if you think you can come here and be expansive, particularly the side we are and the start that we’ve had, we could’ve come here and tried to play and have a 4-3-3 formation and be expansive and high up the pitch and they would’ve passed it around us.

“We found a weakness in their armoury tonight and we exploited that and scored a goal from it.  I couldn’t care less how the goals come, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. It’s a results business.”

Both sides are away from home at the weekend with Sevenoaks Town travelling to newly-promoted side Sheppey United, while Corinthian travel to leaders Ramsgate.

The pressure is now on Hudson to turn around Sevenoaks Town’s fortunes, a club that is well-backed financially and expected to be challenging for promotion come the end of the season.

He said: “I don’t think anyone expected us to be in a relegation battle and we won’t be, we’re too good, well, you have to win games and we have four points from six games which is unacceptable and it puts us own the bottom of the league.  I don’t expect us to be a in a relegation battle this year but there’s expectation and ultimately we have to start turning performances into points, which we haven’t done.

“We need to be better of combating what other teams are going to come here and do to us.  We just have to lick our wounds and have to re-group and have to go again.

“We’ve got an incredible amount of games in a short space of time with very little chance to train so we have to get to work and we have to be a lot more resilient than what we were because it’s not landing for us and it doesn’t look like we’re going to keep a clean sheet and that’s a recipe for losing football games, that’s for sure.”

Sevenoaks Town: Tyler McCarthy, Oluwadamio Olorunnisomo (Theophilus Lukyamuzi 65), Karn Miller-Neave, Emmanuel Mensah, Matthew Wearie, Lexus Beeden, Bradley Wilson (Samuel Johnson 59), Bentley Graham, Freddie Parker, Yahaya Bamba (Daniel Hector 53), Kyle De Silva.
Sub: Reginald Rose

Booked: Lexus Beeden 13, Matthew Wearie 67, Bentley Graham 87, Karn Miller-Neave 89

Sent Off: Mark Dacey 89 (assistant manager)

Corinthian: Daniel Colmer, Daniel Correra Lopes, Andre Thompson-Fearon, Harry Sargent, James Billings, Joshua Leach, Brandon Davey, Jedd Smith (Joel Flavien Howard 90), Daniel Pepple (Oladapo Michael Olatunji 65), Oscar Housego, Jack Beerling.
Subs: Festos Kamara, Tianni Wilson, Harry Lashley

Goal: Brandon Davey 57

Attendance: 110
Referee: Mr Billy Woods
Assistants: Mr Christopher Stobart & Stephen Ryan