Corinthian-Casuals 1-2 Epsom & Ewell
Combined Counties League Premier South
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Andy Nunn

Casuals’ final home game of the season ended in defeat to Epsom & Ewell in a final game between landlords and tenants before the Salts move on this summer.

We’ve seen a trilogy against Epsom this season, beginning with the pre-season Stella Lamont Trophy, in which the tenants reclaimed the silverware via a penalty shoot-out. Then, in August, Reyon Dillon glistened in a bright Bank Holiday triumph for Casuals as we ran out 2-1 winners.

That result had ignited a four-game winning streak, but results have since taken a turn for the worse and Casuals were disappointed not to turn their form around in our last home game – a 2-2 draw against Chipstead in which we had led 2-0. However, last weekend’s 2-1 friendly win away at Knaphill ensured that Casuals fans at least celebrated Non-League Day with a victory.

The anticipation was ascending around the ground prior to kick-off, with Casuals fans absorbing the final few hours in home territory for the campaign. They were almost treated to a timely opener on 14 minutes, when former Corinthian shot-stopper Sami Nabbad’s scuffed clearance lacked the power to beat Michael Onovwigun who played in an unmarked Jonathan Gjoshe. But Nabbad recovered well to smother the full-back’s effort.

The Salts got their first clear-cut chance of the evening on the half-hour mark, by which point the game was back and forth like a pendulum. Winger Luke Miller – whose six goals have undoubtedly contributed to his side’s relegation battle – cut in from the right with the intention of adding another to his tally, but his effort bounced back off the foot of the post.

Corinthian-Casuals had held their own for long spells, with centre-halves Arsenii Protsyshyn and Warren Morgan influential in preserving the first-half clean sheet. Although, the Corinthian rearguard looked destined to be broken just prior to the interval, when an onslaught of Epsom & Ewell strikes were bravely blocked on the line.

The 232 in attendance – regardless of who they supported – would have been content heading into the break with a respectable half for both sides and enough chances to please the neutral.

Most of the crowd had barely had enough time to return to their seats before Casuals looked their lively selves once more. Player-assistant manager Gabriel Odunaike played his third game since swapping the touchline for the turf, and it was his textbook hold-up play that allowed Ben Cheklit to dart through and finish with finesse down to Nabbad’s left, firing the hosts ahead.

Despite this, the lead dissipated just 10 minutes later when Murillo Bernardes failed in his pursuit of a bouncing ball sent over the top by Craig Dundas, leaving Luke Miller with the simple task of nodding into an empty net. Some start to the second period, but an unnecessary blow for Corinth.

Casuals fans had heads in hands amid fears that history would repeat itself, and those worries became reality on 62 minutes. Miller was pulling the strings in Corinthian territory once again, yet this time he was impeded in the area by Marcos Dos Santos, and the Fans’ Player of the Season was hastily shown his second yellow. Epsom & Ewell captain Adam Grant slammed home an unsaveable penalty, sending a portion of the crowd into jubilant cheers.

The question that everybody found themselves asking was whether there was enough time for Casuals to rescue a point at the death once again. A dancing Denis Travin forged a path into the area late before finding Dillon, but the final chance of the game went askew.


Corinthian-Casuals: Bernardes, Protsyshyn, Onovwigun (Travin 68), Morgan (Dillon 45), Gjoshe (Cheklit 45), Dos Santos, Adelakun, Masikini, Falodi (Pilonetto 61), Cadogan, Odunaike

Epsom & Ewell 1-2 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Monday 26 August
Report: Josh Lamey
Image: Andy Nunn

Bank Holiday Monday ended with raucous away victory against the Salts, as Corinthian-Casuals dug deep and snatched the three points from our tenant’s grasp.

You could argue that it wasn’t a standard away trip following the Casuals, as we stepped foot once again on familiar territory at the Armada Group Stadium, King George’s Field, since we groundshare with locals Epsom & Ewell. However, it was game day all the same, and the excitement was tangible ahead of the fourth league encounter of the campaign.

Wholesale changes were made heading into the derby, as the 4-1 defeat to Whitstable Town in the FA Vase took Mu Maan and the rest of the coaching staff back to the drawing board. Maan himself made a return to grace the turf again in Casuals colours, much to the delight of the supporters, alongside right-hand man Richard Blackwell who began in the heart of the defence. It would be assistant manager – and former lethal finisher – Gabriel Odunaike who would take charge of the dugout, and between them they guided Corinthian-Casuals to a solid second win of the season.

