"I don’t recall a performance that I’ve been prouder of."
The comments from Corinthian-Casuals fans on social media said it all after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Fleet Town, despite having 10 men for most of the game.
Top scorer Andre Coker was missing for this tough match-up due to suspension after an accumulation of yellow cards.
In stepped Kieron Scantlebury and Patrick Maia to provide the attacking threat on what was a tricky afternoon, weather-wise.
Casuals have no lack of footballing talent; that’s evident to anyone who’s seen Mu Maan’s side.
Always noted by opposition as playing good football, sometimes the side lacked a real drive and tenacity to graft out hard-fought results.
But this felt like a turning point.
Since Scott Day’s arrival, the midfielder has added bite to the centre of the park.
It has freed up Arsenii Protsyshyn to thrive in his role alongside him.
Returning to social media comments, one supporter wrote, "Arsenii and Day in the middle won the battle like a couple of bouncers on a Saturday night."
It’s also no surprise that Casuals have kept three clean sheets in the past four games and not conceded from open play in that time.
The latest of these shutouts was managed with just 10 men for over an hour.
In his post-match interview, Day explained that, "With 10 men, everyone works a little harder."
Casuals were down a man when Diogo Da Silva was uncharacteristically dismissed for violent conduct.
It was deemed that he’d struck a Fleet player on the back in a melee that resulted in the surprising red card.
Despite the handicap, it was the home side who took the lead.
Shea Cascoe-Rogers’ lay-off to Day in the box saw the midfielder curl one over the keeper and under the bar for 1-0.
Then Casuals dug in, battening down the hatches in every sense on a day when even the flags on the far side of the pitch had soddenly given up, sticking damply to their flagpoles.
While Fleet pushed for an equaliser, it was left to Day’s midfield partner, Protsyshyn, to put the game to bed.
Following a Clayton Afonso interception, the defender fed lively substitute George Hockey who kept a cool head to square for an unmarked Protsyshyn to finish.
The steam, the soaking shirts, the mud on the floor of the changing rooms was all evidence of a team that had left everything out on the pitch on a wintry afternoon.
Casuals have fight in them, and it was a message to all sides in the Combined Counties – just like those bouncers on a Saturday night – ‘You ain’t coming in!’
