Balham 1 – 3 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties League Premier South
Saturday 10th January 2026
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree
Additional photos from Andy Nunn and Harvey Abbott.

Corinthian-Casuals started the new year in fine fashion with a 3-1 win away at Balham in the Combined Counties League.

Goals from Scott Day, Diogo Da Silva and a little help via an own goal secured three points for the Casuals to put them within four points of the playoff places.

Whilst it ended a three-game winless streak, the more positive supporter will see that Mu Maan’s side have only lost once in the last seven fixtures and that was to the runaway league leaders Cobham. And it was a welcome third win on the road this season, in which Casuals have mustered the majority of their points at home.

Balham had also recently suffered at the hands of Cobham – 5-0 on the previous Saturday and were coming into this fixture without a win in ten and thus hovering around the relegation zone.

Casuals were without their lead scorer – Andre Coker, suspended for this fixture as well as Maan himself, serving a touchline ban. Brother Mo and Richard Blackwell taking charge in the dugout.

Form guide suggested this would be an easy romp for the Casuals but following twenty minutes of pinball football, Balham’s James Anderson had the freedom of Mitcham to break through the back line and beat keeper Sanghyun Baek to the ball before finishing to give the home side the lead.

It didn’t take long for Casuals to respond. With Trey Masikini being the major threat down the wing, the away side pressed. Masikini’s cross found Day at the back post to level the scores.

And it was 2-1 minutes later when new dad, Diogo da Silva followed up Scott Day’s parried shot, following brilliant hold-up play from Gabs Odunaike. The celebrations reflected Diogo’s newly found fatherhood in true Brazilian Bebeto style.

Balham’s threat wasn’t to be underestimated and could’ve levelled the scores but Withers saw his first effort saved by Baek, then sliced over at the second bite of the cherry.

Whilst Casuals could’ve also extended their lead with Day’s powerful header passing the wrong side of the bar, the first half came to a painful end for Arsenii Protsyshyn who’s shoulder popped out and had to be replaced at the break.

Just four minutes into the second half and it was effectively game over when Casuals grabbed their third. Clayton Afonso rose highest to flick on a wicked cross from Adelakun and Balham’s Jake Henry got the final touch with Gabriel Odunaike lurking with intent.
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Casuals looked comfortable and whilst sitting back for large parts of the second half, they always looked dangerous on the break. Balham had little to offer in response and so the points headed back to Tolworth to keep Corinth in the playoff hunt.

Corinthian-Casuals 1 – 1 Balham
Combined Counties League Premier South
Saturday 30th August 2025
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree
Additional Photos courtesy of Andy Nunn.

Corinthian-Casuals Manager Mu Maan says the only positive thing to come out of the 1-1 draw with Balham was salvaging a point.

An early Olly Meadows opener was cancelled out by himself, helping Casuals to rescue a point from an otherwise under-par performance by the home side.

Following a dramatic win over Epsom & Ewell five days earlier, Maan extensively shuffled his pack, introducing Charlie Sell – on loan from Aldershot alongside incoming Marcos Dos Santos, Wilgnner Ewerthon and Raekwon Bailey-Allen in an all-middle shake-up. A late, late injury to Goalkeeper Mo Maan meant Sanghyun Baek was back between the sticks, just ten minutes before kick-off.

But they found themselves behind before anyone had a chance to settle. A Balham corner was bundled home by Meadows in just the second minute. It gave something for the visitors to bite down upon. In a two-horse race, Casuals were third… not able to get hold of the match, nor, at times, the ball. Corinth were limited to a few half chances and thankfully for the support, so were Balham.

With wholesale changes made to the midfield, Corinth came out for the second half all guns blazing, and before long, they had their equaliser. A Wilgnner corner was headed into the net at the near post by defender Meadows, much to the relief of the 225 in attendance. Would Casuals kick-on? It looked like it. Now, much more threatening, Balham were forced to retreat, backtrack and defend. Tommy Smith found himself at the back post in  the best of a flurry of chances, but the angle defeated him. Andre Coker slid 'Gazza Euro-96' style at the back post in what looked like a glorious chance to take the lead.

