Phoenix Sports 2-2 Corinthian - The most important thing for me was we wanted to fight and where we are, if you don't fight, you're not going to pick up any points, says proud Corinthian boss Keith McMahon

Phoenix Sports 2 – 2 Corinthian
Location	Mayplace Ground, Mayplace Road East, Barnehurst, Kent DA7 6JT
Kickoff	03/10/2025 19:45

PHOENIX SPORTS  2-2  CORINTHIAN
Presence & Co Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Friday 3 October 2025
Stephen McCartney reports from Mayplace Road East

CORINTHIAN manager Keith McMahon says he was feeling proud of his young side for showing fight but was absolutely frustrated with the two controversial late goals that Phoenix Sports scored to grab a point.
 

Corinthian made the short trip to Bexleyheath on a run of one win in nine but they showed glimpses that they can claw themselves out of relegation trouble in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division after making Phoenix Sports look very ordinary.

Corinthian remain in the bottom three in the ninth-tier League with six points (one win, three draws) from their 11 games, while Phoenix Sports have moved up one spot in eleventh-place with 16 points (four wins, four draws and four defeats), three points adrift of the play-off zone following this stalemate.

A direct Corinthian side raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 21 minutes, courtesy of a Jake Goodman headed own-goal and the impressive Tom Mitcham, 19, who scored his 11^th goal of the season.

However, Phoenix Sports scored twice inside the final 13 minutes, courtesy of two controversial goals from centre-halves Ahkeem Belford and Jensen Grant, on a wet and windy Friday night.

Phoenix Sports’ player-manager Goodman said: “Frustrated, yes, really, really frustrated. We lost focus, I believe, in the first half with stuff that is out of our control and we were worried about those things, instead of focusing on what we can control in terms of our structure, our shape, the way of wanting to play.

“We came away from that so that was something that we had to address at half-time, to make sure that everyone was on the same page and understand what we wanted.

“It was very tough, very tough (out there) but it’s the same for both teams.  Upon reflection, could we have changed the way we dealt with it? In terms of maybe being 10 yards high because the ball would have just flown through. Again, these are all hindsight’s now. It’s happened. Both teams had to deal with it but most important thing is we came back out in the second half and we looked like the only team to win.”

McMahon delayed the post-match press conference so he could spend five minutes in the officials’ dressing room before emerging and claiming, “I think the officials cost us two goals, if I’m honest.

“Look, the team fought unbelievable for, well nearly 100 minutes at the end, obviously in bad conditions, against the wind in the second half. I thought we limited them really massively.

“There were two major turning points and I’ve spoken to him in there. I can’t make any excuse for the first goal, when he (the referee) said he didn’t think it was offside, even though the lino gave it.

“But the head injury, where he’s clearly headed our player in the box and he’s laying in the box as the ball’s ricocheting in and out of the penalty box, it’s player safety and I think that’s just cost us three points!

“We’re a brand new side, we’re working hard for each other and they deserve something tonight, so we just said to the lads, I’m proud as punch for them but they deserved more than what they got.”

Corinthian were without seven players, including goalkeeper Tom Crump (away), Alli Abduliah (hamstring), Gurpreet Benning (ankle ligaments) Toni Johnson (twisted knee), Noah Joyce (ankle ligaments) and Charlie Wright (hamstring).

Corinthian set the tone of what was to come, calling 35-year-old goalkeeper Sam Freeman into making his first save after only five seconds.

Corinthian kicked off and centre-back Jamie Billings tried to score from the centre-spot, drilling a right-footed shot which bounced in front of Freeman, who dived to his left to push towards safety.

“I don’t think any manager or player likes playing in a gale force wind! It’s tough. We are a really young side that’s struggling for points but are playing well,” said McMahon.

“I went out there in the warm up and I said to the lads, look everyone knows the pitch at the Farm (Gay Dawn Farm) is like a carpet and it was blowing an 80 mile per hour gale.

