Corinthian-Casuals vs Dulwich Hamlet
FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying
Saturday 3rd October 2020 - 3pm
King George's Arena, Tolworth KT6 7NA

Remarkably, Saturday 3rd October marks the first ever meeting of Corinthian-Casuals and Dulwich Hamlet in the FA Cup. Despite meeting 27 times in cup competition alone, the two South London sides have never duked it out in the country’s premier cup competition.
 
Casuals will have to be significantly better than the performance they put in against Merstham in the week, losing 3-0 at Moatside.
 
Manager James Bracken believes it’ll be a great occasion but admitted it was a tough ask. “I would I’d loved to have another lower level team drawn out of the hat, but they’re banana skins in their own right. Remember, we defeated Chelmsford City this time last year. We’ve beaten higher level opposition consistently so nothing is impossible. If it pays off, it might be one of the biggest wins in my managerial career.”
 
Unlike all of our opponents so far this term, Dulwich Hamlet have yet to start their season. Being ‘Elite’ at Step 2 means no crowds at games and hence, have not started. A ‘rescue package’ from the Government is set to be announced to help National League clubs in order to get their season commencing, but details are unknown as Step 1 and 2 head into their first matches this weekend.
 
Even more baffling was this week’s decision by the DCMS, enforced by the FA to only allow home fans to attend, where the home side is hosting a Step 2 club. Sadly, we’re unable to accept any Dulwich Hamlet fans (and, as it appears in the wording – neutral spectators too). See our statement which made several national newspapers this week.
 
It’s hardly ideal preparation for Gavin Rose’s side going into today. They are maintaining levels of match fitness and using behind closed doors friendlies to keep sharp. Just last weekend, they defeated National League side Bromley on penalties to lift the Glyn Beverly Memorial Cup.
 
They’ll be buoyed by the return of Hamlet hero Reise Allassani who’s been welcomed back to Champion Hill. Though Rose has lost a number of players over the summer and admits his budget has been significantly cut.
 
But results haven’t looked too shabby by all means. Another 1-1 draw recently to Wealdstone and only a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sutton United show they still very much have the National South pedigree in them and will undoubtedly be favourites to win here today.
 
Entry is only by ticket purchased in advance. You can buy your e-ticket here. We’re limited in numbers, so please hurry to guarantee yours. Once again, please refrain from buying if you are a Dulwich Hamlet or neutral fan, as we cannot guarantee your admission (I feel sorry for those volunteers that now have to effectively screen supporters coming to a game – I never thought I’d see the day).
 
Tickets are £11 adults, £6 Concessions and NHS staff (with ID) and Under 18s come for a quid. Turnstiles open at 1.45pm.

Potters Bar Town versus Corinthian-Casuals
Saturday 26th September 2020 – 3pm
Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division
The LA Construction Stadium, Potters Bar, EN6 1QN
 
Saturday sees Corinthian-Casuals travel round the M25 to face Potters Bar Town in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division.
 
Manager James Bracken will be looking to rectify the 3-1 loss at the newly names LA Construction Stadium last year when winger Ben Cheklit had to don the goalkeeper gloves following a 5th minute injury to Ibrahim Ugradar.
 
Bracken believes the first league win isn’t far away after a convincing 3-0 win at Little Common in the FA Cup on Tuesday night.
 
"I ask for at least an hour of dominant play at Potters Bar on Saturday and within that hour, score more goals than they can in their remaining 30 minute spell. That’s what I’m aiming for. If we can replicate that against teams in our division and take our chances, then we set ourselves up to win games."
 
History is not favourable to Casuals though as the last four encounters have produced two draws and two defeats. When the season was halted in March, the Scholars sat in 13th position, 15 points better off that Corinth. Remarkably, they had a better away record than playing at home which will give encouragement to Bracken.
 
Potters Bar started off this season with a 3-0 loss at Carshalton Athletic but progressed in the FA Cup with a solid 1-0 win over another Isthmian Premier side, East Thurrock on Tuesday – Ben Ward Cochrane with their only goal so far this season.
 
Admission is £12 adults, £8 concessions and under-16s for a quid. They have the NHS track and trace system implemented and you can find out about it here.
 
Postcode for your SatNav is EN6 1QN and if travelling by train, the nearest station is Potters Bar, just a ten minute walk away. The Good Beer Guide recommends the Cask & Stillage pub in the High Street for pre/post match drinks.
 
For those not making the journey, you can listen to live commentary courtesy of Potters Bar Radio. You can find information on how to tune in via their Twitter feed - @PottersBarRadio
​

Little Common vs Corinthian-Casuals
FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Tuesday 22nd September 2020 - 7.45pm
​The Oval, Eastbourne BN22 7LN

It’s a little later than usual but we’re delighted to welcome the return of the FA Cup for Casuals as we travel to the Sussex coast to begin our campaign against Little Common.

Manager James Bracken will be hoping to go at least one better than last season’s 3rd Qualifying Round where we bowed out to King’s Langley after defeating Sevenoaks Town and Chelmsford City in the previous rounds.

Bracken will draw upon memories of that ‘cupset’ where we defeated the National League South side 2-0 last season (pictured above). It’ll be a reminder that lower league teams can easily turn over loftier opponents as Little Common will undoubtedly attempt on Tuesday night.

In fact, Bracken will not be taking it lightly. “It’s the FA Cup. The FA Cup! I’d be an absolute fool if I didn’t say that this could be a banana skin of a tie. Little Common will be up for it.

“They’ve already won a couple of games to get to this stage and we’ll expect the best of them. We’ve played a number of sides at that level in pre-season and they were good. They were sides with confidence, could create chances and score goals. I’m sure Little Common will be no different.”