But when George Bond was sent to the sin-bin for protesting a foul upon him, which had actually tore a hole in his sock, it put Casuals on the backfoot. Baek had to be alert as the defence floundered and struggled to clear lines. Balham were bouncing and Casuals were holding on. After nearly 100 minutes played, all three possible results wouldn’t have looked out of place on the vidiprinter. However, it was Maan who was most relieved to get a point.

“I said it to the boys in the changing room after that I'm happy with the point, all things considered. We didn't get going at all today. Balham beat us to the first ball… to the second ball. The second half, even after we equalised, we weren’t good enough.

“I can’t quite put my finger on it but it seemed like we didn’t want it. I think there was a belief that we could just turn up and get the three points. That’s not going to happen in this league, no matter who we play.

“They outworked us. They won everything… we can’t be so complacent in the future. We know where that complacency leads.

“We made some changes for the second half and it worked for a while. Then we fell off the pace again. It didn’t help that George got sin-binned for the last ten minutes. It gave them the impetus and they were all over us, so I was happy to take the point in the end.”

Corinthian-Casuals 2-0 Balham
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Tuesday 29 October 2024
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Andy Nunn (full set here)

What may be a time of horror and fright for some is becoming a memorable spell for Corinthian-Casuals, as the week began with a bang.

The Armada Group Stadium at King George’s Field has been somewhat of a haunted house at times for Casuals this season, however recent performances have treated home fans to the taste of sweet victory. It’s now three in the last four at home, after fireworks against Abbey Rangers and Spelthorne Sports, and going spine-tinglingly close to a result against Tadley Calleva.

Mu Maan was looking to cast his three-point spell once again, aiming for a victory that would well and truly blow away the cobwebs of our recent winless run. Aiding his mission, the comeback of Emerson Pilonetto to the left-hand side, who terrifies any opposition with his lightning pace.

There was almost a costume clash for the occasion, but the kits were just about different enough for the game to go ahead. The visitors in deep red began the faster, but Casuals came close with an early Diogo da Silva free kick that was inches from creeping into the top corner.

It was a cagey first half under the blanket of darkness, and Maan looked to turn the tide by swapping Shea Cascoe-Rogers and Trey Masikini on the flanks. The decision almost paid off immediately as Cascoe-Rogers fed Hakeem Adelakun, whose piledriver just narrowly sailed over the crossbar. Casuals were knocking on the door…

As the half wore on, Balham looked in grave danger of conceding. It would be Masikini who found that breakthrough just three minutes before the break as The Blazers’ defence failed to clear from a maul of bodies, and the No7 pounced upon the loose ball and applied the killer touch. A perfect end to the half.

Corinthian-Casuals haven’t often led at the break in the recent weeks, but nevertheless, work was still required to wrap up this one.

After notching just before half time, it looked as though a second was just around the corner. Much to the fear of the Balham defence, Shea ghosted past the back four once again and unleashed a stinger which fell kindly to the feet of Kieron Cadogan, who accepted the invitation to tuck into the back of the net – yet the assistant referee had his flag up on the far side, not for the first nor the last time.

The Casuals faithful turned the ground into a cauldron of noise as the home side continued to ask all the questions. Moments later, the nail was in the coffin when Diogo Da Silva – the man in form at the moment – swept home Cadogan’s cross to send the home support into raptures.

At the other end, Sami Nabbad was in fine form again, pulling off a fine double save to prevent Balham from clawing one back. The ball ricocheted off Matt Kellett-Smith who would’ve had a scare, but Nabbad tipped it off the line before hurriedly shutting out the rebound from Omario Stewart.

It was a near-perfect evening for Casuals, marred only by the harsh sending off Masikini in the final knockings of normal time. After what looked certain to be a Corinthian free-kick in the far corner, the goalscorer slid in to win the ball back but the referee deemed it to be a red card. An unwanted trick at the end of a night of treats, which included a late debut for Casuals youth graduate Ogbeifun Ojo-Osagie.

Corinthian-Casuals: Nabbad, Gjoshe, Pilonetto (Ojo-Osagie 90+2), Adelakun (Ewerthon 73), Kellett-Smith, Protsyshyn, Masikini, M Dos Santos, Cadogan (Barbosa 74), Da Silva (J Dos Santos 84), Cascoe-Rogers (Brown 63)