Corinthian-Casuals 1-2 Epsom & Ewell
Combined Counties League Premier South
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Andy Nunn

Casuals’ final home game of the season ended in defeat to Epsom & Ewell in a final game between landlords and tenants before the Salts move on this summer.

We’ve seen a trilogy against Epsom this season, beginning with the pre-season Stella Lamont Trophy, in which the tenants reclaimed the silverware via a penalty shoot-out. Then, in August, Reyon Dillon glistened in a bright Bank Holiday triumph for Casuals as we ran out 2-1 winners.

That result had ignited a four-game winning streak, but results have since taken a turn for the worse and Casuals were disappointed not to turn their form around in our last home game – a 2-2 draw against Chipstead in which we had led 2-0. However, last weekend’s 2-1 friendly win away at Knaphill ensured that Casuals fans at least celebrated Non-League Day with a victory.

The anticipation was ascending around the ground prior to kick-off, with Casuals fans absorbing the final few hours in home territory for the campaign. They were almost treated to a timely opener on 14 minutes, when former Corinthian shot-stopper Sami Nabbad’s scuffed clearance lacked the power to beat Michael Onovwigun who played in an unmarked Jonathan Gjoshe. But Nabbad recovered well to smother the full-back’s effort.

The Salts got their first clear-cut chance of the evening on the half-hour mark, by which point the game was back and forth like a pendulum. Winger Luke Miller – whose six goals have undoubtedly contributed to his side’s relegation battle – cut in from the right with the intention of adding another to his tally, but his effort bounced back off the foot of the post.

Corinthian-Casuals had held their own for long spells, with centre-halves Arsenii Protsyshyn and Warren Morgan influential in preserving the first-half clean sheet. Although, the Corinthian rearguard looked destined to be broken just prior to the interval, when an onslaught of Epsom & Ewell strikes were bravely blocked on the line.

The 232 in attendance – regardless of who they supported – would have been content heading into the break with a respectable half for both sides and enough chances to please the neutral.

Most of the crowd had barely had enough time to return to their seats before Casuals looked their lively selves once more. Player-assistant manager Gabriel Odunaike played his third game since swapping the touchline for the turf, and it was his textbook hold-up play that allowed Ben Cheklit to dart through and finish with finesse down to Nabbad’s left, firing the hosts ahead.

Despite this, the lead dissipated just 10 minutes later when Murillo Bernardes failed in his pursuit of a bouncing ball sent over the top by Craig Dundas, leaving Luke Miller with the simple task of nodding into an empty net. Some start to the second period, but an unnecessary blow for Corinth.

Casuals fans had heads in hands amid fears that history would repeat itself, and those worries became reality on 62 minutes. Miller was pulling the strings in Corinthian territory once again, yet this time he was impeded in the area by Marcos Dos Santos, and the Fans’ Player of the Season was hastily shown his second yellow. Epsom & Ewell captain Adam Grant slammed home an unsaveable penalty, sending a portion of the crowd into jubilant cheers.

The question that everybody found themselves asking was whether there was enough time for Casuals to rescue a point at the death once again. A dancing Denis Travin forged a path into the area late before finding Dillon, but the final chance of the game went askew.


Corinthian-Casuals: Bernardes, Protsyshyn, Onovwigun (Travin 68), Morgan (Dillon 45), Gjoshe (Cheklit 45), Dos Santos, Adelakun, Masikini, Falodi (Pilonetto 61), Cadogan, Odunaike

Corinthian-Casuals 2-2 Chipstead
Combined Counties League Premier South
Saturday 15 March 2025
Attendance: 340
Report: Josh Lamey

The final home game of the season under sunny Saturday skies saw Corinthian-Casuals surrender a two-goal advantage at home to Chipstead, continuing a winless run that now stretches back to November.

That Chipstead comeback, however, couldn’t tarnish a day when a season-best attendance of 340 turned out to celebrate two landmark moments in the club’s history. Before the game, our Brazilian captain Marcos Dos Santos and long-time supporter Roger Stringer joined members of Fiel Londres on the pitch for the presentation of a special banner bearing the quote of “Brothers in Football”. It gave fans, players and committee members the chance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the historic match against SC Corinthians Paulista.

