Potters Bar Town 3 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 14th August 2021
Match report and Photos - Stuart Tree (full set of pictures here)​

Corinthian-Casuals extended their run of opening day defeats with a 3-1 loss at Potters Bar Town in the Isthmian League Premier Division following two late penalties to gift the points to the Scholars.

Casuals haven’t won a first day fixture since defeating Whyteleafe at home 2-1 back in 2016, though this looked like the best chance to end that run after Birthday Boy Ben Cheklit had given Corinth the lead early in the second half.

However, missed chances, a goal cruelly struck off and two penalties ensured the home side took all three points.

There were competitive debuts galore across the pitch for James Bracken’s side but he would end up missing key strikers Warren Mfula and Kieron Cadogan as Casuals lay waste a host of opportunities to score.

Casuals started brightly and although there wasn’t much to separate the sides, Corinth had the bulk of possession in the first half. Ola Williams had come closest for the visitors but headed narrowly wide.

The deadlock was broken just three minutes into the second half when Jack Tucker played a delightful ball to Captain Cheklit who made no mistake in front of goal to give his side the lead.

Casuals pressed for a second and a number of chances went begging. In an instant, the momentum switched – the Scholars scored from out of the blue. Corinth were sloppy; giving away a free kick in the middle of the park, players defensively switched off allowing a ball to be played into acres of space. Devonte Aransibia made the most of the opportunity and struck a well placed shot past Danny Bracken to equalise.

Arguably, the turning point came shortly after when Casuals were denied the chance to re-take the lead. Another great ball from Tucker saw Michael Abbnett head back across goal for Bobby Mills to finish. However, despite the ball being played back, the Assistant on the far side deemed the striker to be offside and the well worked goal was denied. Mills had another very good chance to score, front and centre but scuffed his shot into the arms of the keeper.

Thirty seconds later, Bar won a penalty when the giant Sydney Ibie was felled in the box. Ben Ward-Cochrane with the conversion from the spot. The game became ugly and chances dried up until the 90th minute when a second spot kick was given after Ibie was once again adjudged to have been fouled in the box. Cue Ward-Cochrane’s second from the spot.

The score line sounds harsh on Casuals who, at times played some delightful football, garnering plenty of positive comments from those in attendance. However, pretty passing is only effective if there’s end product and on this day, that went begging. The game could’ve very been different had the second goal stood. Congratulations to Bar on their victory and the three points won. We thank them for their kind and generous hospitality and, despite a dastardly M25 playing dirty tricks on many of the travelling contingent, a good day was had in glorious sunshine with plenty to refresh the crowd.

“The finishing touch just wasn’t there for us today”, said Manager James Bracken after the match.

“Had we scored three or four, no one would’ve argued that was a fair result. We had one goal ruled out with the ball coming back from the goal-line, so not sure how that’s offside – that’s very frustrating.

“It was a day of missed chances. We had a lot of opportunities with some very good balls put into their box.

“Had we been given the second goal, I don’t see the game unfolding the way it has. Unfortunately, we haven’t scored the goals to allow us the errors that we’ve made. Some of those errors were suicide. The goals we’ve conceded were ridiculous. The first, they were able to pop a ball into space after switching off from a free kick. As I said, it’s suicide.

“When you’re one-nil up away from home on the first day of the season, you don’t give away three goals. And that’s exactly what we’ve done. We have to make sure those errors don’t happen again.

“But we’re playing some good football. There’s no surgery required. It’s just a case of taking those chances that we’ve created. We’ve scored first away from home and we were the better team with the ball. We need to be seeing these games out. We’ve dominated the possession. They’ve not had any control in our half – only the odd counter attack. Dan’s only had to make one save in the whole game.

“The chances we created was encouraging. But not taking our chances is on us. We play well to get it to that point, so now we have to ensure we bury those.