Indeed, Common have already won in two rounds of the Cup. Coming in at the very first stage, they defeated Uckfield Town 1-0 and followed it up with a 3-2 victory over Stansfeld. This will be an entirely different test for Russell Eldridge’s side though.

‘The Green Lane Boys’ play two levels lower than Casuals in the Southern Combination League Premier Division. They share with Eastbourne United AFC and play at The Oval, Channel View Rd, Eastbourne, BN22 7LN.

They suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday with a 4-0 loss to Fisher in the FA Vase. However, they’re unbeaten in the league with three draws from three matches.
​
Entry for the match is £7 adults, £4 concessions and U16s £2. Please join us in what we hope will be the start of another exciting cup run.

Corinthian-Casuals vs Haringey Borough
Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 19th September - 3pm kickoff
King George's Arena, Tolworth KT6 7NA
£11 adults/£6 Conc, Students/ U18 Free

Saturday, we welcome Haringey Borough to King George’s for the season opener in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division.

Early season indicators of form are hard to gauge. Pre-season results never really tell us anything substantial. If results are anything to go by, then Haringey Borough are in for a tough time. But friendlies are a different beast.
Results include a 2-0 loss to Sutton, a 3-1 defeat to Hanwell Town, a 2-1 loss to Kings Langley and a 2-0 loss to QPR Under 23s. They did however draw with Aldershot and beat New Salamis 1-0, though their opposition are somewhat lower than Isthmian Premier standard.

The majority of Tom Loizou’s squad have re-signed for another season at Coles Park and that’s an indicator of how well they might perform. They’re never to be underestimated. Although they didn’t hit the heady heights of the playoff places as per the season before last, they were in fifteenth position when the league campaign was voided in March. Casuals will take heart in the fact that they struggled away – picking up just three wins in fifteen attempts.

James Bracken’s pre-season has been ‘mixed’ in his own words. They rounded off their preparations with a convincing 3-0 win over Staines Town this week and only lost to FA Vase semi finalists Corinthian and League One AFC Wimbledon, who in fairness, fielded an almost full strength side.

Last season, we also opened up against Haringey, losing 1-0 at a blustery Coles Park in August. The last time the two sides met at King George’s saw Casuals take a 3-1 win. This is also Corinth’s first opening day home fixture since 2016, in which we won 2-1 against Whyteleafe, which bodes well considering that we’d lost all opening day fixtures on the road ever since.

Kick-off is 3pm. Admission prices are £11 adults, £6 concessions and students (with ID) and under 18s go free with an accompanying adult. Please adhere to our social distancing measures and all other Covid-related policies. 

Kingstonian vs Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Wednesday 26th February 2020 – 7.45pm
King George’s Arena, Hook Rise South, Tolworth KT6 7NA

Corinthian-Casuals Manager James Bracken will be hoping his brother and club captain, Danny Bracken will be available for the derby game ‘away’ at Kingstonian on Wednesday evening.

The talismanic keeper was absent through illness on Saturday for the 3-1 loss to Potter’s Bar Town. Casuals called on ‘Ibby’ Ugradar – the backup, who’s heroics will forever be remembered against Chelmsford City in the FA Cup this season. But luck was against the Amateurs after the Soccer AM stopper suffered a bad injury just minutes into the match.

Without another keeper on the bench (Jon Williams wasn’t named), striker Ben Cheklit had to don the gloves. Sadly, when an outfield player has to step in, it’s an uphill task. It already happened once at the Pakex Stadiumthis season, when Carshalton Athletic suffered the same fate. The end result was the same – no points for the visitors.

Now, Casuals must focus on the task in hand – the unique fixture that sees Bracken lead his side out at King George’s from the away changing room. Hosts are tenants Kingstonian, who are fast becoming the league’s draw specialists. Seven of the last nine league matches have been tied. In fact, over the last ten matches, Casuals are in better form than their hosts having gained a point more in that time.

But the lack of game-time hasn’t helped momentum and Corinth find themselves bottom of the league after weekend wins for fellow strugglers Wingate & Finchley and Brightlingsea Regent. Casuals have up to four games in hand over those immediately above and with only six points separating the bottom seven sides, they’ll be confident of clawing back lost ground.

But this is no ordinary fixture and derbies are always keenly contested. The two sides met earlier in the season – drawn in the FA Trophy. Hayden Bird’s K’s stormed to a 3-0 lead before Casuals pulled it back with a better second half performance. However, it was Kingstonian who progressed, winning 4-2.

This time, they won’t be able to call on their top scorer, Louie Theophanous who left for Glenn Tamplin’s new Romford project. Without the hairdresser, they’re at the lower end for scoring goals but they’re sharing the workload with Gus Sow, Dan Bennett, Eddie DSane and Dan Hector all netting recently. At the other end is ever-present Rob Tolfrey, the longest serving keeper in the league, now with over 500 appearances for the K’s.

Whatever happens, it’s likely to be a night to remember under the lights at King George’s with a bumper crowd expected. Remember, with the outside field likely to be saturated, parking may be limited (it’ll be controlled by our hosts). Please look to using public transport if possible.

Also, the planned Christmas charity collection will take place at this match. The Kingstonian Supporters Club have organised a bucket collection, Golden Goals and 50/50 raffles on the night with the proceeds split equally between Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness and Kingston Carers Network. Please give generously to these great charities.
​
Entry to King George’s is the same as Casuals matches. £10 adults, £6 concessions, £4 students and Under 18s for free. Casuals season ticket holders can enter for half price thanks to our mutual arrangement with Kingstonian.