Cobham 1 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties  League Premier South
Saturday 9th August 2025
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Additional photos: Andy Nunn

Corinthian-Casuals Manager Mu Maan issued a “statement of intent” to the rest of the Combined Counties following a dramatic 2-1 win at Cobham.

Goals from Brazilians Rafa Barbosa and Marcos Dos Santos ensured Casuals walked away from the Reg Madgwick Stadium with a vital three points.

And with many tipping Cobham to be in the title race this season, the result meant even more to Maan following a poor performance at Badshot Lea just three days earlier.

Corinth came into the match missing Captain Arsenii Protsyshyn and Tommy Smith in defence as well as Shea Cascoe Rogers, who’ll be out for several weeks with a sprain. In came George Bond, on dual registration from South Park as well as a return for Andre Coker following a one match suspension.

Cobham were coming off the back of an impressive 4-0 win away at Tooting and thus, full of confidence, being unbeaten this season. It was the hosts who dominated the ball, with large amounts of possession in the middle of the park. But they were unable to turn the screw, with chances limited to corners or set-pieces. And so often is the case, it was Casuals who opened the scoring against the run of play. Bond fired a shot at Conrad Knight who could only parry it, leaving Barbosa to nod home.

Heat haze enveloped the pitch; an indication of the tough temperatures dictating the intensity. It looked as though the visitors were going to keep Cobham at bay, but in the 86th minute, a foul on the edge of the box saw Patrick Murray convert a low free kick into the corner of the goal.

But the drama wasn’t to end there. In a final twist, Diogo Da Silva’s wide free kick was brushed home by the head of Dos Santos to give Casuals a vital three points, at what will be, a tough place for any side to get a positive result.

Cobham 3-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup
Tuesday 15 October 2024
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Andy Nunn

Upon returning to English soil from Jersey, Corinthian-Casuals tasted bitter defeat in the first round of the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup.

Having suffered at the hands of Cobham in the league just 10 days prior, Casuals arrived for the first-round tie seeking to avenge that 4-1 defeat, a game which saw a free-flowing Hammers side cruise to victory from minute one.

Though we haven’t tasted victory since that defeat, manager Mu Maan was quick to praise an encouraging display at Knaphill last week which saw the side earn a hard-fought point, before leaving the Channel Islands empty handed thanks to two very fortunate goals for the hosts.

Despite an even start in Cobham, which saw both sides play some attractive spells of football, the home side took advantage of a Corinthian side stuck in the habit of conceding the opener. Casuals fans were haunted by their ex-striker Elijah Simpson a week and a half ago, and he was back on the scoresheet again after gliding around Murillo Bernardes and keeping a level head in front of goal. Another early setback for the visitors.

Simpson continued to be a thorn in his former club’s side, but perhaps he’ll be kicking himself for missing in front of a near-empty net after a darting run down the right flank from Reis Stanislaus caught the makeshift Casuals back line in no man’s land.

The Hammers went into the break with the upper hand, but after some bizarre circumstances, it could’ve been more. After placing the ball on the ground to kick it, Bernardes proceeded to handle the ball again, forgetting that it wasn’t a free-kick situation. The assistant referee immediately flagged the infringement, and the Casuals goalkeeper stepped way from the ball before the referee had actually whistled for the indirect free-kick that would have ensued. In the midst of the confusion, Simpson used the opportunity to roll the ball into an empty goal. The referee indicated a goal but was urged to consult his assistant by the incensed Casuals players, and eventually an indirect free-kick inside the area was awarded. It was eventually blocked by one of the many Casuals bodies, but a strange passage of play left the spectators in the main stand deep in conversation about what had actually just happened.

Following an underwhelming first period, it was imperative for Corinthian-Casuals to start the second on the front foot, and they did exactly that. The return of South American duo Diogo Da Silva and Raf Barbosa was a huge boost for the side, and it was the latter who created the opportunity for Jerson dos Santos to get his team back on level terms.

There’s no doubt that some travelling fans would’ve got déjà vu from the trip to Met Police last time we were in cup action, as Casuals went a man down once again. This time, last man Ryan Green was penalised for tripping Simpson on the outskirts of the area, meaning he’ll miss league duties on Saturday.

