Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 3 Merstham
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 9th October 2021
Report and photos: Stuart Tree (set of pics here)

Corinthian-Casuals slumped to their worst defeat of the season so far courtesy of a low-intensity performance that saw the visitors Merstham deservedly take the three points.

Whilst the scoreline reads 3-0, with two goals deep in stoppage time, the game was closer than the record books will suggest. Merstham led for the majority of the game with a slender one goal lead courtesy of a third minute Dylan Adjei-Hersey goal which remained the case for a further 89 minutes.

Casuals, with enforced changes from the 3-0 win at Wingate and Finchley on Tuesday night never even touched those levels as Merstham caused problems in the very early stages. Frank Wilson’s side capitalised on the fact that Casuals’ heads still appeared to be in the changing rooms with a 3rd minute strike from close range.
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Merstham were easily the better side for the majority of the first half though Casuals slowly grew into the match. Though the only time they troubled the youthful 18 year-old stopper Toby Bull was a well struck shot from Warren Mfula.
Casuals were better in the second half but increasingly could tell it would be ‘one of those days’. The hoodoo that Merstham hold over Corinth appearing to continue once again. The best chance fell to Mfula who couldn’t quite convert a brilliant cross from Kieron Cadogan at the back post.

Merstham, who were pinned in their own half for large parts of the half did have a couple of moments to finish the tie off, but it would be in stoppage time before they did. Breaking from a corner up the other end, substitute Ufuah finished off to seal the deal. And to add salt to the wounds, just a minute later, ex-Casual Reyon Dillon added a third.

With eyes on the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round next, there was always the feeling that full attention may not be paid towards this important Isthmian League fixture. Merstham capitalised and deservedly came away with three points and Casuals will need to re-find those higher levels seen in recent performances if they’re to progress in the Cup next week.
 
“It was nowhere near the levels that we’ve been at recently”, said Manager James Bracken after the match. “It was frustrating. We’ve spoken about this before; we play the teams that we know will be in the top five and we more than compete with them. We very often pick up results against these teams, as we have this season. When we play the sides that are perceived to be in the bottom half, we seem to do something different.

“Unfortunately, the level of performance required across the pitch just wasn’t there today. I felt that every player could’ve carried on playing at that same level of intensity for another hour. In every other game that we’ve played, the boys have come off at full time, sat on those benches in the changing room and couldn’t have given another yard. They’d left everything on the pitch. Today, we didn’t leave it all out there. That’s so frustrating.

“It's for no other reason than the fact was they felt they didn’t have to give 100% to beat them. And unfortunately, we didn’t. I’ve said time and time again, if we don’t reach those levels, we’ll be beaten by anyone in this division and even the division below

“I’m not going to beat them up over it - the lads are human, but we made so many poor decisions in every aspect of our play. Everything just seemed to be wrong. We just have to hope that’s an anomaly, because looking back at the previous eight games, we’ve not been anything like that.

“It was a mess of a game. Fair play to Merstham – they got their noses in front early, which was poor from us. It was too easy a goal to gift. We should’ve defended better. Especially the second goal. We’ve let their guy run from the half way line and we never got a defender between the player and the goal until he was about eight yards out.

“We had a couple of good chances to equalise but that’s football for you. Another day, one of those goes for you. On a day like today, where chances seemed few and far between, that’s massive. When it’s not going for you, taking those chances is vital.

“But overall, we didn’t pressurise their keeper enough. I don’t remember him having to do too much in the game. That’s crazy considering the chances we created in the Wingate game midweek. We’ve gone from looking like we could score ten goals to a game four days later, creating just one or two chances.

And looking forward to the Emirates FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round tie against St Albans City, Bracken said “It's a big game and a fantastic opportunity to get out there and pit ourselves against a good team. Hopefully, we can put in a much better performance that warrants the occasion.

“We’ve had six games against teams in our league to get to this point and not one of them could beat us. That’s a testament to where we’ve been at, performance wise. We need to ensure we get back to those levels and beyond. But we’ve done that before. I don’t get nervous about these games – there’s no pressure on us.

“I relish these games because they’re proper games of football. We’ll be coming up against better players, who know the game. We know they’ll be organised, and it’ll be a good game of football.

“But we need to reach those levels again. We want to give St Albans a game and we’ve proved already this season that we’re more than a match for good sides.” 