“I said shoot from the half-way line. If one of my players would’ve done it in a normal game, I would’ve been going mad but we nearly scored, that was how mad it was!

“Sometimes in football, you find a way to win and you’re going to play conditions and we knew if we could battle, they would struggle a little bit.

“I didn’t think they had too much of a Plan B and we showed that we can play. 

“More important for me was that we wanted to fight and where we are (in the table), if you don’t fight, you’re not going to pick up any points and away from home, would I have said I’d take a point? Maybe. After 90 minutes? No!”

Goodman admitted: “I think we all struggled (with the wind).  Sam is honest enough, he’s been round the blocks for so many years.

“The ball travelled a bit extra quicker, as soon as it was coming towards you, it felt like it was shooting at the last second but it was the same for both teams.

“It’s obviously their sort of style, which again, there’s nothing wrong with it. For us that isn’t going to help us in the way we play and the way we wanted to play, so we didn’t really want to use that and I didn’t want to go to that. I want us to try and play and try to move the ball and play and create overloads.”

However, in the Southern Counties East Football League, teams that want to be successful have to adapt to the pitch and other conditions, such as other teams raising their games against them, otherwise a swift return to the Isthmian League will not happen! Just ask Kevin Hake at Chatham Town, Marcel Nimani (now manager of Sevenoaks Town) at Sheppey United and Tommy Warrilow at Faversham Town – this is one of the hardest League’s in the entire country to get out of!

Phoenix Sports hit Corinthian on the counter-attack with attacking midfielder William Efambe releasing seven-goal striker Jerson Dos Santos, whose left-footed shot from 25-yards trickled past the foot of the left-hand post after 195 seconds into the game.

“I said it in there, I felt both boxes, we weren’t at our best today but we still scored two goals. We still looked the team likely to score but today both boxes, wasn’t good enough,” admitted Goodman.

McMahon added: “I think they moved the ball with pace. They’ve got some pace but they got down the side and gave us a bit of grief but I just think we kept our shape well.  I think we limited them if I’m being honest.

“I don’t think they were expecting the way we played and we changed our game when we got here with the conditions and I don’t think they did and I thought we played it better than them.”

Freeman was struggling in the stormy conditions and was called into action again (5:02).

Freeman lined up a three-man wall and Jamie Billings stroked a left-footed free-kick towards goal from 30-yards, the ball bouncing in front of the keeper again, who pushed the ball towards safety.

Belford launched the first of his three long throws into the Corinthian box from the right. Dos Santos laid the ball off short to Efambe, whose first time drive deflected past the foot of the left-hand post from 18-yards.

A long ball out of Phoenix Sports’ defence by Grant was latched onto by Dos Santos down the right-channel (as he got in behind Jamie Billings) but his right-footed angled half-volley flashed past the far post, as both sides deployed a direct style of football in awful conditions.

Corinthian deserved their lead when it arrived with 16 minutes and 46 seconds on the clock, following their first of six corners.

Alexander Jack Billings swung in a quality delivery in from the left and Goodman headed the ball into his own goal at the near-post from inside the six-yard box.

“Listen, it’s hard for any defender but you might’ve seen me in the warm-up.  We changed our corners in the wind and I said send it out eight yards and fire it in and they won’t be able to defend it and that’s what we’ve done,” said McMahon.

“Jack’s put in a couple of brilliant corners and obviously (Jake’s) unfortunate but it only needed a touch from anyone. It might’ve even flown in itself, so yes, a good start from us.”

Goodman added: “The own goal. Difficult. The wind takes it. It is what it is. Just one of those things but until I look at the veo, I can’t….

Goodman also praised Corinthian on their performance tonight.

“I think they (Corinthian) played the conditions really well, of course. I’ve said it before, everyone wants to come here and do well and they put a real, real good account of themselves, which I expected, to be fair.

“They’ve been in games, they’ve had a few results that they probably didn’t wanted but today they were excellent, they were really good and they ran hard, they worked hard, so credit to them.”

