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Late, Late Show from Casuals

26/3/2023

Corinthian-Casuals 1-0 Wingate and Finchley
Hyman 90

Pitching in Isthmian Premier League
Saturday 25 March 2023
Attendance 238
Match Report by James Streatfield
Photo by Stuart Tree

It was late jubilation for Corinthian-Casuals as they ended a long run without a win, earning a well-deserved 1-0 win over Wingate and Finchley on Saturday.

Brian Adamson took charge of his first game as interim manager of Casuals, a week on from the club parting ways with Justin Fevrier. Adamson called on experience for the fixture, bringing in club captain Jack Tucker, who undoubtedly gave Casuals a boost. In addition, the returning Jordan Clarke made his second debut for the club, while new boy Yann Janssen was involved, making a first start.

Casuals were up against two forces in the first half: the Wingate and Finchley attack and the torrid conditions. Playing against the wind in the first 45 made it difficult to build momentum but the home side didn’t let that affect them too much.

The opening exchanges were cagey, but Casuals fashioned their first chance when Olarinde Williams gave away a free-kick after a high challenge on Lesley Duru. Kamara flashed a teasing ball across the visitors’ notably high line but no one in a chocolate-and-pink shirt could get on the end of it.

As the clear signs of a battle between two sides in desperate need of points continued, Wingate and Finchley’s full-backs combined to create a chance for Ben Siggers, who couldn’t keep his header on target.

At the other end, Clarke looked lively on his Casuals return, picking up the ball in pockets of space between the lines and running at the Wingate and Finchley back line. Janssen was also effective in holding up the ball for runners such as Duru, who looked dangerous.

Casuals were presented with their next chance when a defensive header fell to Finlay Lovatt, whose shot from distance flew past the right post. Lovatt came close again with the best opportunity of the half when he met Zack Chislett’s pin-point cross with his head, only for Ben Goode to tip the ball round the post with an outstretched glove. A miraculous save amidst Casuals’ pressure.

Wingate’s first real chance fell to Antonios Vasiliou just before the break, played through on goal before Callum Coulter rushed out to thwart the attacker.

Neither side posed too much of a threat in the early stages of the second half, although the visitors did carve out an opportunity when a goalmouth scramble ended in Raynel Hercules’ square ball finding its way to Vasiliou, whose improvised effort ended up in the grateful grasp of Coulter.

However, nothing less than a win would do if Casuals were to keep their season alive. Clarke made way for Pinney on the hour in an attempt from Adamson to add some attacking firepower. But Casuals would have to weather a Wingate storm for the next period of the game. Siggers’ cross from the left found Vasiliou whose shot was straight at Coulter.

Tucker’s return lasted 70 minutes as he was replaced by Sean Agun, coming on to make his Casuals debut. Tucker was a credit to the defence on the day, delivering a true captain’s performance.

But the game was still up for the grabs, with both sides determined to take all three points. Wingate and Finchley had the ball in the net late on, but the linesman flagged for offside. A warning sign for Casuals who were forced to dig deep again when Coulter was called into action to deny Dylan Kearney’s header with a miraculous stop to keep the scores level.

Then, just as it looked like Casuals would be held, Kamara delivered a last-minute free kick into a dangerous area, and Pinney’s flick fell to Malakai Hyman. The centre-back couldn’t miss, tapping the ball home at the back post to give the hosts the lead with only stoppage time remaining.

Yet Casuals fans, so jubilant when Hyman found the net, had their hearts in their mouths moments later when a goalmouth scramble in their own six-yard box was eventually scooped away by Coulter. The Casuals keeper was key to the win, making multiple saves to keep his side in the game.

In the end, it was a well-earned three points for Casuals, priceless in the fight for survival. They will take confidence from their performance and will hopefully carry this spirit into their next fixture, away to Potters Bar Town next Saturday.

Corinthian-Casuals: Coulter; Chislett, Kudyiwa, Hyman, Tucker (Agun 68); Lovatt, McAuley; Clarke (Thompson 60), Kamara, Duru; Janssen (Pinney 61)

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A Tough Afternoon

20/3/2023

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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)

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Robins Swoop on Casual Errors

12/3/2023

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Corinthian-Casuals 1-4 Carshalton Athletic
Williams 89 Akinwande 7
Lema 31
Ekpiteta 69
McKenzie-Atumuto 86

Pitching in Isthmian Premier League
Saturday 11 March 2023
Attendance 345
Match Report by James Streatfield
Photo by Chris Randall

A late Morgan Williams piledriver was the only consolation for Corinthian-Casuals as they fell to a 4-1 defeat at home to local rivals Carshalton Athletic.

