​Grays Athletic 3-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Saturday 13th July 2024
Pre-Season Friendly
Words: Josh Lamey
Pictures: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)

Yesterday marked the dawn of a new era under the management of Corinthian-Casuals fans’ favourite Mu Maan.

We faced Grays Athletic in our first pre-season game under the sunny Essex sky, and the squad made the trip up to the Thames Estuary in high spirits, producing a positive display against Step 4 opposition.

The last two campaigns have been tough for the club. Back-to-back relegations have left supporters frustrated, while managerial uncertainty during that period meant that we haven’t reached the heights that our rich history might suggest. But on May 15th, Mu Maan returned to his old stomping ground, where he racked up 133 appearances and 20 goals in the pink and chocolate, scoring some crucial strikes in the process. With a new manager and a different crop of players, there are hopes that a more exciting chapter lies ahead for the club.

Everyone was eager to get the 2024/25 pre-season up and running, none more so than the travelling Casuals supporters who were brilliant from minute one. However, the hosts made the fast start as winger Bobby Unwin’s cross-come-shot from the left found its way into the back of the net, catching out all those in the middle.

It was just before the half time whistle went when the home side doubled their lead on the Tilbury turf where they groundshare, after a corner was floated towards the back stick, fired back across the face by Hirst, and Dariri was on hand to tuck it home.

As the second 45 got underway, this fast-paced encounter lost its momentum slightly as Casuals looked to find a way back into the game, but Mu’s men were reduced to 10 just after the hour mark, after midfielder Malachi Hudson was sent off for a late challenge.

Despite playing with a man less in the hot sun around the Tilbury Docks, Casuals dug in and fought hard. Substitute Jenson Allchurch pulled out a 40-yard thunderbolt destined for the top bins to reignite the visitors’ dreams of a comeback. The missile stunned Grays slightly, as the fighting spirit led to a flurry of late chances for Corinthian, but it wasn’t meant to be – a late lay-off from Gordon into the path of Joe Damrell allowed him to rifle a low half-volley into the bottom corner and seal the win for the hosts.

Despite the result, Mu remained upbeat afterwards.

“The boys played well,” he said. “You can clearly see the style of football we’re trying to play, so overall very happy with the performance.

“Obviously with 10 men, it was more difficult, but even then the boys showed resilience and were very solid. It changes the whole aspect of the game, but sometimes that happens in football, and we’ve got to react straight away.

“We’re looking forward to the next games. I feel like the more games we play, the better we’ll get. The boys love to play so the quicker they come, the better for us!

Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 0 Grays Athletic
FA Trophy 3rd Round Qualifying Replay
Wednesday 2nd December 2015
King George's Arena
Match report: Darren Pasley.
Images: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)
Andy Nunn (full set here)

Corinthian-Casuals' amazing FA Trophy journey continues as in the most dramatic fashion they overcame Ryman Premier Grays Athletic.

It took a Juevan Spencer header 4 minutes into stoppage time to seal a place in the first round proper for the first time in their history and it was a victory so richly deserved.
 
With Warren Morgan suspended and Sekou Kaba injured, Josh Uzun and Stef Joseph came into the side which had fought out a goalless draw the previous Sunday.
 
The visitors nearly made the perfect start as inside the first 10 seconds Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson got down the right and sent in a low cross which Danny Dudley nearly tapped into his own net. Fortunately for the defender he recovered to hook clear and the danger was averted.
 
In the 7th minute Kevant Serbony, so powerful in the middle of the park, allowed Spencer to roam down the right but his low cross was gathered low down by keeper Lamar Johnson who just like Sunday showed assured handling.
 
The games first half chance fell to Grays' player-manager Mark Bentley but the former Wealdstone and Aldershot Town hero screwed his effort horribly wide with 16 minutes gone.
 
Casuals were finding space in the middle and a particular well worked one-two between Cherno Mendy and Emmanuel Akokhia resulted in the former being brought down on the edge of the box. Josh Uzun on this occasion hitting the wall with the subsequent kick.
 
Harry Agmobar was denied by an amazing diving tackle from Terry Murray which ensured his effort from the edge of the box diverted just wide and the young defender again was on hand shortly afterwards to block Jay Leaders header from a corner.
 
The home side continued to look threatening on the counter with their pace and Cherno Mendy spurned the halfs best chance on 35.. Spencer again working his magic but after finding his team-mate the ball spooned horribly over although it was suggested the ball had bobbled up.
 
Both sides to their credit pushed for the opener as the half drew to a close. Danny Dudley this time the saviour, back to cover and knock behind Roman Michael-Percil’s drive for goal with Danny Bracken committed. From the resulting corning Bracken gathered and a quick release saw Akokhia beat Luke Ifill on the right and into the box his low centre just wrong footed the oncoming Joseph.
 
With a minute remaining of the half Ben Kings corner just evaded everyone including the flying Murray who was inches from converting at the back post.
 
Grays started the the second half well and looked a tad sharper. Perhaps accepting they would have to match their opponents desire to win what was becoming an increasingly difficult tie.
A well worked move saw the ball worked out to Agombar but his low side footed effort was easily gathered by Bracken.
 
Casuals ever reliable skipper had a rare lapse in concentration in the 61st minute when punching weakly from a corner but with the ball sent back goal-wards it hit Uzun before being hooked to safety.
 
Casuals were dropping deeper to try and stem what was becoming the Ryman Premier sides best period over the 2 games. Despite the pressure only a 65th minute free kick from James Stevens which bobbled and smacked the base of the post was the only real scare.
 
After a tricky 20 minutes Casuals once again got back on the front foot and another Ben King corner nearly led to the opener; this time Dudley hooking at Johnson when a yard either side would have been a different story.
 