Corinthian doubled their lead with 20 minutes and 12 seconds on the clock, when Phoenix Sports winger Harry Barnes was cautioned for bringing down Jamie Billings about 10 yards from the halfway line.

Jamie Billings swept in a deep left-footed free-kick into the box, Goodman knocked the ball inside his own penalty area with his head and the ball bounced off Freeman and fell at Mitcham, who placed his clinical left-footed shot into the back of the net and the goal was awarded after referee Oliver Storey went over to assistant referee Jerry Onyeka Nnamani.

“I think, again, that came off Jake. He’s flicked it and Tom’s done what Tom’s done. He’s followed up,” said McMahon, who is delighted with Mitcham’s breakthrough season.

“The lad’s been brilliant for us. I think that’s his 11^th goal for us.  He’s playing with a hamstring injury as well to be fair, as you could see the last five or 10 minutes.

“He’s good in the box. He knows his strengths, he works hard, he’s a young kid and I think if he stays with us, which he will stay with us all year, we’ll push him on because once he learns other parts of the game, he’ll do exceptionally well.”

Goodman admitted he felt his side could fight their way back into the game.

“I’m still confident. We were worrying about other factors that we couldn’t control. We have to worry about what we want to do and how we want to play and our style. We worry about that and focus on the performance first, the results will come.”

Corinthian were playing on the front foot during the first half and were showing plenty more desire than a Phoenix Sports side that are harbouring promotion aspirations after losing their Isthmian League status last season.

Phoenix Sports created an opening on the stroke of half-time when holding midfielder Martin Youngah put in a right-footed cross, which was headed away and Lyle Della-Verde cut onto his left-foot (pressed on the edge of the box by Kieran King) and his shot rolled past the foot of the left-hand post.

“We had chances but I felt it was the final pass, it was the final shot, we were dragging it. We wasn’t hitting our stride,” said Goodman.

“It’s minor details where maybe it should’ve been a pass or should’ve shot or a different type of movement.

“We were focused on the things we can’t control and we were rushing to try to get back into the game and that’s where anxiety builds.”

There was still time for Dos Santos being guilty of handball inside the Corinthian half and Jamie Billings drilling a left-footed free-kick straight down Freeman’s throat, punching the ball towards safety before an offside flag was raised.

Both manager’s gave their thoughts at the interval, with Corinthian well deserving of their two-goal advantage.

Goodman, who has brought in James Marrs and Luke Johnson into his management team, said: “To stick to the instruction and the plan and the style, the way we want to play. We do that and we concentrate on the performance, before the result.  Focus on that and we’ve got a platform to build from. We stuck to the structure, we stick to the plan.

McMahon added: “Listen, I just said ‘look, great work-rate.’   I said for 35 minutes, I thought we stepped off for the last 10. I said we need to fight, show some character now and what you’re mad off.

“When you go out there, against the wind, you’ve got to battle, battle and battle and if you want three points, you’ve got to work your absolute (socks) off to get it.  Every single one of us and we’ve got to stick together – and they did.”

Phoenix Sports kicked off and created a good chance to pull a goal back after only 22 seconds into the second half.

Grant launched a long ball down the line, left-wing-back Ben Morrison chested the ball down before cutting into the box and Corinthian centre-half Caleb Afoke came across to narrow the angle and slid in and visiting keeper Toby Waller made a low block to his left at his near-post.

“So we knew we had to come out fast, maybe sometimes it easier because you know what you have to do.  When it’s 0-0, there’s a different mindset. When you’re 2-0 down, the mindset is we have to chase and that forces you to be on the front foot to start with intensity and it gives us an easy objective,” said Goodman.

McMahon added: “That was the chance, literally the first minute. I thought Toby saved it. I don’t think Caleb made the block. I think Toby got a foot to it, so that was the warning and then we went into gear.”

