A Tough Afternoon

Corinthian-Casuals 0-3 Enfield Town 
                                         Da Costa 8 
                                           Cass 32 (pen) 
                                           Coker 69 
 
Saturday 18 March 2023 
The Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division 
Attendance: 207 
Match Report by Finlay Stubbs 
Photo by Katja Hillebrandt 
 
Corinthian-Casuals fell to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to play-off chasing Enfield Town in a match that turned out to be Justin Fevrier’s last game in charge of the club. 
 
Despite the persistent rain prior to kick-off, the two teams walked out to bright sunshine, with Casuals looking to bounce back from the 4-1 defeat to local rivals Carshalton Athletic last time out.  
 
The visitors dominated the opening stages and took the lead after eight minutes. Mo Kamara won the ball in midfield and his shot from long range was excellently tipped onto the bar by Callum Coulter, but Khale Da Costa was the quickest to react, tapping in from close range to put his side ahead.  
 
Enfield continued to dominate proceedings for a spell after the opening goal, using their physical presence to control possession and deliver crosses into the Casuals area, but the hosts then started to adapt to the heavy pitch caused by the pre-match downpour, with Sahid Kamara testing the Enfield defence with his trickery. Casuals then had a good opportunity to equalise when Finlay Lovatt and Nathaniel Pinney combined in the Enfield penalty area, before Joe Halsey placed his effort just wide.  
 
Halsey was involved in the action again soon afterwards, playing in a more advanced position, as he was brought down inside the area, but the referee waved play on. Up the other end, however, Enfield Town were awarded a penalty when Jake Cass was brought down by Coulter, giving the visitors an opportunity to double their lead. Cass stepped up and emphatically converted, hammering his attempt down the middle.  
 
The hosts did have a chance to pull one back before half-time, but Shaun McAuley placed his effort just wide. 
 
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Enfield able to adapt to conditions by enforcing strong tackles in midfield and looking to attack in wide areas, with the lively Da Costa cutting inside and curling his effort just past the far post. Casuals began to grow into the half, creating several half chances, including Lovatt looping his effort just wide after showing determination to get forward beyond his man.  
 
Coulter was then called into action again, denying substitute Andre Coker one on one after he was played through by Cass. The pair combined again, and this time grabbed their side’s third with Coker delicately chipping his effort over Coulter to seal the three points for Enfield and deepen the woes of the Casuals players. 
 
Midway through the second half, Jack Tucker came off the bench for his first appearance after months on the sidelines through injury. The club captain was greeted onto the pitch with warm applause by the Casuals faithful, who have missed watching his tenacity at full-back for the majority of the season. 
 
Overall, though, it was a difficult afternoon for Casuals, against a clinical Enfield side who showed why they are in the hunt for promotion. 
 
After the game, the club parted ways with manager Justin Fevrier. There was a very sombre mood around the ground, with the squad forming a huddle in the middle of the pitch at the full-time whistle. It was a sign of togetherness among the group in the most difficult period, and it filtered out into appreciation towards the supporters for their following on a tough afternoon for the club.  
 
Brian Adamson has been appointed interim manager for the second time this season, and his first game back in charge will be next Saturday as Casuals host Wingate and Finchley. 
 
Corinthian-Casuals: Coulter; Kudyiwa, Orlu, Hyman Duru; McAuley, Halsey; Kamara, Lovatt, Yeboah; Pinney (Tucker 66)