Corinthian-Casuals 2-1 Kingstonian
TOO CASUAL

Just five months ago, Mick Brady led K's to an historic Surrey Cup final win but it is probably for the best that the former skipper did not have to watch the debacle that was Kingstonian's exit from this year's competition. In that match, Brady alone showed more desire and commitment than the whole K's team did today as they surrendered their Surrey Cup in the tamest manner imaginable.

After taking the lead a quarter of the way through the game, K's strolled through the rest of it as if winning were their divine right. When the home side equalised, and then scored the winner fourteen minutes from time, K's were totally unable to react.

Corinthian-Casuals showed heart and played well. They should not be underestimated or denied credit for their win - their first in a cup competition since November 2002. However, teams do not end up bottom of the league for no reason. They are a side K's should have beaten if they were even close to the level of performance that saw them through last year's competition and the manner of their failure was especially inexcusable.

On a cold night in front of a sparse crowd, the game started at a slow tempo and never really picked up. Alarm bells may have rung when Luke Garrard had to scramble an early shot off the line but midway through the half Danny Morris gave the visitors even more excuse to be complacent. His trademark quick feet saw him take the ball past Harry Holloway and from a tight angle he placed the ball perfectly across goalkeeper Dave Tidy and into the far corner.

A goal up, K's lifted off the gas like Rubens Barrichello in Austria 2002. Mazin Ahmad skimmed the crossbar with a free kick but there seemed to be little desire to attack more or finish the game off. By half-time the scores were level. Garrard dropped a cross from the left, the ball was turned back into the six yard box and Holloway had an easy finish.

Holloway made another contribution just before the break, blocking a Lodge drive after Morris and Tony Reid had linked up superbly to give the winger a chance. K's again came close just after the break, but Scott Corbett's header was cleared off the line and he blasted the follow-up against the bar.

Kane Sargeant fired a 20-yarder over the top and then K's substitute Martyn Lee came even closer from the same distance, brushing the post.

Kingstonian continued to look lacklustre though and soon their embarrassing disciplinary record reared its ugly head again. A through ball caught the defence hopelessly flat-footed and a Steve Symes professional foul was all that prevented Casuals having a free shot at goal. He got his third red card of the season for his troubles - but needn't have bothered, as Sargeant's free kick went straight through the shambolic wall and past Garrard.

2-1 down, K's looked short of effort and ideas. Steve Potterill fired over from 30 yards and a Morris header hit the top of the crossbar, but in truth the visitors never looked like scoring.

It was one of the worst performances in recent history for K's and they got just what they deserved. Out of all cups K's can now, as the cliche goes, concentrate on the league. If there are more performances as tame as this one though, they'll need to concentrate damn hard. The pressure is on at Kingstonian.