“I’ve seen enough today to know what quality we have. I know exactly what we’re capable of. We’ve got two forwards to come back, both of which have quality and goals in them. We’ve got healthy competition… we’ve got good options. The boys can all see that too. They look at each other in training and they know that everyone is capable.” 

Potters Bar Town 1 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 26th September 2020
CV Construction Stadium
Report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)

A second half brace from Bradley Wilson was enough to ensure Casuals got their first three points of the season on the board at a blustery Potters Bar Town yesterday.
 
Despite substitute Samson Eason pulling one back, Corinth were able to hold on to record their second away win in four days and put points on the board early into the new campaign.
 
Football weather had truly returned and cold, windy and rainy conditions were not pleasantly greeted by the 213 in attendance. We needed a pleasantly contested affair to warm us all and that’s what we were treated to. The first half remained goalless though not for the lack of trying. Danny Bracken was called into action on more occasions than Fred Burbridge – his Scholar counterpart but Corinth will feel aggrieved that they weren’t awarded a penalty when Kevant Serbony was bundled over in the box.
 
The second half saw Casuals up the tempo and threatened more than their hosts. The deadlock was broken in the 66th minute when Wilson’s floating free kick from 30 yards latched onto the wind and evaded everyone including Burbridge to sail into an empty net.
 
This opened the game up and six minutes later, Wilson had a second, ending a fine piece of play. Keiron Cadogan played the final cross from the right to Wilson who’s 10 yard header couldn’t miss.
 
It became a nervy ending though when Esan pulled one back in fine style for the Scholars, taking a touch and shot with grace. It was backs to the wall for Casuals as Bar bombarded the penalty area. Hero of the hour was Bracken who was back to his finest, pulling off two stunning saves. Thankfully, The Casuals were able to resolutely hold on and record their first league victory of the season.

"I was delighted with the result. We’re always looking for better, You’ll never say it was perfect but it was good. I said the other night ‘let’s try and have the better of the hour, and try and score more goals in that hour then they get in their thirty minutes. They had a little go at us at the end. My brother has pulled off a couple of good saves.
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"Bottom line is we scored more in our period of play than they did in theirs - the first was maybe slightly fortuitous, but Brad’s delivery was great. It’s probably a reward for delivering on set pieces. The second goal is a great goal. The move, the passing, the cross was exquisite and the finish was fantastic. It gave us a little cushion.
 
"We managed to show grit and determination at the end. It was backs to the wall. Defend, defend, defend, and we did that.
 
"We’re delighted. It’s nice to get off the mark. It’s especially nice for the management team and the boys that were here at the club last year. We went through a big period of soul searching where you know you’re doing things right. You know you’re setting the team up well and you know you’ve delivered on performances, but you’re not getting any points.
 
"We needed to get that first win to get that monkey off our back early doors. We’ve done that. It’s two wins on the spin as well. I think we’ve lost one in about the last seven or eight games so we’re going the right way.
 
"I like grafters. I like workers. If you’re a Fancy Dan that delivers no end product you’re not going to be one for me. But if you’re a player with ability that’s going to graft, then I’m going to love you, and I think in the last 15-20 minutes, I saw everything I would possibly want to see in terms of the effort and the desire to get back and do what was necessary."
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Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 0 Potters Bar Town
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 28th September 2019
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
More photos from Andy Nunn here.
 
Corinthian-Casuals earned their first home point of the season in a 0-0 stalemate against Potters Bar Town.
 
Though Casuals were without their three first-choice Centre Backs and ever present Captain and Goalkeeper, Danny Bracken, they prevented Bar from finding the net for the first time this season.
 
Despite the shut-out, Manager James Bracken was disappointed that this was another opportunity for three points passed up by his side. It was a similar story, with plenty of forward endeavour and territorial possession, but final, clinical moves were sadly lacking.
 
Casuals fans might have been surprised to see the unusual back four which included Warren Morgan pairing with Coskun Ekim in the centre. Hero of the cup win over Chelmsford, Mazzar Ugradar also suffered an injury in the week, so in came ex-Oxford United, Solihull Moors and Hampton stopper Manny Agboola.
 