Freeman made a superb save to prevent Corinthian scoring their third goal at the half-way mark.

Freeman’s goal-kick was intended for a high right-wing-back Jerald Aboagye but the ball was intercepted by Corinthian’s left-wing-back Fletcher Carnell-Davis, who drove down the line, cut into the box and drilling a left-footed shot towards the roof of the net, which Freeman palmed the ball up above his head before flicking the ball over his crossbar as it dropped.

“I’ve got to give this kid so much credit. I’ve known Fletcher for years. He’s come through the ranks here at Phoenix and no one’s really given him a chance in the first team here,” revealed McMahon.

“He’s come with me and he was with me when I was here for a short period of time.

“He’s had a couple of weeks when he’s not made the squad (at Corinthian this season) and he’s been training and we kept saying to him ‘concentrate on you’.  He wants to be a jack-the-lad, laughing about, which is lovely but he needed to get his head down.

“The one thing with him, he doesn’t know his position. He’s a young kid, who thinks he’s wide left.  Young Charlie Wright, the left-back, he’s been injured for the last couple of weeks and we’ve thrown Fletcher in against Snodland and he done well and then today.

“He’s got great set-plays, he’s got a great left foot and he’s got a great strike and he keeps getting into positions without shooting and today he’s hit one and to be fair it was a half-decent save because it was moving!”

Goodman was delighted that his goalkeeper put in a vastly improved performance during the second half.

“Sam was massive in the second half, really good save to keep it at 2-0. Obviously, if it goes three, we’ve got a massive mountain to climb, so when we needed him, he stood up and was counted.”

Freeman struggled again from the resulting left-wing-corner, swung in by Alexander Jack Billings and Ernie Chesseman’s initial shot was blocked, there was a scramble on the line and Mitcham blazed his shot over.

The 70^th minute introduction of Phoenix Sports’ winger, Harry Smart, changed the momentum of the game and he impressed down the left.

“I’ve known Harry for a couple of years’ now. As soon as I came in at the start of the season, I knew he was someone I wanted to bring in.” revealed Goodman.

“His way of playing, I think is a joy to watch and he’s very coachable, which is the most important thing and I believe with a bit of time, with the personnel in terms of our management side around him, I believe he will flourish and go on to bigger and better things.”

Stocky Corinthian centre-half Afoke was penalised for fouling Dos Santos and Waller lined up a four-man wall before comfortably catching at head height, the resulting 28-yard central free-kick from ineffective Phoenix Sports central midfielder Lyle Della-Verde in the 72^nd minute.

Goodman said: “At least it’s on target! We tested him. Always in that position, Lyle with his quality, he’s always going to have a strike, which I want him to do. I want him to be brave, I want him to express himself.”

McMahon added: “I think a bit like ours; we told them to ping it along the door and see what happens. I think he went for a worldie and it was comfortable, wasn’t it?

“We’ve got Tommy Crump, whose been on holiday and Toby’s been in and out, patient as well.  He’s a young keeper, made a couple of mistakes but keeper’s do unfortunately and he kicks the ball well and his attitude is 100% unbelievable.

“He’s played the last three games and done well, so he deserved his chance and today I actually thought that was the most accomplished game he’s had. On the ball, the way he positioned himself and he didn’t panic and young lads panic sometimes, get carried away and that’s something he has to learn. I thought he was excellent tonight.”

Goodman was causing his usual aerial threat at set-pieces inside the Corinthian penalty area and Della-Verde drove a left-footed drive which deflected past the left-hand post from 35-yards and assistant referee Jerry Onyeke Nnamni raised an offside flag, which was ignored by referee Oliver Storey who awarded the home side a corner instead.

Smart swung the ball in from the left with quality and Belford jumped up within a crowd of players and steered his header across Waller and into the far corner, to pull a goal back with 31 minutes and 52 seconds on the clock.