From the resulting free-kick, Cobham No10, Derick Hayford, found the bottom right-hand corner with aplomb, and the hosts held the cards once again in the Surrey rain.

In the end, the game was decided when Casuals’ skipper, Hakeem Adelakun was caught in possession on the halfway line just as the away side looked to rekindle their hopes for a place in the second round, and Stanislaus sealed it in style, showing a touch of finesse to round Bernardes and send Cobham through.

Corinthian-Casuals: Bernardes, Gjoshe, Adelakun, M Dos Santos, Green, Morgan, Osunkoya (Ndah 67), Barbosa (Ewerthon 67), Da Silva (Cascoe-Rogers 79), Masikini (Dillon 73), J Dos Santos (Cadogan 73)

Corinthian-Casuals 1-4 Cobham
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Saturday 5th October
Words: Josh Lamey and Riley Shenton
Image: Andy Nunn

Cobham arrived at the Armada Group Stadium, King George’s Field and ran rampant in Tolworth, leaving Corinthian-Casuals lingering in an unwanted losing streak.

October began the way in which September ended: facing teams who’ll be competing with Casuals, for a shot at returning to Step Four football come the end of the campaign. Four defeats on the spin has seen the side descend down the table, however having played just 11 games in the league, and a place in the top five still at arm’s length, there’s no time to be drawing any conclusions.

In what was another rotated first string side, the coaching staff went with a combination of familiar faces and promising debutants. Casuals were quick to welcome back the likes of Jay Dunstan-Digweed and Emerson Pilonetto who were selected alongside returning new signings Jerson Dos Santos and Ryan Green in the eleven. Pilonetto’s opposite number Jonathon Gjoshe was ruled out through suspension, after acquiring a straight red at The Moor two weeks prior.

You got the sense that a breakthrough was impending from the outset, and when Murillo Bernardes was caught in no man’s land face-to-face with Elijah Simpson, his foul was greeted by the referee’s whistle for a spot-kick. Nicolas Osborne sent the Brazilian the wrong way, and Cobham led inside the opening 10.

The Hammers continued to fly out the blocks, piling early pressure upon a helpless Casuals back line. They flexed their attacking muscles once again, as Simpson’s effort was spilled by Bernardes, and Reis Stanislaus was able to mop up and fire into an unguarded net. An early kick in the teeth for Casuals.

This was just the beginning of an unforseeable first half. A packed Phillips End witnessed a valiant run from Jerson Dos Santos who could only be stopped by a hefty Jonathan Sanchez challenge, which referee Jamaal Horne viewed as the second penalty of the day. Dos Santos sealed a debut strike under the spotlight, to send Casuals back into the competition.

A mere 50 seconds later, and the visitors had their two-goal advantage restored. It was a well-worked goal from Cobham’s Remi Meyers, as Simpson’s constant
presence in the pocket led to a shot, of which was thumped home at close quarters by the left-back to make it 3-1.

After an absurd half hour, a shuffle of the pack was a necessity from a Casuals perspective. Three changes of personnel on the half hour mark couldn’t keep out a fourth, as seconds after entering the pitch, Stanislaus’s set piece caused more defensive dilemmas. The inswinger found Charles Alexiou’s head who made no mistake hammering home from a few yards out, and the away side were running away with it.

A despondent Corinthian-Casuals needed a vast improvement on the first 45, otherwise the score was at risk of getting worse.

Fortunately, it was a better second half performance. Shea Cascoe-Rogers looked lively off the bench as him and Kieron Cadogan looked to break down a stern Hammers defence, and a sequence of crucial Bernardes saves kept them at bay. Two of which saw Stanislaus involved yet again, but he could only sting the palms of the Casuals keeper.

Our luck looked certain to change on the 80th minute, as a flick on from Jake Boyer gave Cadogan a clear-cut chance to attack, but as of the trend of this game, Casuals never really seem to get out of first gear as the attack fizzled out and was cleared by a robust back line.

Right up until the final whistle, the Fiel Londres supporters were fantastic in spurring the side on, but despite this Casuals fall to a fifth defeat in five, and look to turn the tables when we visit Knaphill on Tuesday night.