Merstham 3 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals
Pitching In Isthmian League Premier
Tuesday 29th September 2020
Report and Pic: Stuart Tree

When Assistant Manager Dan Pringle wants to describe the performance with a four letter word, you know it’s not been a good night for the Casuals.
 
And it truly wasn’t. Corinth put in one of the most insipid performances seen, certainly since the King’s Langley loss this time last year. Casuals failed to register a single shot on target as Merstham rolled over their opponents with comfort winning 3-0 and registering their first win of the season.
 
It’s never been an easy place to visit and Merstham are undoubtedly Casuals’ bogey side having not won at Moatside for at least eight years – and that was a last minute 1-0 smash and grab.
 
It didn’t start that way; in fact, the unchanged side that performed so well at Potters Bar Town on Saturday started the brighter of the two. Order of the day were whipped in crosses that could easily have been converted on another day. Had one of those gone in, it undoubtedly would’ve been a different game.
 
If you can’t convert your chances then you always leave yourself prone. That’s what happened. Merstham’s first goal seemed innocuous enough. It kind of crept into the bottom corner from EJ Mensah.
 
Casuals had also hit the crossbar twice in the first half and arguably looked the more threatening of the sides, even after the goal.
 
But the real turning point was conceding 7 minutes after the break; Danny Bracken was unable to hold onto a shot and AFC Wimbledon youngster Elliott Bolton slammed the follow-up home. That was game over. There was a lack of grit, determination and desire to get back into the game and the second half very much belonged to the home side. They threatened far more and the third came courtesy of Potchu Mendes Calucane. Game over.
 
The last twenty minutes saw the game peter out to a canter and Merstham comfortably claimed their three points whilst Casuals have to look upon themselves with a big FA Cup game against Dulwich Hamlet at the weekend, knowing another performance like that will simply not be good enough.

​“Saturday was very different,” commented Manager James Bracken after the 1-0 defeat to Merstham. “We had four great chances to score and we’ve not managed to put any of them away.

“Tonight – debatable penalty aside, there were no chances. That’s the truth. I cannot remember their keeper needing to make a good save.

“When Merstham scored, it gave them confidence and by rights, their nine should’ve scored a hat-trick. So, we need to improve, certainly on that first half.

“We showed better intensity in the last ten minutes and became more of a threat. That’s not good enough. We must be intense right from kick-off. If you find yourself 3-0 up after an hour, that’s when you can play a little more comfortably.  

“We’re getting into good areas. We’re playing some good football, but perhaps overplaying at times. How many crosses have we put into dangerous areas? I don’t remember one. Too many crosses have hit the first defender or gone out for a goal kick.

 “For all our good play, we get into dangerous areas and then descend into stepovers, drag-backs and the like. We need to simplify things.

“No one will work harder than us to rectify that in training and analysing this week.

“This level of football is about being consistent. Dan (Pringle) said to me ‘that’s typical us. We never play the same way in succession.’ It’s frustrating because we approach each game in the same way, but it wavers between good performances and flat ones like tonight was.

“The team we picked for the first game of the season was what I thought is the strongest side I could pick. On the day, we were the better side. Tonight, apart from one change, we pick the same side and expected them to perform somewhat close to what they did at the weekend. Unfortunately, they haven’t.

“I’ll certainly analyse everything that we as a management team did. Have we made mistakes? Did we pick the right side? Should we have freshened things up? These are all great questions, retrospectively. The bottom line is the players should’ve done better. And they know that.

“The plan this season is to score more goals and we have goal-scorers in this squad. But where were the passes flying across the face of the goal for them to pounce on? Where’s the ball in behind that they can run onto? We can’t expect them to create their own chances.

“Anyone can beat anyone in this league. It’ll be topsy-turvy. Carshalton finished second last season and they’ve lost the first two games. Anything is possible. We must make sure we don’t panic and dramatically change things too much. There’ll be boys on the bench or not involved, who came down anyway because they’re great lads, who’ll be looking at me wondering if they’re in with a chance on Saturday.

And Bracken put out a warning to his squad for the need to step-up their game.

“Bottom line, I’ll never put out a side who I don’t think is good enough to win. If I don’t think they’re good enough, I’ll get new players in. That’s not a threat, just a truth.