In truth, there’s not much to write about the game itself. The Scholars started bright whilst Casuals’ makeshift defence allowed themselves time to get used to their positions. Passing out from the back was cautious and methodical. The first real chance fell to Nat Pinney, who after an endeavouring run by Reyon Dillon, fired just past the far post.
 
At the other end, Agboola proved his worth, acrobatically saving from a well-drilled drive and latterly a looping header from Bradley Sach, clawing out the effort from under the crossbar.
 
Casuals looked to push on and found joy in wide positions. Dillon caused Andrew Lomas problems but when needed to find a calm head, lashed a drive high, high over the bar from a very scorable position. It summed up the afternoon perfectly.
 
James Bracken’s side never reached the performance levels of Chelmsford the week before and despite the point gained and a clean sheet with a makeshift defence, the gap opens up at the foot of the table as Casuals still seek their first league win of the 2019-20 season.
 
We’re disappointed with the draw,” said Bracken after the match. “We had one Centre Half fit coming into the game, but pulled out through illness in the morning. So, no fit players for those positions. We’re onto our third goalkeeper in three games, which is shades of last season.
 
“But I felt that took the pressure off us. If we’d conceded a few goals and lost, what did we expect? I had players doing jobs out of position. But fair play to them, they kept a clean sheet. Where we should’ve been at our weakest, we’ve kept the opposition out.
 
“We’re the first side that Potters Bar haven’t scored against. They’ve hit three against Lewes and East Thurrock, two against Enfield and Carshalton and defeated Hornchurch last week. They couldn’t score here. But that’s not enough.
 
“We’re disappointed because that was winnable. Again, it’s another opportunity that’s passed us by, like the Merstham and Brightlingsea games. We should’ve won it. If we had anywhere near the intensity of the Chelmsford game, we would’ve won.
 
"I’m disappointed with this result, more so than even some of the games we’ve lost. When you’re looking for those three points, that was a real opportunity. And we didn’t grasp it.
 
“Only one or two of the lads can come out of this match with any credit. They had the drive and desire to win a game of football. Everyone else looked like they were just getting through the minutes. You can’t have that attitude when you’ve not got a win on the board. They must apply themselves. That’s not the way to get the first win.
 
“I need to see character out there on the pitch. That wasn’t it. I felt it was lethargic, flat in the changing room and the first fifteen minutes. We fell short on our own. A few people came up to me afterwards saying we’d played okay, but that’s not enough for me.
 
"We wasted too many opportunities today. Had we just got the basics right and stuck balls in the right areas, it would’ve been a different outcome. Too many of our set pieces fell in the wrong areas and gave our forwards no chance.
 
"Until we’re out of the bottom three and looking up the table to where we can reach, we’ve got to do more. We can’t say ‘we didn’t lose’, when we’ve drawn against a side that are well beatable in a game that we had the majority of control.
 
"But if we don’t give our forwards the chances to score, we won’t win games. We’ve wasted too much. They know that in the changing room. I turn up every matchday motivated to win. Not motivated to do okay. Not motivated to be pleased with a draw. A few of them didn’t turn up motivated to win.
 
"We’re better than that. I want them to do their best. Come Tuesday, I expect them to bounce back with their best. If they don’t, then we’ve got some big calls to make going into our biggest FA Cup game for 36 years. If they don’t up their game, I’m not going to Kings Langley with players that don’t have the heart or stomach to win. We want to advance in the Cup and they’ve got to go out there and show they can do it."