The latest King George’s Field clash began in similar fashion to the pre-season match-up just a month prior, which resulted in the Salts lifting the Stella Lamont Trophy. No silverware on the line this time, but once again both sides looked to break each other down early on. With 10 minutes on the clock, a Sabek free-kick led to an askew header which almost found a way past Bernardes, had it not been for the goal-saving intervention of Blackwell. An early let off for Casuals.

Shea Cascoe-Rogers was given the nod to start, and he was back at his best yesterday with some brilliant exchange play and breathtaking dribbling as he breezed past four defenders, but unfortunately the resulting effort couldn’t find the back of the net.

There was also a first league start for sweeper-esque centre half Tommy Castelo, and he marked it in style 40 minutes into his full debut, directing home a Cascoe-Rogers corner at an awkward height to give Casuals the lead on the stroke of half time, sending the ‘travelling’ fans into raptures.

It may have been a scrappy opening, but there were still many moments for each side to be pleased about, and it was all to play for in the second half.

There was little to note in the first exchanges of the second period, apart from the introduction of Reyon Dillon, who was sent on to cause the Epsom & Ewell back line more chaos. Shortly after, Reyon was the man of the moment, after a delightful switch of play from Blackwell opened up space on the far side for Rafael Barbosa to burst through and unselfishly roll it across goal for the experienced centre-forward who wasn’t going to miss from that proximity. An expertly crafted goal, but could they hold out?

Just minutes later and Dillon was in the thick of it again, and he could’ve killed the game when Barbosa’s through ball fell at his feet, took it around a stranded Dan O’Donovan, but a miraculous clearance saw the chance go begging, as the scores remained as they were. Moments later, fellow substitute Frazier Osunkoya whacked the frame of the goal with a glorious effort, but Casuals were in control and looked set for back-to-back away league victories.

Late drama was on the cards, however, and Casuals would have to persevere if they were to hold on to the lead, after Luke Miller got the hosts back in the game with a bit of trickery to beat Bernardes, and keep the game very much alive on the 88th minute mark.

As the Armada Group Stadium held its breath, it was a heart-in-mouth moment when the Salts piled bodies forward in the dying embers looking to salvage a last-gasp point. They all thought they’d got it when Carl Oblitey sprung forwards, latched onto a pass, and finished instinctively as the Epsom & Ewell benched poured out onto the pitch. However, it wasn’t meant to be, as the linesman’s flag signalled offside, and eventually, the referee whistled for the end of another captivating derby.

It wasn’t the prettiest performance in the world, but Casuals showed a fantastic mentality to hang on to the lead late on. As the fans reminded us on the way out, “We’re the Casuals, the mighty Casuals, we love to win away.”

Corinthian-Casuals: Bernardes, Gjoshe, Pilonetto, Castelo (Adelakun 55), Blackwell (Sacilito 80), Dos Santos, Cascoe-Rogers, Maan, Barbosa (Osunkoya 75), Da Silva, Cheklit (Dillon 45)

Epsom & Ewell 0-0 Corinthian-Casuals
(Epsom & Ewell won 4-3 on penalties)
Stella Lamont Trophy
Tuesday 23rd July 2024
Words: Josh Lamey
Pictures: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)

Casuals missed out on the Stella Lamont Trophy last night, as a penalty shootout defeat to Epsom & Ewell denied them the chance of pre-season silverware.

The supporters were optimistic heading into the encounter, as two positive performances against Grays Athletic and Westfield have seen the Mu Maan era start promisingly. Next on the agenda were new tenants Epsom & Ewell, who we faced in the first of this season’s King George’s Field derbies.

Both sides started brightly, going at each other from the first whistle yet no breakthrough could be made in the early exchanges.

Meanwhile, Epsom & Ewell may have had the better chances, but you could argue that Casuals were on top as some great tiki-taka football on the edge of the area saw numerous shooting chances open up.

However, down the other end, the hosts had their fair share of opportunities to gain the upper hand, only for them to be closed down by a rigid Corinthian back four.

It was a composed first 45 from Mu’s men although the game definitely had a local derby feel to it, especially under the bright Tolworth lights – and the second half began with banners on full display and chants in full force at the Casuals end.

Unfortunately, the second period didn’t begin like the first, as Epsom & Ewell saw more of the ball, and ultimately the better chances, albeit still not being able to penetrate this new-look backline.

As the tie looked destined for penalty kicks, one final roll of the dice saw Epsom & Ewell come close with an astonishing bicycle kick directed just wide of the stanchion, followed by a series of corners as they looked to apply the pressure late on.

Ultimately, neither side could find a dramatic ending in normal time, and the winner of the 2024 Stella Lamont Trophy had to be decided by penalties.

In the end, it wasn’t to be for Casuals, who failed to convert the first and final penalties of the shootout, while Epsom & Ewell missed just one kick to win back the trophy on their new turf.