“I won’t just watch us lose and lose again. I have people calling me constantly about bringing in new players… good players. And that includes pro-clubs offering me players, just this week that I’ve turned down.

“Why have I turned them down? On Saturday, I saw enough to believe in this squad. I want to build a side that trains with me every week, buys into your principals of what we’re trying to achieve. We’ve put a lot of time into these players over the last few months. They’re a good bunch with good attitudes and you want to back them.
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“But the bottom line is, they must step up and deliver consistent level of performances, because this group of players are good enough to be better than the decent sides in this division.”

Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 1 Merstham
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 13th August 2019
Report: Cameron Smith. Photos: Stuart Tree (set here)

Corinthian-Casuals’ second attempt at drawing blood in the new season was gate-crashed by Merstham, who held onto a 1-0 win at King George’s Field despite two controversial refereeing decisions and a second-half domination of possession from the hosts.

“It’s an intense 90-minute battle for every point. Wins and draws should be celebrated. All sides have our respect because the level here is good. If your intensity is not up to scratch, you’ll lose no matter who you play.” James Bracken’s post-match comments after the 1-0 defeat at Haringey Borough on Saturday was a rousing and truthful omen of what is to come in the 19/20 Premier Division.

Just like Corinthians, Merstham were dealt with a difficult blow on the weekend in their season opener. Despite taking the lead, the Moatsiders conceded twice in the last thirty minutes to lose 2-1 versus Hornchurch- a short trip to Tolworth on Tuesday was their chance to rectify the lost points.

There was one change from the energetic Casuals side that were condemned in North London: Hakeem Adelakun was at left-back ahead of Warren Morgan. 

Red shirts invaded Danny Bracken’s box in the opening ten minutes, with the visitors clearly starting the brightest. Splitting the pink and brown defence completely, Merstham’s impressive football allowed Omar Folkes to side-foot a cross from the left into the net with ease. The few behind the goal celebrated as King George’s seemed shell-shocked- it was 1-0 Merstham. Moments after the definitive strike, Frank Wilson’s team nearly grabbed another when Folkes blasted a golden opportunity over the bar. It was a lifeline for the Casuals, who began to read the game better and settle. Set-pieces failed to be capitalised upon even with specialist Josh Uzun donning the no.7 shirt again.

Merstham missed another great effort down one end, and in truth, Wilson's side could’ve easily had the game wrapped up at half time. For Casuals, there were clusters of half-chances when Oliver Sitch’s work-rate and Nathaniel Pinney’s hold-up play excited the Casuals contingent behind the goal. A Sitch effort was blocked by a Merstham player’s hand, but hadn’t been spotted by the referee, which riled the Casuals fans and players. These little sparks of anticipation carried on until half-time with the home side 1-0 down.

Improvements were clear from as soon as the game was re-started; a Pinney shot narrowly missed the keeper’s left-hand post as the new no.9’s quest for his first competitive goal for Casuals continued. It would be short-sighted to not speak of another clear penalty that were turned down by the referee but Casuals deserve credit for a lively second-half full of possession that just seem to fizzle out, whether it was Merstham’s committed defensive display or the lack of clinical finishing. 

If one penalty claim against was not enough, there was another one, which was worse. In the area again, Morgan was causing trouble and when Sinn Kaye Christie clattered into the no.15 with two feet without winning any of the ball, Casuals fans deserved to be outraged when the referee not only did not give the stonewall penalty, but decided it was a free kick to the opposition.

Casuals were determined to equalise but it was to no avail. Their second game of the season was another 1-0 loss. There can be no complaints about the visitors being the winners seeing as Casuals failed to seriously test Merstham stopper Matte Pierson on any single occasion. Merstham once again prove to be Casuals’ bogey side, with just two wins from the previous 17 Isthmian League encounters – a record that’s unlikely to be matched for its one-sidedness by any other club.

Find out what Manager James Bracken had to say after the match.

“It’s about character now,” said Bracken following the match at Merstham. “When you’re winning you get in the mindset to keep it going.

“But we’re a long way from that. We’re in character stage now. We need people to roll up their sleeves because we haven’t won in four. The season’s wrapping up and the teams below us have all got to play each other, so someone’s going to be picking up points. We need to get out on that pitch and battle and grind out some wins. Do I know which boys I’ll rely on for that? Of course I do.”

“The first fifteen to twenty minutes, we were very good. We arguably deserved to be one in-front.