Potters Bar Town 2-2 Corinthian-Casuals
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 20th April 2019
Report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)

When the full-time whistle blew at the Parkfield Stadium, it was finally confirmed that Corinthian-Casuals would be playing Bostik Premier football for another year after a tiring but valuable 2-2 draw versus Potters Bar Town, who also secured safety as points were shared.
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Comfortable was not a word that the Casuals contingent were used to when it described a Bostik Premier match, especially in 2019. A series of draws and losses in February and March put Corinthians in a sticky situation as they were dragged into a restless race for survival in the bottom half of the table. But recent victories and spirited performances were summarised in Majed Osman’s decisive third versus Wingate and Finchley in the 3-1 win, which was actually comfortable for the pink and brown army.

Only one point was needed to secure safety for the Casuals as supporters, players and staff made their way to the penultimate away day of the season; the small town of Potters Bar was the destination. The Hertfordshire outfit required a single point just like their visitors and on a beautiful summer day, it would be intriguing how both teams approached the unorthodox circumstances.

It was clear how James Bracken would approach it. Dillon, Aghadiuno and centre-back Robert Jamison were on in a new-look starting eleven. Intensity was key, and maybe Potters Bar were trying to adjust to the heat, or the hungry Casuals frontline chasing down loose balls and putting them under pressure. An Ekim free-kick was swung in after only two minutes, and Jack Rudoni managed to retrieve it from the nervy Bar defence. The no.8 threaded a cheeky but perfect pass to Reyon Dillon, who completely bamboozled the keeper with a step-over before feigning a shot and rounding him with ease. Dispatching brilliantly, Dillon had netted one of the earliest Casuals goals of the entire season as well as putting them 1-0 up. The well-taken strike was credit to Dillon’s determination to get back into the side as Bracken gave him a chance up-front ahead of the injured Mfula.

The pitch at the Parkfield Stadium was something that was noticed by the visitors beforehand as it was bobbly, dry and overlong. It did not affect Casuals though. A wayward back-pass caused the Bar keeper to run out and rescue it from becoming a corner, but he mis-controlled after a bump in the ground and it was another set-piece for Casuals. Ekim’s corner kick was not collected or cleared properly as the ball bounced off a player’s head and rippled the net. Jack Strange wheeled away in celebration and it was given to the centre-back. Singing the no.4’s name, the Casuals supporters enjoyed a two goal lead after eight minutes! Enjoying the rest of the half in the sunshine, the travelling supporters had a right to feel confident about the second-half… but little did the home support know, they did too.

Two quick-fire goals in the first half benefited the Casuals, but it was their downfall in the second. Dernell Wynter made a sharp turn just outside the area after three minutes, and slotted the ball home. A bobble was what caught Danny Bracken out and the pitch was used for the hosts’ advantage at last.

Bracken scooping the ball from the net would occur again minutes later, but it would be much crueller. An enormous deflection from a Bradley Sach shot meant it was 2-2. At the moment, both sides were staying up… but it would not be satisfactory for James and Dan Pringle on the bench. The energy of Jack Tucker and the danger of Jamie Byatt were inspired substitutions that nearly resulted in a late winner. Antonio and Rudoni in midfield was scary for Potters Bar and when they assisted in giving Jamie Byatt a great chance at goal, it was nearly ecstasy for supporters behind the goal. His shot was blocked and then cleared. It just wasn’t to be for either side. That was fine for both teams as the referee blew for full-time. Safety? Secured.

Thank you to Potters Bar for their hospitality. Two games remain in the Bostik Premier, which was a sad realisation for many fans… what will everyone do in two months of no football? (There's always Budapest, and we'll have news of more 'away' games soon - Ed.) The last home game versus Worthing on Bank Holiday Monday and then the finale at Whitehawk will end the campaign. At the moment, Casuals sit in 17th and are one place above Kingstonian. Six points in the last two games would be the dream for Bracken’s army, and to finish above their rivals would be very sweet indeed.

Manager James Bracken spoke his thoughts after the final whistle.

“They’re delighted with a point and we’re disappointed. It’s secured safety for both of us so we should be saying, “well done, great job” considering it’s well documented that we’re working with nothing.

“But we’re winners; we don’t come to get a draw – we come to win. We’re disappointed with the draw. We’ll analyse the performance for us to continue to get better.

