Two early goals settled this game between the runaway league leaders and a Casuals side that has been struggling with form and results in recent weeks.

Casuals players arrived at Dempsey Road in relative silence but started brightly against a subdued SCC.  With Neil and Tom up front pressuring the full backs and Greg and Ross on the flanks limiting ball to the wide men, Casuals restricted a source of danger which has caused difficulties in previous matches against SCC.

After ten minutes, Jamie found space to control a bouncing ball in the middle of the Casuals half and lofted a pass over the high SCC back-line for Tom to run on to, bring under his spell like an ageing Harry Potter, set himself with a touch of the head, a nudge of the knee and WALLLOP! An exocet unleased from the right boot leaving the keeper rooted. (There has to be some benefit to writing the match report.)

Five minutes later a ball up the line gave Neil time to work a cross which, after a clever run from Paul, found Jamie in enough space on the edge of the box to deliver a swerving volley into the far corner of the net.  Jamie has lost his great goalscoring ability from a couple of seasons ago and it appears he has settled for being a scorer of (very occasional) great goals.

With Casuals 2-0 up, SCC began to take more control of the game, but dogged defending ensured Casuals did not concede for the remainder of the half, Neil in goal not being seriously tested.

The second period bore a different complexion to the first with the Casuals happy to sit deeper and absorb the SCC attacks.  It was not football for the purists, but a combination of excellent defending and uncharacteristically poor crossing and shooting from SCC enabled Casuals to see out the game reasonably comfortably, Neil being rarely troubled until having to tip one late effort onto the crossbar.

It needs a good performance from the entire squad to beat SCC and that is what Casuals had.  Particular mention goes to Ross who kept the left winger's crossing to a minimum and Huw who, cutting the unnecessary fouls from his game, looked assured and imposing.  Owain, who doesn't appear to feel pressure, played with his customary composure and Mad Dave shackled Hutch effectively throughout (Mad Dave vs Hutch is always worthy of the entrance fee alone).  However, man of the match goes to Jamie who made one, scored one and gave the Casuals midfield a solidity that has been missing of late.  Twisting his knee during a sliding challenge in the second half meant he left the field in considerable pain and we all hope the injury is not as serious as it looks.

Let us hope this victory will instill some belief in the Casuals who can go on to finish the season strongly.