A Night To Forget

Uxbridge 5-1 Corinthian-Casuals 
Ndukuba 15,36 Deakin 19 
Hedley 34 
Paris 56 
Mensah 66

Wednesday 23 August 2023 
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay 
Attendance: 154 

Match Report by Finlay Stubbs 
Photo by Chris Randall


Corinthian-Casuals were left stunned after they fell to a heavy 5-1 defeat to a well-organised Uxbridge side in their FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay. 
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After an entertaining 2-2 draw at the weekend, a replay at Slough Town, where Uxbridge currently groundshare, was needed to decide which side would make it into the first qualifying round on a warm late summer's evening. 

The opening stages were played at a high intensity with both teams looking to play into the final third. The first chance of the game fell to Uxbridge winger Ezra Ndukuba, who skipped past Oscar Walton and fired his shot against the base of the near post. However, the hosts were rewarded for their early pressure and took the lead in the 15th minute after an effort from Alex Witham was parried by Mohammed Otuyo into the path of Ndukuba, who tapped in the rebound to give his side the lead. 

Despite being pegged back, Casuals set about getting the equaliser with direct passes into the feet of striker Reece Deakin, whose strong hold-up play earned his team a free-kick 20 yards out. Deakin stepped up and his deflected effort found its way past the diving Loris Marciman to equalise four minutes after conceding. 

Casuals continued to battle hard in midfield areas with Rmani Blankson, Dylan Cascoe and Ayomide Majekodunmi looking to regain possession and play into the front three quickly.  Despite Casuals’ tenacity, Uxbridge were able to regain the lead after a driven cross from Witham was parried by Otuyo into the path of Alan Hedley who slammed home from the edge of the box. 
It soon got better for the hosts, who doubled their lead. After a mistake in the Casuals back line, the ball made its way to the ever-dangerous Ndukuba who calmly slotted his attempt past the onrushing Otuyo to punish the visitors defence. 

The opportunities continued for the home side when a deflected effort from the edge of the area rattled against the bar. Just before half-time, Casuals winger Elliott Cannon-Gibson came close when his curling effort was well saved by Marciman to ensure the score remained 3-1 at the break. 

The second half began with the hosts looking to seal their spot in the next round, with their wingers providing their outlets and winning free-kicks in dangerous positions.  One of these free kicks proved to be costly for Casuals as Luke Parris headed home from eight yards out to make the possibility of a comeback even more unlikely for Andy Gray's side. 

The visitors continued to try and find a way back into the contest and restore some pride to take back to Tolworth with a cross from full back Adonai Dacruz finding the head of substitute Donnell Moore. Unfortunately for Casuals, his effort was well held by the Uxbridge goalkeeper. 

However, Uxbridge were looking to add to their tally and got their fifth of the evening. After a great save from Otuyo, the hosts recovered the ball well and a cross from the right was slotted home by Bernard Mensah to dampen Casuals spirits, giving his side a home draw in the next round. 

Overall, it was a tough day at the office for Gray's side, who showed glimpses of quality but ultimately were second best to an Uxbridge side that switched the play at pace and were ruthless in their finishing. 
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Next up for Casuals is a home league fixture against Marlow on Saturday, before a short trip to Chipstead on Bank Holiday Monday, as Gray continues to mould his squad