Alton 1 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties League Premier South
Saturday 23rd November 2024
Report and Photos - Stuart Tree (full set here)
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Storm Bert played its part in a very wet and windy draw at Alton on Saturday.

Diogo Da Silva’s first half strike was cancelled out by Jamie Hoppitt’s equaliser on the hour.

And with both teams looking for a winner, neither would be ultimately happy with a solitary point.

For Casuals, it was a missed opportunity to slip into the playoff places, hot on the heels of Cobham who could only draw with Camberley Town. But it’s only one loss in seven for Mu Maan’s side who, by and large, are picking up far more positive results than not.

Without Alton’s all-weather playing surface, the fixture would’ve likely been postponed due to the weather. Howling gales and driving rain constricted supporters to the very back row of the seated stand or take shelter in the opposite covered terracing. Those foolhardy enough to brave it in the elements behind the goal didn’t last too long before retreating.

Despite Alton’s lowly league position, they set out their intentions early, putting Casuals under pressure from the off. But with five attacking forwards on the pitch, Corinth was to strike first. Jerson Dos Santos broke down the left channel and fired at Theo Rust in goal, who could only parry the ball into the path of Da Silva who couldn’t miss for his seventh of the campaign.

Casuals looked to make it two, with Rust tipping a fierce shot onto the post and Cadogan spotting the keeper off his line but firing just wide. Ultimately, the two sides would retreat from the weather just a goal apart.

And it was Alton who looked the more lively after the break. Their pressure told in a period that many could see what was coming. Jamie Hoppitt’s header squirmed over the line with Nabaad unable to scoop it away in time and the home side had a deserved equaliser.

Despite the horrendous weather, both sides looked to play football rather than descending into hoof-it-and-hope with Casuals coming back into the fray to find another late winner. Da Silva’s free kick whistled over the bar and in stoppage time, Johnno Gjoshe’s cross looked destined to land on Kieron Cadogan’s head, but the wind caught it and the chance was gone.

Honours even on a tough afternoon, with weather often billed as a ‘leveller’. Whilst Casuals, with playoff ambitions will feel aggrieved that they didn’t pick up all three points at a side with ony three wins all season, they’ll also be grateful that a potential ‘banana skin’ was avoided and another valuable point picked up on the road. In fact, that point gives Casuals a better away record than at home, with 17 earned on their travels, opposed to 16 at home (albeit playing two less at King George’s).

Corinthian-Casuals U18s 1-1 AFC Croydon Athletic U18s
Tony Ford Under-18 Division East
Thursday 14 November 2024
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Andy Nunn

The togetherness from Corinthian-Casuals’ Under-18s side shone through on Thursday night, overcoming early adversity to maintain their six-game unbeaten streak.

Fresh off the back of first-team involvement, goalkeeper David Wloch and centre-half Ogbeifun Ojo-Osagie met back up with their teenage colleagues, looking to defeat an AFC Croydon Athletic side sitting neck-and-neck with Casuals at the summit of the league.

Two sides that have become familiar with each other in recent years locked horns once again in the league, and the narrow 2-1 victory at Mayfield Stadium proved it’s always a close-run affair against the Rams. Both are early title contenders, but would Croydon leapfrog the leaders, or could Casuals cling on to top spot?

The visitors sprang into life from the get-go, but not many around the Armada Group Stadium would’ve predicted what was to come just 30 seconds after the referee’s first whistle. The start of dreams for Athletic saw them carve open the back line, and their No7 fired through the legs of Wloch. Palpable delight in the away dugout.

Casuals sought a rapid response to get back into the contest, and they got just that. No defence is safe with captain Tom Rolls standing over a corner, and his pinpoint delivery eased past the gloves of the keeper for Nathan Downer to force it home off his thigh. They all count, and it was set-piece superiority which drew the hosts level.

They ended the half in stark contrast to how they started, however. Some picturesque football from the young Casuals gave them the chance to forge ahead, but a wild swing at the end of a fine move meant it was all square at the break.

A second half which was injected with fighting spirit under the cover of Tolworth darkness followed, as both sides pushed for a vital three points. Casuals were a needle’s width away from finding a winner, as a lack of communication between goalkeeper and defender left the ball eager to cross the line, before being smashed well away from goal by the Croydon defender.

As we headed deep into the end of the 90 minutes, Casuals had one final chance to extend their lead at the peak. Downer had the ball in the net once more, but the linesman deemed him to have made the run too early. A late let-off for the visitors.

“Even though we are still unbeaten in the league, we have missed out on two additional points.” said Under-18s boss Paul Hill afterwards. “I feel we did enough to win the game, but it got overshadowed by emotions out there.

“It’s a new experience for the players along with the pressure of being top of the league, but we will chat through it as a team and focus on next week’s game versus Balham.”

It’s already been a successful season so far for the youth section. First-team experiences and an unbeaten run show the potential this group of players possesses, and it’s exciting to see what the future holds for them.


