The Sheers arrived at King Georges Field to a pitch like a carpet that you could play a good game on this lush surface and both teams did not falter as they both played an excellent match especially in the first half with the game flowing from end to end.
In the early exchanges the Sheers had to block two Casuals shots with the Sheers York winning a header onto Razza Ajibola who heads a decent chance wide of the Casuals goal. On 10 minutes Sheers Drew Churchwell goes full length to keep out a shot from Bailey-Allen. Although the Sheers had to defend they were a threat on the counter. 17 minutes Drew Churchwell has to get back into the goal to punch clear after the first shot from the Casuals is blocked. 20 minutes Sheers Mekhail McLaughlin moved up into attack and swivels to shoot over the Casuals goal. 24 minutes Casuals no9 Coker gets through the Sheers defence to shoot wide of the target. 26 minutes Sheers York advances along the goal line and tries to chip keeper Baek instead of getting a cross into the box. 37 minutes Sheers Churchwell pulls off another good save to deny No 3 Bond’s volley. A minute later Bond puts through Coker but Sheers Horn is there to block the shot. 29 minutes Sheers Alfie Burton rifles a shot goal wards that brings out an excellent full length save from Baek. 30 minutes a cross from Burton sees McLaughlin up high but heads wide of the Casuals goal. 35 minutes Sheers should have taken the lead with Vaulter feeding York who shoots that keeper Baek can only block and the ball comes out to Vaulter on the penalty spot who smashes the ball over the bar, great chance. Sheers then take the lead with Valter holding up play on the left side before drilling the ball into the area that Razza Ajibola makes no mistake looping the ball into the Casuals net on 36 minutes. Sheers ride their luck to see out the half with the 1 nil advantage.
46 minutes Baek for the Casuals saves from Razza Ajibola’s header after York’s cross into the box. 51 minutes Casual’s no 9 Coker rattles the Sheers crossbar after a free kick out side the Sheers area. Casual’s Sampaio skims the Sheers bar from a back header. Sheers under the cosh as they give away further free kicks and the frustration begins to mount as Casuals can’t find a way through and the Sheers as they hang onto their lead with Sheer determination. On 81 minutes Sheers Alfie Burton is pole axed to the ground in front of both Referee & Assistant. In the confusion the Referee makes no decision to find the culprit (No9) who is already on a yellow card, it could have been red or yellow but the player should not be on the pitch. Sheers Wright heads onto Emeka Okakpu on as a substitute who goes close with the keeper claiming the ball first. On 85 minutes with the Casuals team camped in the Sheers half, the Sheers breakaway with a 3 against I situation that you can only see the Sheers getting a second goal only for the save of the day as the Casual’s no 5 sprints back & makes a challenge that thwarts the promising Sheers attack. In the same minute the Casuals send the ball that is lofted over the top of the Sheers defence and Rafael Barbosa beats Chuchwell with a chip that goes into the Sheers goal. Sheers Foster gets through to shoot but Keeper Baek saves. On 90+5 Casuals get the winner as the ball is threaded through to Scantlebury to run onto, who finds the far corner of the Sheers net that in sighted huge celebrations with the whole casual’s bench running across to the far side of the pitch to join the celebrations. Sheers right at the death have a chance with Foster going for goal only to be hauled back and once again the referee does nothing and the Sheers go home empty handed
Disappointing result but the Sheers battled well on the night against a Casuals side that will be in the top 4 at the end of the season. The match could have changed with the Casual’s down to 10 men in the 81st minute that was also a poor decision from the referee.