Match Preview

Walton Casuals F.C. was founded in July 1948; its early origins can be traced back to members of the Armed Forces who formed a Sunday side playing only friendly fixtures during the 1946/47 season. The club started off in Division 1 of the Surrey Intermediate (Central) League, playing at Elm Grove Recreation Ground, gaining promotion to the Premier Division in 1952/53. In 1994/95 they finished runners-up in the Surrey Premier League and secured their promotion to the Combined Counties League. After team-building in 2003/04 and a big jump up the table to finish in 7th spot, the club took the Combined Counties by storm in 2004/05, finishing a massive 26 points clear at the top of the table. After initially failing an FA ground inspection, Casuals launched a successful appeal and achieved promotion to the Isthmian League Division One for 2005/06, where the club finished their first season at in 15th place.

With Herne Bay having won the Kent League and gaining promotion to the Isthmian Division One South, in November 2012 Casuals were rock bottom of the table, but by February they had moved 10 points clear of relegation but were looking over their shoulder at the rise of Three Bridges. With just nine out of a possible 30 points in their last 10 matches Casuals finished in the solitary relegation position and looked doomed to move back down to the Combined Counties League. They then received a reprieve. After achieving the great escape Casuals took the league by storm in 2013/14 and were top of the table at the end of October. They failed to keep up the momentum and in the next four months won just four league matches from 17 and slid down the table eventually ending in 9th place. For the 2015/16 season Casuals moved out of the Waterside Stadium, their home since 1969, to groundshare with Merstham and for 2016/17 set up a similar arrangement with Whyteleafe. The last three seasons has seen them end in 18th, 16th and 13th positions.

The two teams have met ten times in the Isthmian League with Herne Bay winning four, drawing three and losing three, scoring 21 and conceding 15. We have previously met in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round in October 2016 where a Connor Sanders equaliser earned Bay a replay in front of a season’s low of 117 at Winch’s Field. Bay won the replay 3-2 thanks to a Joe Nelder brace and one from Mark Lovell with an attendance of 44 at Merstham’s Moatside Stadium.

Last campaign both games ended in a draw. Connor Sanders giving Bay the lead at Winch’s Field in November 2016 which was equalised within four minutes. In February 2017 Casuals were 4-1 up with 67 minutes left on the clock at Whyteleafe’s Church Road. Mark Lovell pulled two back and two minutes before the final whistle Liam Quinn headed in his second.

Casuals were the only team in the league with a 100% record, and sitting top of the table when they visited Winch’s Field at the beginning of September for an FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie, but were sent packing thanks to Kingsley Aikhionbare, Alex Mulrooney-Skinner and Nassim Dukali. Roscoe D’Sane had levelled Junior’s goal from the spot after a hotly-disputed penalty but Bay ran out 3-1 winners.

In their seven league games since then Casuals have won two, drawn three and lost two, the latest match being a 1-1 draw at Chipstead on 3rd October. Casuals sit in 6th place having one game more and are six points ahead of Herne Bay.

Following groundsharing for the last two and a bit seasons, at Merstham, Whyteleafe and Cobham, the Stags have moved into their new home at Elmbridge Sports Hub and after previously attracting low double figure crowds have had 200+ for the last three Saturday home league games.

Bay will have both Kingsley Aikhionbare and Raphe Brown missing through suspension.