Corinthian-Casuals: Wloch, Raven, Ojo-Osagie, Wilkens, Frimpong, Warby, Rolls, Downer, Bland, Blakeway, Glyrow

Corinthian-Casuals 2-2 Fleet Town
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Saturday 16 November 2024
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Andy Nunn

Mu Maan’s daredevil Casuals left it late once again, as supersub Kieron Cadogan clutched a point from the jaws of defeat in stoppage time.

A play-off battle, a Goal of the Season contender, and a last-gasp equaliser – all the ingredients needed for a Combined Counties classic. Daring to dream of another fairytale ending, Corinthian-Casuals went toe-to-toe with fellow promotion hopefuls Fleet Town, who boast a near-flawless record so far this campaign.

The previous outing in the league also demonstrated a refreshing and inspiring fighting spirit that Maan’s side now possesses. Jerson Dos Santos rescued victory in Guildford when it looked for all the world that the hosts had secured a hard-fought point, but a winner in the dying embers brought all three back to Tolworth.

Midweek Under-18s action meant rests for prospects David Wloch and Ogbeifun Ojo-Osagie, as Sami Nabbad and Warren Morgan were welcomed back to a reshuffled Corinthian pack. A first half of few clear-cut chances made for a fairly quiet return for the pair, although an early Fleet stinger that flew narrowly wide of the post would’ve left them uncomfortable.

After the late glory of last weekend, Jerson had an opportunity to write his name into the headlines again right on the stroke of half-time – some breathtaking build-up from Casuals left Diogo da Silva with acres of space, but Dos Santos couldn’t redirect his cross into the back of the net. The first sighting of a busy afternoon in front of goal.

The 321 Corinthian-Casuals fans in attendance went into the interval wondering, “What if?” as they cast their minds back to the handful of chances the side could’ve put away. Jerson was involved in the action once more, this time when Trey Masikini picked it up in the pocket and rolled it into the stride of the onrushing striker, but his airborne strike didn’t trouble Finley Purcell.

The hosts’ hard luck continued, as the Blues cashed in on a lapse of Casuals concentration against the run of play. Nabbad has been a reliable presence bearing the gloves since his return to the club, but a mix-up between him and Morgan on 57 minutes was seized upon by Fleet forward Tane Caubo, who slotted into an empty net. An unfortunate way to go behind.

Fleet’s attacking armada set sail once again less than 10 minutes later, when pink-and-chocolate penalty cries at one end were quickly drowned out by Fleet jubilance at the other, as the visiting supporters witnessed a Kai Tanner pearler on the break, just moments after the officials had overlooked what looked a clear foul on Denis Travin in their own area. The visitors’ winger cut in from the left channel to unleash a majestic strike into the far corner of Nabbad’s net, leaving sombre expressions upon the faces of the home crowd.

As a sheet of darkness overtook the Tolworth skies, the hosts were offered a lifeline. Given 25 minutes (plus stoppage time) to make his mark, Cadogan introduced himself from the bench with a bang, kick-starting the Casuals comeback with an instinctive finish into the roof of the net. A fresh wave of hope overcame the supporters that Corinth could get even a fraction of what they truthfully deserved out of the game.

The seconds and the minutes ticked past, and the eager fanbase urged the team on while Nabbad was given the nod to venture forward for Da Silva’s final corner of the game in the seventh minute of time added on. Time seemed to stand still as Casuals bodies hurled themselves at the cross, and many prayers would have been answered behind the goal when Cadogan was there at the back post to hook the ball over the goal line, sending the supporters into raptures. Wheeling away in relieved celebration, Maan’s men had salvaged it just in time.


Corinthian-Casuals: Nabbad, Gjoshe, Kellett-Smith, Morgan, Pilonetto (Cadogan 64), Adelakun, M Dos Santos, Masikini, Da Silva , Dillon (Travin 61) (Cascoe-Rogers 68), J Dos Santos

Guildford City 1 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals
Saturday 9th November 2024
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Report and Photos - Stuart Tree (full set here) 

​“54 points. 54 points” That was the rallying cry in the post-match huddle from Manager Mu Maan to his players signalling the number of points still up for grabs this season.

Minutes before, Casuals had added three to their tally courtesy of a late, late Jerson Dos Santos winner. “He’s arrived” stated Captain Kieron Cadogan following the full time whistle, highlighting the striker’s most important contribution since returning to the club.
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Guildford might feel hard done by the result having got back into the contest late on themselves. 87 minutes on the clock when Casuals defence was finally breached. It was a back line that included two Under-18 lads, David Wloch and Ogbeifun Ojo-Osajie – both part of an unbeaten squad from the youth section, thrust into first team action through a combination of suspensions and Manager Mu Maan having faith in the pathway, after seeing them in action.

Ojo-Osajie was paired with the excellent Arsenii Protsyshyn, who would guide the youngster through the game. But that plan was thrown to the wolves in just the first minute when the Ukrainian’s groin betrayed him. Hakeem Adelakun was hastily brought on and a re-shuffle that saw Marcos Dos Santos take up his old central defensive position caused Casuals to re-think their tactics.

