Casuals Advance in Cup

Corinthian-Casuals 5 - 0 Croydon
London Senior Cup 1st Round
Tuesday 16th October 2018
​Report and Photo: Stuart Tree. More pics from Andy Nunn here​

Corinthian-Casuals progressed into the next round of the London Senior Cup with a comprehensive 5-0 win over Croydon on Tuesday night.

Goals from Warren Mfula, Warren Morgan (2), Tommy Smith and Gil Carvalho sealed Casuals place in the 2nd Round where they’ll face National League South side Welling United.

Casuals have now dispatched eleven goals against the Trams this season, following the 6-0 FA Cup win back in August. Manager James Bracken will also take delight in a third consecutive clean sheet before travelling to Bishop Stortford on Saturday.

Unsurprisingly, it was a much changed line-up from the side that defeated AFC Hornchurch at the weekend. In all, there were six changes to the starting eleven with two debutants in Callum Phillip and Majed Osman on the bench. Fans were also delighted to see the return of Reyon Dillon – following his long injury lay-off.

Croydon have yet to earn themselves a point in the Southern Counties East League this campaign but with their forward-thinking play, it was hard to see why. They attacked Casuals back-line with gusto. As with the FA Cup tie, the Trams frustrated their higher league opponents for half an hour until Warren Mfula broke the deadlock with a neat turn and shot that left Tarell Annakie no chance.
It was just five minutes after the break when the lead was doubled – and from an unlikely source. Defender Tommy Smith got within 25 yards of goal and unleashed a beautiful curling shot that found the bottom corner. Certainly one for the highlight reel.

From here-on-in there was no return for Croydon. Makeshift forward Warren Morgan added two in the space of three minutes; the first a tap in following a one-on-one with the keeper and the second, a well taken strike into the far corner.

Gil Carvalho wrapped up the scoring with less than ten minutes remaining when he pounced on the rebound from a Majed Osman shot. The fan favourite being mobbed by his faithful support behind the goal.

All-in, it was a comfortable evening for Casuals who rode the initial bluster of Croydon and cruised to victory. Bracken’s side will now face Welling United in the next round – a side Corinth defeated 5-1 in this same competition last year.