When Goodman was told that McMahon wasn’t happy with both of his side’s goals tonight, Goodman replied, “Again, that’s his opinion, that’s his opinion. We could both argue on certain things, with certain decisions the referee made but again, that’s a factor we can’t control and I don’t want us to focus on that.

“We got the corner, we have to keep our emotions cool and control what we can control.”

A furious McMahon claimed: “The goal should’ve been offside before the corner! The lino’s gave it, the referee’s over-ruled him and sods law, they score from it, so not much more you can do about it.”

Phoenix Sports were now playing on the front foot and it was inevitable that a struggling and naïve young Corinthian team would cave in and concede a second goal – because they lacked game management experience to see this game out.

“We did try to slow it down as much. Don’t forget when the goalkeeper’s got the ball, he’s only got eight seconds when it’s in his hands. They’re being really strict, even when the ball goes off,” explained McMahon.

“We done a little bit of a moody, making him go down injured (goalkeeper Waller in the 55^th minute) but when we had the ball sometimes we went a bit long and we could’ve calmed down a little but and we didn’t but they’re young lads and they’ve got to learn with things and nights like tonight against some of the calibre of players they’ve got, they’re only going to learn.

“You can’t buy experience apart from when you play. You can’t coach that in training – you can tell them – which I thought to be fair they did do it a lot better than we have so I was half-pleased with that.”

The impressive Smart skipped past Corinthian substitute Romaro Williams before skipping past Jerome Wilson’s challenge before flashing a low right-footed drive flashing past the foot of the near-post from 18-yards.

Barnes cracked a right-footed angled drive towards goal, which was parried low to his right by Waller, before the assistant (Nnamani) raised his offside flag again.

McMahon was livid for a second time when Phoenix Sports grabbed an equaliser, timed at 44 minutes and 32 seconds on the clock and Goodman was involved once more, as McMahon’s side were punished, despite having a back six at the time of the leveller.

Belford got in behind and put in a cross from within the left-channel and Goodman rose inside the box and banged into Wilson, who fell to the deck.  With numerous players from both sides inside the box, the ball pinballed around the box and Della-Verde kept the ball alive, the ball then fell to Grant, who swept his right-footed shot across the keeper to find the bottom far corner from the corner of the six-yard box.

Goodman said: “Really good. Again, I know it could’ve been myself scoring but me and the centre-half just bumped into each other and it fell to Jensen and Jensen was in the right place, great control, great finish, nice and early.

“We still had 10 minutes, a bit of quality, better decision making, I believe we get better chances but where we didn’t have that final pass right today, that’s where we probably didn’t really test their goalie.”

A furious McMahon added: “It’s come from a free-kick where young Jerome, whose 18, beat Jake in the air with a brilliant header and Jake’s headed him and he’s down in our six-yard box.

“The ball’s ricochet three times and in and around the box, the referee could’ve stopped it straight away with a head injury, anywhere else.  It was a foul anyway, so they got the rub of the green there. I’m disappointed, that was the most frustrating part.”

Corinthian had one final chance to win it (50:26) when Barnes’ intended square pass towards his central midfielder team-mate Della-Verde was intercepted by Corinthian substitute Akash Santhosh, who drove forward and his weak right-footed shot from 30-yards was comfortably gathered by an untroubled Freeman.

McMahon said: “Also, we could’ve won it when we went through with Akash. He picked the ball up, so it wasn’t like we weren’t going forward but overall, I’m going to wake up in the morning and think we battled and done well.

“Yes, I’m 100% disappointed but it’s one of them.  Two points dropped? Yes it is. It’s on the road but I think it is. I thought we deserved it, just through our work-rate and deserved to win the game and that was it. I thought we wanted to win it more than they did.”

Phoenix Sports missed a glorious chance to snatch the victory with 51:44 on the clock.  The final whistle was blown at 55:20.

Substitute winger Tyler Anderson played the ball along the deck down the outside for Dos Santos to come alive and put it on a plate (with a great cross from the right) for Morrison, who sent his free-header over the crossbar in between the posts just six-yards from goal.

