Two Casuals teams travelled to Lousada yesterday for their league matches. In the first game, the U18s seemed to be in control as they went into half time with a 3-1 advantage. But Lousada started the second half on the attack, and some sloppy defending saw them score 3 goals in 7 minutes to take a 4-3 lead. Casuals went close in the final minutes, including a flick that just cleared the bar, but were unable to find another goal.

The Ladies however restored Casuals pride with a narrow 1-o win. Despite a very open game, neither side was able to find the net in the first half. But Casuals took the lead early in the second from a great reverse stick shot. Lousada came back strongly and on several occasions Casuals had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the game and ensuring victory.

This morning the Men hosted Futebol Benfica in their league fixture. Despite the visitors holding a 1-0 lead at the interval from a penalty corner after 9 minutes, Casuals held their own and equalised – also from a low penalty corner strike. They showed some much improved play against the new league leaders but were cruelly undone by a freakish own goal 7 minutes from time. There was further frustration when a Casuals strike from the top of the circle clattered off the post and several penalty corner chances for an equaliser went begging.

In the afternoon the U14s put in a really commendable performance to win both games against the Indoor EN.NA runners-up, Futebol Benfica. With 4 players from the U12s, it took a while for the team to settle down into the new formation, but by the second period the defenders had the hang of playing the ball up the wings and a good passing combination put them 1-0 up at the interval. They then took control of the game to win 4-0, all goals from open play.

However, in the second game, just as with the U12s a week ago, fatigue and the heat took hold: Futebol Benfica finally got into their stride and Casuals were soon 1-3 down. But again they refused to be beaten, were tireless in defence and managed to score three goals in a row from open play in the last period to win 4-3.

To round off a busy weekend, the Ladies were at home to Sport Club for their second league match. Looking a little jaded from the previous day’s exertions, they were 0-1 down at the interval. Sport scored a second, but Casuals came back strongly to 1-2 and then equalised at 2-2. In a frenetic finish, neither side was able to find a winner, but this draw keeps the Casuals Ladies at the top of the league table.

The U18s played their first home league match yesterday against Juventude. They scored the opener from a penalty corner and added two more goals before the interval: the second of these came from a weaving run along the bye line and a stunning flick into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Although the Casuals’ domination continued in the second half, they were only able to add one more goal from a flowing passing move. Their frustration was exemplified by a shot coming off the Juventude crossbar and the rebound coming back off the post, but 4-0 was still a good result.

The Men’s league fixture against Carris saw an exciting first half end 2-2: Casuals opened the scoring, only for Carris to equalise from the new own goal rule, when a strong centre into the circle found the edge of a defender’s stick. They scored again 2 minutes before the interval, but Casuals were able to level a minute later.

Ten minutes into the second half Carris took the lead from a penalty corner, only for Casuals to force the ball over from close range. However, despite some much improved play from the Men, Carris scored twice in the last 12 minutes to take the game 5-3.

In their two matches against Futebol Benfica, the U12s won the first game 5-1 with some good passing moves – all from open play. However, in the second game their inevitable tiredness meant they forgot the passing game and were soon 0-2 down at the interval. To their credit they fought back from 1-3 down to take the lead 4-3 a minute from the end (3 goals from open play, one short corner). But, with seconds to go, Futebol Benfica got the equalizer they probably deserved, to draw 4-4.

In the first of 3 matches against Cambridge University’s St Catherine’s College during the past week, the Men won an open game 8-4. The U18s followed this on Wednesday and Thursday with two very evenly matched games, winning 4-3 and 3-1.

Yesterday evening it was the Ladies turn to play a visiting U18 team from Gloucester, drawing 0-0.

In this afternoon’s league match, the Men hosted Sport Club. After going 0-2 down, Casuals pulled back a goal shortly before the interval. However, despite chances for both sides, Sport scored the only goal of an otherwise even second half, to win 3-1.

The Veterans travelled north this weekend to play the Oporto Club in their two annual cup games. In yesterday’s Dawson Cup men’s match, Casuals opened the scoring early on. Despite keeping up the pressure and being awarded a series of penalty corners, outstanding saves from the Oporto keeper and a shot off the post kept the visitors’ lead to 1-0. It seemed that Oporto’s dogged defense would pay off, when they equalised from a counter attack late in the game. But the Casuals still had time to make it 2-1 from another penalty corner.

Today’s Mixed match for the Seadon Cup was a more even encounter. A good strike from an early penalty corner was to prove Casuals’ only goal: with both sides finding it difficult to create scoring chances, it was Oporto who found an equaliser 2 minutes from the end. But the 1-1 draw left both trophies in the Casuals’ hands. It is worth mentioning the fine hospitality Oporto provided on the Saturday evening, and the excellent spirit in which both games were played.

The Casuals played two games against the strong German Ladies team ‘An der Alster’. In Thursday’s game, the Men were simply too strong, running out 8-0 winners. But in yesterday’s game, the U-18s had to work hard after going a goal down early on. In a very even match, both sides put their opponents’ defence under prolonged pressure, but it was the Casuals who made the most of their chances, winning the game 3-2.

Today the Men travelled to Porto for their league fixture against Viso. Casuals more than matched their opponents in the first half and were unlucky to go a goal down before the break, when the ball clearly seemed to have touched the striker’s foot. But for some of the U18 players this was their 3rd game in a row, and in the second half Viso took advantage of a couple of midfield turnovers to go 3-0 up. Casuals scored near the end of the game, but still went down 1-3.

At the Veterans Tournament this afternoon, the Casuals lost both their matches 2-5 against Belenenses and 0-1 against Futebol Benfica.