Knaphill 1 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties League Premier Division South
Tuesday 8th October 2024
Report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)

“Hard work… commitment… to a man”. That was Manager Mu Maan’s first words after the full time whistle had blown at a soggy Knaphill on Tuesday night following the 1-1 draw.

Maan was looking for a reaction following a dismal showing in the 4-1 loss at home to Cobham in Casuals last outing. And that’s what he got. In conditions so often seen as a dampener on proceedings, there was no apathy on this evening. It was a sentiment shared by Maan’s opposite number in the Knaphill dugout – Manager Mike Woolgar decreed that  it was an entertaining game and “the quality from both sides was really good, in conditions far from ideal.”

Several changes came about from the Cobham loss including the absence of captain Reyon Dillon but fans welcomed the return of Warren Morgan and Marcos Dos Santos at Centre Back as well as the lively energy of Diogo Da Silva in the middle of the park.

The general consensus amongst supporters was that Corinth were a completely different animal tonight, even after just a few minutes on the clock. You could tell the energy was different almost immediately. Da Silva’s curling 20 yard free kick was the notably closest chance which forced the first of a number of fine saves from highly-rated stopper Sam Gray, who provided a vital last line of defence against the Casuals attack all night.

Approaching the half-hour mark and in the space of thirty seconds, the referee, Matthew Funnell played his part in proceedings; Showing Knaphill leniency from a trip in the box on Shea Cascoe-Rogers, the home side broke quickly and a loose ball across the box saw keeper Mo Maan commit a foul on the Knapper’s forward and thus Funnell pointed to the spot, where Kingsley Anokye dispatched to give the home side the lead. Two pivotal penalty decisions – both gone against Casuals. Despite Kieron Cadogan hitting the post, Corinth went in at half time one down.

But it didn’t take long for Casuals to be back in the game following the break. Fans were still emerging from the clubhouse when Cheklit’s shot was parried over the bar, and the subsequent corner from Da Silva swung hard and fast at the near post. It was Dos Santos who met the troublesome cross first, forcing the ball over the line and spurring Casuals onto a comeback.

Maan’s side aren’t accustomed to sharing the points this season and they looked as though they weren’t satisfied with doing that here. Kieron’s neat turn and shot was once again thwarted by Gray. Cascoe’s cut-across shot zipped past the base of the post. Da Silva’s lob couldn’t quite come down fast enough when Gray was finally beaten. And so the points were shared. Casuals will take plenty of positives from a much improved performance against a side third in the league.

“Hard work, commitment… to a man. It was a great performance”, said Manager Mu Maan after the match. “Everyone played for each other and there was a real sense of togetherness. I genuinely feel we deserved to win that game. Their keeper has made four or five great saves.

“Most importantly, we got a reaction from last Saturday. That’s what I wanted because the last game wasn’t good enough and we all know that. But the boys have come along here on a wet Tuesday night and put in a great shift and our fans deserve that.
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“Now we need to build on this and look for three points in Jersey.”

Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 1 Knaphill
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Tuesday 20th August
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Andy Nunn

It was another unfortunate night in front of goal, as Knaphill’s solo strike was enough to claim victory leaving Casuals scratching their heads as to how they didn’t get more out of the game.

Yesterday marked the first time facing the Knappers in what promised to be a compelling fixture, as a 3rd placed finish in the 23/24 campaign proved that the visitors play some absorbing football at both ends of the pitch. Nevertheless, Casuals had come off the back of their own remarkable result last week, as like something out of a fairytale, they pipped Sheerwater in a seven-goal thriller in their own back garden to get the Mu Maan era well and truly underway.

Tuesday night, 7:45, league action? It’s the stuff of dreams, and the scene was set ahead of another blockbuster clash in the Combined Counties Premier Division South. Immediately, Casuals came flying out the blocks, after some tidy footwork from Dillon managed to dig out a cross to Murad who’s deft touch flew narrowly over. A fantastic start for the pink and chocolate.

Corinthian-Casuals were asking all the questions of the Knaphill defence who remained compact, yet had a moment to forget when Ben Cheklit won the ball back deep in opposition territory, and after all Jonathon Gjoshe’s effort just sailed wide of the mark.

There was a new face in between the sticks for Casuals, as keeper Murillo Bernardes made his debut in Corinthian colours, and was almost called into action after a ball into the corridor of uncertainty connected with the head of marksman Ben Mitchell who planted his attempt a whisker away from the roof of the net.

It wasn’t just the moon on the horizon as half time drew closer, but against the run of play, the away side capitalised on a free kick in a dangerous area with Copland’s low strike that bundled its way under the wall and past the outstretched Bernandes.

Casuals were then just millimetres away from restoring order at the Armada Group Stadium with veteran Ben Cheklit going close from far out, much to the appreciation of the 210 in attendance, yet it took a picture postcard of a save from Sam Gray to preserve his clean sheet going into the break.

Despite just the one goal so far, the game had been anything but dull with both sides playing attractive football as the hosts look to pick the lock and find a way back into the constest.

The drama continued to unfold after the break, and the highly-anticpated introduction of skilfull frontmen Barbosa, Grant and Cascoe-Rogers looked to regain a foothold in the game, after tearing the Sheerwater defence apart a week ago. Just before the turn of the hour, the Knappers’ Jamari Jackson drifted in from the flank, and unleashed a stinger that was well kept out by the Casuals shotstopper, only for David Orisatoki’s follow-in to fly just wide of the post.

Following a good spell in the game for CCFC, you’d be forgiven for having the feeling that any miniute now the fortunes would shift for the hosts, yet two shots in quick succession went agonisingly close from Gjoshe and Dillon; the latter’s effort squirming under Gray, who quickly pounced on the ball to prevent the equaliser.

As the time was ticking, Casuals didn’t have long left to find a winner. Tensions began to rise after a red card for Knaphill’s Jack Carrod as a result of a shocking challenge left a lengthy delay in proceedings, but the question on everyone’s lips was could Casuals make the man advantage count?

Unfortunately the answer was no, however not without its fair share of late controversy. The home faithful were up in arms in added time when Barbosa was played clean through, but despite being sandwiched between two Knaphill defenders, referee Stephen Matthews waved away any penalty protests.

Yet another well-fought performance from Mu Maan’s side showed more promising signs, and we’ll look to build on them as we face Whitstable on Saturday.

Corinthian-Casuals: Bernandes, Gjoshe, Pilonetto, Onovwigun (Barbosa 57), Morgan (Dhanipersad 57), Dos Santos, Brown (Allchurch 72), Cheklit, Dillon, Da Silva (Grant 64), Murad (Cascoe-Rogers 60)