“Could he headed it down? But I’m not criticising. You see it out there, we were the ones on the front foot, we were the ones in the ascendancy to try to win the game.  Ben’s got himself in a great position. Maybe on another day, it goes in,” added Goodman.

“Two points dropped? Difficult to say, difficult to say at this moment, until I watch the veo, until I watch it, I can’t really give an answer.

McMahon added: “They’re pushing forward with the wind. It went over. I think if it’s on target, Toby saves it. It was down the middle.”

Both of these sides are in League action on Tuesday night, with Goodman taking his side to Fisher, while Corinthian are at home in a local derby against Sutton Athletic.

“Eleventh place is not where we want to be but nothing’s won in September and October. We’ve got a lot of points to play for. We know the aim. We know the focus, that’s what we’re going for,” said Goodman.

“Fisher are going to be difficult, they’re a solid side.  They were in the play-offs last season, probably not in a position like ourselves where they think they should be.

“We know we have to go there and we have to put a performance on but we believe in our way and our style. We bring our A game, we can get the three points.”

Reflecting on Corinthian’s league position, McMahon replied: “I’m not complaining. We’ve got youngsters who want to come here, it is what it is. We can’t go out and wave a magic wand and bringing a load of players in.

“We’ve just got to keep going and that’s the most enjoyable part of it. People are here because they want to play for the football club and for me that’s more enjoyable, rather than arguing about a tenner or £50, or £100 or whatever.

“I’ve said to the lads tonight, I think we’ve dropped about eight points and maybe had 14 points by now, like we deserve but football’s not about it. It’s about what you get.

“We’ve got a tough game on Tuesday night but we’re at home. If we show the same quality there, I think we’re good enough to get a result against anyone in this League – we’ve shown it!

“What’s success for Corinthian? You might have to ask the chairman that! I just think getting the youngsters’ educated to play senior football and good enough at this level week-in-week-out and consistently and that’s maybe what lets down is the consistency but if we do that, if we put a run together, we’re not going to be far away, so who knows – but FA Vase would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

McMahon reflected on his managerial return to the club that he has a lot of love for.

“I’ve got unbelievable friends that are in the bar.  When my good friend Stephen House passed away last year, it was difficult for us all. Now with Andrew Mortlock stepping down as chairman, it was hard, so there’s a new regime coming in but I’ve still got friends in the bar.

“I haven’t been down here as much because on Sunday’s it hasn’t been open but listen, it’s a club I grew up in as a kid. My mum and dad worked behind the bar and it’s a club, whatever happens, whoever owns it, I want nothing but the best for it going forward, as a club.”

Phoenix Sports: Sam Freeman, Jerald Aboagye (Tyler Anderson 83), Ben Morrison, Jake Goodman, Jensen Grant, Ahkeem Belford, Harry Barnes, Martin Youngah, Jerson Dos Santos, William Efambe (Harry Smart 70), Lyle Della-Verde.
Subs: Callum Morris, Ellis Procter, Louie Reid Newth

Goals: Ahkeem Belford 77, Jensen Grant 90

Booked: Harry Barnes 20

Corinthian: Toby Waller, Alexander Jack Billings, Fletcher Carnell-Davis, Caleb Afoke (Romaro Williams 73), Jamie Billings, Jerome Wilson, Kieran King, Ernie Cheeseman, Ross Obazee (Akash Santhosh 83), Tom Mitcham, Shawn Jewett-Ricketts.
Subs: Tyrece Drummond, Mugisa Hodasi, Akshar Santhosh

Goals: Jake Goodman 17 (own goal), Tom Mitcham 21

Booked: Caleb Afoke 71, Jamie Billings 90

Attendance: 350
Referee: Mr Oliver Storey
Assistants: & Mr Martin Belsom  & Mr Jerry Onyeka Nnamani
Referee Coach: Mr Darren Blunden