Meanwhile, in the clubhouse a station was set up to mark the 100th anniversary of Corinthian FC’s post-war peace tour to Germany and Austria. One of our opponents on that tour, Tennis Borussia Berlin, had sent over a match-worn shirt for us to raffle along with pin badges, stickers and a flag for us to display in the stadium as a permanent reminder of the connection between the clubs.

On the pitch, it has been a tale of tough results in recent weeks. Consecutive 1-0 defeats against Tadley Calleva and Alton followed a frantic point in Sandhurst, and Casuals began this match 13th in the table, having had ambitions of the play-offs earlier in the year.

Many Casuals supporters would’ve been left reminiscing over our Step Three days upon seeing a starting eleven which rolled back the years. Player-coach Gabriel Odunaike was handed a rare opportunity to flourish once more in the role where he thrived in his previous stint at the club, while player-manager Mu Maan reprised his role in the centre of midfield.

Following a fairly even start to the encounter, Casuals forged ahead on 18 minutes through some individual inspiration from Kieron Cadogan. The former Crystal Palace frontman cushioned a Trey Masikini cross before caressing a perfectly-executed backheel beyond a stunned Klevis Muca, sending the Fiel Londres into raptures. It was the start of dreams on an historic day, and a goal to match the occasion.

All the excitement was too much for one furry friend behind the goal, but after a momentary interruption by a dog that managed to weave its way onto the turf, Casuals went back on the attack. The relentless Jonathon Gjoshe looped a cross into the danger area and, as if it were 2019, Odunaike instinctively beat Muca to the ball to nod home a scruffy but raucously-welcomed second for the home side.

But the Chips weren’t going down without a fight. In the midst of a goalmouth scramble, the visitors had a hopeful prod at goal charged down by the Corinthian defence, before the rebound fell fortunately to the feet of Sam Williams, who rifled beyond Murillo Bernardes. 2-1 with just half an hour played.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the flow of the game, there was another twist mere moments later, as Chipstead won a free kick on the outskirts of the area and Ben Jordan sent his effort curling and swerving beyond Bernardes. They had turned it around in no time at all.

The second half started how the first had ended – more chaos. Chipstead were reduced to 10 when Elliot McKimm’s ugly challenge left Dos Santos in agony, leading to his eventual substitution and an early shower for the Chipstead No3. Soon afterwards, ex-Casual Melford Simpson had an opportunity to put his new side in front after worming his way past Morgan, but the resulting hurried effort could only find the side netting.

Attacking pressure nearly made diamonds for Casuals on the hour mark, as Cadogan thought he’d notched his second of the afternoon. Masikini was the architect once more, as his lightning pace saw him breeze past defenders like statues, and his curler was diverted in via the boot of the talisman, yet the referee deemed him to be in an offside position.

The remainder of the game lost the intensity that it had started with. Various half-chances fell to substitute Freddie Champion, whose well-placed volley went narrowly askew, while was devastated that he couldn’t add to his earlier finish with a free header. Ultimately, neither side could break down the other in the remaining 10 minutes, but there was a sense of positivity and togetherness in the clubhouse after the game as Brian Adamson and Mu Maan hosted the annual awards ceremony a little earlier than usual.

This was our final Saturday home fixture this season – although we still have one game left to play at the Armada Group Stadium, against outgoing tenants Epsom & Ewell on Tuesday 25 March – and so the prizes were handed out with three games left to play.

Marcos Dos Santos was voted Fans’ Player of the Year and Manager’s Player of the Year, while Diogo da Silva got the nod for Players’ Player of the Year, and Jonathan Gjoshe was chosen as Young Player of the Year.

The message from chairman, manager and captain alike was clear: it’s onwards and upwards from here after a much-needed stabilising season. With support like we saw yesterday, the only way is up.

Corinthian-Casuals: Bernardes, Falodi (Cascoe-Rogers 66), Pilonetto, Dos Santos (Champion 51), Morgan, Protsyshyn, Gjoshe, Maan (Adelakun 77), Odunaike (Travin 84), Cadogan, Masikini