After a midweek hiatus for Casuals, they returned to action on a gusty afternoon against a Carshalton side who came into the game with confidence, having been unbeaten in their last two.

Casuals boss Justin Fevrier made three changes to the team that were beaten at Margate the previous week, giving debuts to buccaneering left-sided wing-back, Lesley Duru, and on-loan centre-forward Obed Yeboah, while assistant manager Richard Orlu stepped in at centre-half in the absence of the suspended Simba Kudyiwa.

The order of the day was set from the early stages of the game, with Carshalton knocking on the door and probing Casuals’ back line, which initially stood firm. That was until an in-swinging corner from Carshalton’s captain Tom Beere found Oliver Cooke, whose shot was bundled off the line by Joe Halsey before falling to Karl Arinwande, who scrambled the ball over the line.

It was a tough start for Casuals, and Carshalton did not let off after grabbing their first, continuing to apply pressure.

Casuals’ best chance of the half fell to Finlay Lovatt who met the deflected cross of Halsey from the right, but under pressure from his man he could only fire over from close range. It was a sign of promise for the home side, but this hope would soon be extinguished when Carshalton carried on testing Casuals’ defence.

Calvin Ekpiteta found himself one-on-one with Casuals centre-half, Jola Lahan, before shifting the ball onto his left side and forcing Callum Coulter into a smart save down to his right, tipping the ball out for a corner. Though this would lead to more trouble for Casuals who found themselves 2-0 down after another corner from Beere found the head of Crossley Lema, who fired home from close range. It wasn’t looking like the home side’s day.

Carshalton continued to keep piling on the pressure as an unfortunate break of the ball found its way to the feet of Lema, who took on his man, trying to add to his first. His shot across goal slammed the frame and was cleared by Casuals.

In an attempt to inject some intensity, Fevrier called on the services of promising winger, Jared Myers, replacing Malakai Hyman just before the break, as Casuals went in at half-time two goals down on the score line.

The early exchanges of the second half proved to be a scrappy affair, though it was not for the want of trying on Casuals’ part. Sahid Kamara’s snap shot drifted just wide of Danny Bracken’s top corner, as the goalkeeper was serenaded by the Casuals faithful on his return to King George’s Field. The 500-appearance-making shot stopper is a true legend in these parts and will always be remembered fondly for his contributions to the club.

Bracken would soon deny Casuals a way back into the game after some neat build-up play between debutant Duru and Morgan Williams led to a chance for Kamara, but his shot lacked power and fell into the grateful grasp of the ex-Casuals goalkeeper.

Casuals’ afternoon got worse soon after, when Coulter’s clearance fell to an alert Arinwande, and the Carshalton forward looked to be through on goal when Myers’ challenge brought him down, giving the referee no option but to dismiss him — a shame for Myers who’s appearance lasted a mere 23 minutes.

Casuals’ fate was determined now, and they would succumb to further damage when Calvin Ekpiteta’s shot from outside the area found its way in off the post, via the outstretched glove of Coulter — when your luck’s out, it’s out. It was an uncharacteristic error from Coulter who has been key to Casuals’ recent promising performances.

Fevrier’s men kept going despite the situation they found themselves in. Williams and Duru put together some smart build-up play before scrambling the ball to Yeboah who, like Kamara earlier, could not get any power behind his shot, which found its way into the hands of Bracken. This was before Carshalton’s No9, McKenzie Atumuto, found himself on the end of a knocked-on ball and faced up Coulter one-on-one before calmly slotting the ball past the Casuals’ keeper, who could not do much to prevent the inevitable. Carshalton had their fourth to put a rubber stamp on a disappointing afternoon for the home side.

Casuals would, though, grab a consolatory goal in the 89th minute as Williams picked up the ball from miles out and fired a smashing effort into the top-left corner. Bracken could only get a hand to it to push it further into the top of his net, giving Casuals’ fans something to take from the game.

With a clear midweek ahead for Casuals, the team has a chance to recoup and prepare for Saturday’s test at home to Enfield Town. Fevrier and his players will be eager to bounce back from a disappointing result.

Corinthian-Casuals: Coulter; Lahan, Orlu, Hyman (Myers 41); Halsey (Chislett 73), Williams, McAuley, Duru; Kamara Lovatt (Pinney 74); Yeboah

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Late, Late Show from Casuals

A Tough Afternoon

Robins Swoop on Casual Errors

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