“We had ten unavailable today. But we still put in a performance that even until the final whistle, we looked the more likely to nick the winner. When they came back to 2-2, sometimes you can be on the back-foot for the remainder of the game but it was never like that here. I can’t recall them threatening the goal again and we had chances.

“The bigger picture is, it’s a fantastic achievement. That puts us on 46 points. Tooting were relegated on 36 points from more games, so we’ve already got more than 10 points than that and they were promoted as Champions, working with a playing budget. It’s more than an achievement to do this. It should’ve been a lot more but it’s a decent haul.

“We’ll look back over the season at games like today where it was two points dropped. The game against them at our place was three points dropped. If we want to kick on and be successful beyond this, you must see those games out.

“We had a game plan in the first half which was ultra-effective. We limited them to a couple of scuffed shots from thirty yards on a cow field.
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“Second half, the game plan was simple, but instructions weren’t followed. I’ve managed over a thousand games – you play with plenty of freedom here, but when I give instructions to mark, drop-in ten yards, etc, it’s best just to listen. If they do, we’ll win more games. Today, that cost us.”

​It was three defeats in a row for Corinthian-Casuals as Potters Bar Town came from behind to snatch a deserved 2-1 victory at King George’s Arena on Saturday.
 
Warren Mfula had put the hosts in front with a second-half strike but goals from substitute Aaron Morgan-Cummings and Dernell Wynter gave all three points to the visitors.
 
“A couple of weeks ago I said, ‘I couldn’t see anyone beating us’,” lamented Manager James Bracken after the loss. “That’s because we were doing things so well, that was how it was looking at the time. Sadly, we’ve stopped performing to that level. But we had bad spells at the start of the season and we fixed it.
 
“We didn’t play well enough with the wind behind us on Saturday. We appeared to settle for 0-0 at half time and go for it after the break. That wind was strong enough that we could’ve penned them in and had plenty more wind-assisted shots. We need to take advantage of opportunities like that.
 
“However, we got our noses in-front and looked more of a threat. Sadly, we took our foot off the gas and relaxed too much. We didn’t win enough first balls or second balls. It just wasn’t good enough. Sometimes we think scoring once is enough. We need to take advantage of good spells and put games to bed.
 
“The defending for the two goals was poor. We looked at those that we conceded in the week at Lewes. The last two we conceded constituted errors from four or five players. Potters Bar’s first goal was the same. We’ve had multiple opportunities to clear the ball and not one player has been able to do that.
 
“It was a quagmire out there and the conditions were difficult. The wind didn’t help matters at all. But at this level, players must do their jobs defensively. If we don’t, their attack stays alive, they score and from there, they have the momentum.
 
“There’s not a lot between Saturday and tonight to address it. At the minute, we need to get on the training ground. We have to give opportunities to players where shirts become available on a Monday or Thursday evening. Training allows us to pick a team that reflects what we’ve seen during these sessions. Now, we’re picking a side that have won, but strayed a little. We’re not being able to see where players are until you put them in a match. It’s difficult. It’s a guessing game as to how you think they’ll perform.
 
“But we’ll be ready for Tuesday. I believe we’ll win, because I will always believe we’ll win any game we go into. We have to ensure we come out of the match with something and look to build on that come Saturday.
 
“I’m never one to use excuses but when we went to Lewes last week, our top three goal scorers were all unavailable. There’re not many teams that can afford to miss their three main strikers and still expect to be at the same level. It’s good to have Warren Mfula back from those three.  
 
“We have no budget to bring in re-enforcements when we need them. We have good players and good lads here that are waiting for opportunities and they’re coming along. If they take them, that’s great. If they fall a little short, they can’t say they didn’t get an opportunity.
 
“It’s not all doom and gloom though. If you’d have said we’d go into Christmas in twelfth position, everyone would’ve taken that. It’s up to us all now to ensure the next few games, we get it right and go out and become winners again.”