Despite a bright start, Casuals were soon pushed back into their own half. Guildford, who were looking to turn around a three match losing streak had intentions of taking the points on offer. But they couldn’t break the deadlock thanks to some excellent work in goal by Wloch and a resolute back line.

Things came alive in the second half as Casuals vastly improved on their first 45 minutes. Inter-play flowed and quick feet quickened. It paid off. A lovely through ball from Denis Travin to Jonathon Gjoshe saw the wing back fire past Jacob Terry to give Corinth the lead. Travin had been a menace all afternoon and only when he was substituted, did Guildford stopper, Terry give a passing compliment to the midfielder, “I’m glad you’re off the field now… well played.”

Terry was also confident that his side would score and his prediction came true in the 87th minute. Jake Brown was finally able to penetrate a defence that had only conceded twice in the previous four games. A blow for Casuals who felt that their second half performance was worthy of more. Terry celebrated like Guildford had won the World Cup and as seen a number of times already this season, playing in front of a sizeable supporting contingent can lead to some players being… ahem… over-exuberant.

But it bit him in the backside deep into stoppage time. Gjoshe turned provider in the 94th minute when his cross found Jerson Dos Santos twelve yards out who steered home an excellent finish to send the away fans into delirium and leave egg on the keeper’s face.
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Casuals can take pride in this squad, now bolstered by an excellent Under-18s setup that has proven they can mix it with the best Mu and his management team have to offer. Fans have grown to know, and more importantly, love this group of players and the hugs given out at the end shows just how much a turnaround this club has had from last season.

Corinthian-Casuals 4 - 1 Sheerwater
Combined Counties Premier South
Tuesday 5th November 2024
Report: Josh Lamey. Photo: Andy Nunn.

Fireworks continued both on and off the pitch on Tuesday night as Sheerwater failed to extinguish a blistering Corinthian-Casuals attacking performance.
 
The assured confidence that came with back-to-back home wins disappeared on Saturday, following a forgettable game in Camberley. An afternoon which lacked action, however, midfielder Ben Cheklit finishing the game between the sticks after a Sami Nabbad red card certainly set up an intriguing finale.
 
Casuals came into this one with a mission: record the double over a side for the first time since the Step 3 days of 2021/2022, where a 2-1 win in Bromley coupled with a soaring 4-0 home victory was enough to defeat Cray Wanderers twice in one campaign. Suffice to say, since then, wins have been hard to come by and doubles over any opposition have been completely absent.
 
The dreams of a double were almost troubled after just mere seconds, as Sheerwater looked to set out their intent early. A shot hooked towards goal from Danny Webster had Nabbad rooted, but fortunately for him, the post intervened to prevent the opener.
 
From what was a lightning-quick start from the hosts, Casuals suddenly burst into life in the 10th minute. A meaningful run from Raf Barbosa through a sea of Sheerwater defence saw the Brazilian impeded in the area, and left the referee in no doubt of a penalty. Fellow countryman Diogo Da Silva calmly placed in his sixth goal of the season to send his side into the lead.
 
Denis Travin - on loan from Oxford United - got his name onto the scoresheet for the first time in the Pink and Chocolate of Corinthian-Casuals, reinstating an effervescent buzz of playing at home that the side had become accustomed to before the weekend. A corner swung in wasn’t dealt with by the Sheers, and Travin cooly slotted home to double the advantage. A well-deserved two-goal lead.
 
Although the elation of scoring was tangible, it was also wiped out instantly. Sheerwater made full use of the hosts’ celebrations to go straight down the other end, led by Captain Liam Avery, and after some missed chances to clear the Casuals lines, the centre-half pounced and smashed it past Nabbad. Game on, it seemed.
 
That was, until Matt Kellett-Smith restored order for Mu Maan’s side, who regained the upper hand just prior to the break. Perhaps history repeated itself as the Sheers found themselves defending another set-piece, and it was another wicked delivery that left the back line at sixes and sevens, and Kellett-Smith couldn’t miss as he thumped home from 6 yards.
 
Half time, and Maanball was in full force, showing that the fireworks weren’t the only spectacular on display on the 5th of November…
 
The downside of the contest was a nasty injury to Ben Cheklit who required an ambulance and hospital visit following a rib injury that left him with breathing difficulties. Thankfully, Ben is recovering and hopes to be back in action within a few weeks. It’s a blow to Maan losing his current Captain, but with a number of players due back and a strong squad now formed, Casuals will look to continue this upward rise.
 
And so they did. It was game set and match as the clocks struck for the 75th minute, and Kiyo Brown struck for the fourth. It was his cross-come-shot which Fabio Suarez could only palm into the back of his own net, meanwhile Brown celebrated in humble fashion. It may have taken a slice of luck, but it had restored that winning feeling back to the stands of the Armada Group Stadium.
 
Corinthian-Casuals: Nabbad, Gjoshe, Adelakun, M Dos Santos, Kellett-Smith, Protsyshyn, Brown (Blackwell 90+7), Cheklit (Ewerthon 58), Barbosa (Pilonetto 90+4), Da Silva (J Dos Santos 83), Travin