Ryman League Division One South
Redhill 0 Walton Casuals 1
Walton Casuals picked up their first points of the season on Saturday, defeating a slightly weakened Redhill 1-0 at Kiln Brow.
Gabriel Odunaike's first half goal was enough for Walton Casuals to get off the mark in this season's Ryman League Division One South, as they capitalised on a Redhill side missing Gavin Gordon and Joe Bingham. Jordon Anderson had a header controversially disallowed in stoppage time to deny Redhill a needed point.
This result will do nothing to brighten the mood at Redhill. The thumping 3-0 loss to Carshalton after the euphoria of the cup win against them and this poor showing in the space of less than a week is a worrying sign of another long season for the Lobsters.
Walton Casuals, a side that laid bottom before the off on Saturday came out of the blocks strongly, with Conner French teeing up Esrima Adams for a well hit drive that whistled past Michael Hunter's ear and thankfully for him, his post as well. Yet it provided a stern wake up call for any players who weren't fully alert evidently as Matt Robinson drifted inside, only to see his top-corner bound effort plucked out the air by Hunter's opposing number Luke Badiali.
The visiting side kicked up another response minutes before the 15 minute point as Odunaike rounded Hunter, but hesitated for a split second when thinking about shooting, allowing Redhill's Bradley Duke to make a crucial intervention to clear for a corner. Hunter was called into action once more on a busy afternoon as Casuals midfielder Scott Day tried an ambitious volley from outside the box, leaving the Redhill number one scrambling to gather it on the second attempt.
Javlon Campbell made his first appearance of the season and tried to spark some life into a lacklustre performance taking a pass expertly on his thigh, burning away from the defence, but off balance could only drag his shot wide of Badiali's far post. That being said, it was a good showing of intent.
However, Redhill's resistance was broken just after half an hour, when a long ball forward looked harmless until Odunaike turned on his jets and outfoxed Hunter to open the scoring, leaving the home side scratching their heads for an answer.
Minutes later, Walton Causals had a chance to take a two goal advantage as Derek Safotieku found Adams charging into the box, the long, outstretched leg of Anderson spared the damage to make sure Mike Maher's men had less to worry about going into the break.
Immediately after the break, the hosts were forced onto the back foot once again as French had an effort saved, with Mark Hams' side tail well and truly up after Odunaike's goal. Moments afterwards, Redhill tricked everyone into thinking that the equaliser had arrived with Tyrone Pink rolling a ball into the path of Fiachara McArdle, who beat Badiali, but beat the post as well with the goal at his mercy. It just wouldn't happen for the Lobsters. Duke was doing his very best to keep the scoreboard from ticking over, and showed tremendous passion and courage when Odunaike rounded Hunter twice to give French a wonderful opportunity, and Duke threw himself at the ball to not only knock the wind out of his sails, but to keep the game in sight for his side, receiving rapturous applause from the fans in doing so.
The visitors had another attempt courtesy of French, who was destined not to get on the score sheet, with his curling effort rattling the bar, his body language screamed frustration.
The later exchanges saw Redhill mount a final charge with substitute Jon Difford having a header well tipped over by Badiali from McArdle's corner. McArdle himself had a chance late on from the edge of the box, but his first time strike was acrobatically diverted wide by the Causals 'keeper. Finally, right at the death, Anderson popped up in the 93rd minute in hope of salvaging a point with a fantastic header, only to see James Hurst's flag raised aloft for offside, one of a few decisions that were deemed unfair by Redhill's support, and players.
Herne Bay await Redhill on Tuesday night at Kiln Brow, with three points a must, with the visitors breaking into the top ten, however could this be the result that kick Walton Casuals into a needed run of form?
