Corinthian-Casuals suffered their first defeat in four matches going down 3-0 to a clinical Bishop’s Stortford side in the Bostik League Premier Division.

Stortford had the better of the opening chances though Casuals looked more dangerous on the counter. Keeper Brad Comins had to be sharp to prevent Cureton and Nick Brown from scoring.

The first blow was struck on 13 minutes. Cass turned Jack Tucker and his low cross was pounced upon by Alfie Mason in the six yard box. Casuals’ defending something left to be desired.

Warren Mfula was closest to restoring parity when he met a cross and his header was expertly kept out by Calum Kitscha.

Just four minutes into the second half and a long ball from Stortford’s own half found Casuals’ defence wanting and Cureton had no hesitation in punishing the visitors.

Corinth had been winded and never looked like getting back into the game, despite good build up play around the box. Jordan Clarke cut in from the byline and forced a save at the near post. Jack Strange’s free header could only sail over the bar. Odunaike breaking through could only muster a weak shot.

At the other end, Comins made a string of excellent saves from a number of chances but many will remember his mistake that cost the third goal. Another long ball into the box was mishandled by the keeper and Cass reacted quickly to head into an empty net.

“The two goals we conceded in the second half are especially poor,” said Manager James Bracken after the defeat. “To concede just after half time is a flattener because we’re still in the game at 1-0. If we got the next goal, it could’ve been a very different outcome.

“Across the pitch, we weren’t good enough. The boys worked their socks off trying to do what we’ve asked them to do. I’m not going to beat them up too much over it though. It’s not like we’re coming off the back of eight straight wins and we’ve been hammered. It’s a game of football against a team that’s around the playoff spots. We were in it, competitive, we’ve had a throw at it but conceded three soft goals. If you give a side like this those opportunities, it doesn’t really matter what else you do in the game, it makes it very hard.

“We can be better than that for sure. I’ve asked them to take individual responsibility and not to point the finger at someone else. Everyone could’ve played better.

“At the same time, we must remember these lads aren’t robots. There’s plenty of variables to a game of football. Bishop’s Stortford have two lads up front in Cass and Cureton who are as clinical as you’ll find at this level. If you concede chances like we have – and we’ve gifted the pair of them goals – they’ll take them.

“There’s no great surgery needed. We’ve won our previous three without conceding a goal, so we just need to look back at what went wrong and learn from it. It’s just down to how the boys correct things on the pitch. We have a great group of lads here that don’t get paid, yet they do their best. They’re good players and I know I’ll get a response from them.”

Casuals host Haringey Borough in the league on Tuesday evening.