With 15 minutes remaining, Mendy broke through the middle and found substitute Matt Reece and with the ball played into the path of Spencer, only a timely intervention prevented the games clearest opportunity yet,
 
Substitute Montel Agyemang found the highly rated Dumebi Dumaka but Bracken was down well again as the game moved into injury time.
 
With both sets of players and management contemplating the forthcoming extra period, Dave Hodges from left full back took matters into his own hands. On a run from the half way line, he set down the left and on beating Ifill, crossed to the back post where Spencer arrived bang on cue to head into the top corner.

The celebrations on the pitch and three sides of the ground showed what just it meant to the club and it was too little for the visitors, who despite a real sense of urgency for the remaining three additional minutes failed to make a late breakthrough.
 
An elated James Bracken spoke after the match to Stuart Tree.

“I think over the course of the two games, we deserved the win. We’ve had the more clear-cut chances, although we haven’t taken them.

“But when you score in the 94th minute, it doesn’t matter how many you miss, if you score that late on, that’s the best way to win the game.

“We’d rather not leave it that late, but when we have scored earlier in games, it’s not necessarily been a good thing for us. I think it’s important that you stay in the tie as long as possible when you play a team from the division above. You look to nick it when your opportunity comes.

“You get yourself up for cup games. I’m not naïve enough to think we can get ourselves up to this level every single week. Yes – we aim for it and I’ll ask the lads ‘can we get near it every week?’ Because if we can get near what we done tonight, Sunday and in the last round against Leiston, we’d be top of the Ryman League South, we wouldn’t have lost a game and we’d be hot favourites.

“We’ve got a young side who sometimes make mistakes but in these cup games, we haven’t made those errors and we’ve played well.

“We’ll make sure we do our homework on Hungerford and I’ll come up with a plan. I’ll pick a team that I deem can win a game.

“The support tonight from behind the goal was fantastic. I mentioned them in the changing room after the game. We never had a lull in our performance, in terms of our energy and neither did they. They sung for the whole 90 minutes.

“When I took over here in the summer, I said to the chairman, ‘I want to turn those fifteen who get behind the goal into fifty’. I felt that if we got a team out there that could do them justice, then it would grow.

“They didn’t turn up as a neutral supporter today… they’re people who have stood there and sung their hearts out. They’re proper fans.

“I got in amongst the supporters after the final whistle; one to show my appreciation for them but more so to show their appreciation to the players… to say that I’d have paid £8 tonight and I’d have stood behind the goal and been proud of the performance that we put in.”

Grays Athletic 0-0 Corinthian-Casuals
FA Trophy 3rd Round Qualifying
Sunday 29th November 2015
The Mill Field
Att: 150
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pics here)

Corinthian-Casuals find themselves in the draw for the first round of the FA Trophy for the first time in their history, but they’ll have to get past Grays Athletic on Wednesday night after the two sides played out a stalemate at The Mill Field on Sunday.

The replay, set to be played at Corinthian-Casuals’ King George’s Arena in Tolworth will decide whether the amateur sole survivor of the Ryman League Division One South makes it to the next stage.

Casuals lined up with the same first XI that defeated Gray’s playoff rivals Leiston in the last round. A performance of similar standards would surely give the Gravelmen a tough test.
​
Windy conditions put pay to any real slick football being played and the game was hardly littered with chances. The first half chance fell to Casuals who had the wind in their favour for the first period. Kevant Serbony whipped a ball in from deep and Juevan Spencer was inches from connecting at the back post.

Grays’ Captain, Sean Croninhad the first real chance for the home side; from a free kick Cronin found himself unmarked at the far post but could only slice his chance wide.

Casuals looked lively for the most part of the first half but without any real end product. It was a case of ‘play to the whistle’ as the ball fell kindly to Emmanuel Akokhia but thinking he was offside, didn’t follow up his chance despite no call from any of the officials.

Grays looked threatening when they pushed forward and Jay Leader had keeper Danny Bracken at full stretch as his rasping shot passed just wide of the post.

Casuals probably ended the half as the stronger side. Dave Hodges, who was excellent all game, found space in the box but his shot was tame and easily saved by Lamar Joseph-Johnson.

The biggest call of the half came when Juevan Spencer produced a dazzling run, and despite being fouled in the area, kept his feet and curled a shot narrowly wide of the goal. Spencer was praised by the man in the middle for staying on his feet despite the challenge and although his ‘Corinthian Spirit’ was to be commended, it indicated that had he gone over, the referee would have pointed to the spot rather than playing the advantage.

Into the second half and the wind was becoming noticeably stronger. Sekou Kaba had a good opportunity to open the scoring early on; Dave Hodges fired a ball in from the byline, and Kaba at the near post could only divert it wide.

However, as the half went on, Casuals became more and more encamped in their own half. Though Grays had most of the possession, they were unable to carve out any real chances. The only notable effort was from a free kick which clipped the top of the bar and over to safety.

Cherno Mendy could feel aggrieved that he wasn’t awarded a spot kick late on but as time ticked by, it was clear that a replay was going to be needed to settle this tie.

After the match, Manager James Bracken spoke to Stuart Tree.

“That was difficult conditions, difficult pitch and difficult opposition that we’ve face today. To come here and get a draw, even for a Ryman Premier club would have been a good result, so to come here as a Ryman South club is a great result and keeps us in the hat for the draw.

“I’m sure a better pitch will suit them so we’ll have to look at what we do come the replay at ours.

“We came here today with a game plan and it worked. We could’ve nicked it so I’m pleased with them.

“I think it was a penalty. Juevan’s been honest and tried to stay on his feet. The ref has called him to play on and he’s shot from the corner of the box. If he goes down, you know the referee gives it. But that’s football, isn’t it?”