“After that, we reacted very slowly to everything. We were chasing shadows for large parts of the first half.

“We changed things at half time but concede a horrible goal. It deflates everybody. It came at the wrong time as we had a couple of moments which gave me encouragement to see we’d pull ourselves back on level terms.

“We’ve had too many of those goals this season. Letting them in at crucial times. There’re too many players that don’t react the right way.

“It wasn’t good enough in terms of our own quality. We can be better than that.

And Bracken faces a unique problem; Casuals are the highest ranked amateur side in the country and therefore do not have a playing budget to sign new players.

“Every time I look at social media, teams in and around us have signed quality players, getting fresh blood in. All those sides have the money and power to have a go at staying up. They add a little more to their budget.

“We don’t have those resources. We need to look at ourselves as to what we can do.

“I stand by these players but it’s difficult. When we lost our main goalscorer (Danny Cunningham) to injury, it was tough. Warren (Mfula’s) done great. Gabriel (Odunaike) was missing and will be absent for a few more soon. What I’d give to be able to go out and ‘buy’ a striker, but we can’t.

“Whilst things are going well, it’s great but when the backs are against the wall, it’s difficult.

“I’ll re-iterate it though. I believe in these players. Even after that performance today, by some of their own standards, their poorest performance of the season. I genuinely don’t remember them being worse than that. However, all things considered, we still could’ve snatched a draw against a decent team on a pitch that suits them.

"Therefore, we can’t be too doom and gloom. We want to win."

Merstham 2 -1 Corinthian-Casuals
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 16th February 2019
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (set of pics can be seen here).

Corinthian-Casuals Manager James Bracken believes its all about character if his side is to turn their fortunes around following a fourth consecutive loss at the hands of Merstham on Saturday.

The 2-1 defeat at promotion-chasing Merstham sees Casuals looking over their shoulders, just nine points above the relegation places.

“It’s about character now,” said Bracken following the match. “When you’re winning you get in the mindset to keep it going.

“But we’re a long way from that. We’re in character stage now. We need people to roll up their sleeves because we haven’t won in four. The season’s wrapping up and the teams below us have all got to play each other, so someone’s going to be picking up points. We need to get out on that pitch and battle and grind out some wins. Do I know which boys I’ll rely on for that? Of course I do.”

Casuals, without strikers Gabriel Odunaike and Max Oldham as well as midfielder Mu Maan, started the brighter of the two sides. Warren Mfula forced Tangara – Merstham’s custodian into a good save and Corinth peppered the six yard box with a succession of corners. Tangara himself looked to have taken a ball across the line, catching from a Reece Hannigan header, but claims only came from behind the goal.

Merstham grew into the game and Danny Bracken was forced into a wonderful reaction save to prevent the home side from going ahead. But it was all in vain; minutes later, Casuals found themselves a goal down, failing to clear their lines allowing Simon Cooper to fire home through a wall of players, taking a couple of deflections en-route.

Casuals were dealt another blow just after half time when Merstham doubled their lead. A slip by defender Reece Hannigan allowed the Moatsiders to break, and whilst Danny Bracken kept the initial shot at bay, Casuals again couldn’t clear the danger and Gus Sow was on hand to see his parried shot dribble over the line. 
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Whilst the home side controlled large parts of the second half, Corinth rallied in the final stages and debutant Benjamin Aghadiuno burst around his marker and forced Tangara into another crucial block. A minute later and a fine header from top-scorer Warren Mfula gave the travelling support hope of a comeback. Despite sustained pressure, Merstham held out for the win, keeping them in fourth and a real chance of Step-2 football next season. Casuals maintain their position of fifteenth in the table.

​Read James Bracken's post-match thoughts here.

“That should’ve been three points on the board for us,” said James Bracken following the match. “I’ll take a certain amount of responsibility for it because we’ve changed things and it didn’t turn out to be a positive first half from us.

“I’ve had words at half time because I wasn’t happy so needed to correct it and improve.
 
“Second half, we’ve dominated the game, had them rattled the whole half and should’ve won the match. Without a shadow of a doubt, we should’ve won that. We had two or three very good opportunities – the header at the back post being one.
 
“We said this would be a tough learning curve and it has been. The first half against Margate on the opening day was a real eye-opener. The second game we were in it for large spells and until they scored the third, we could’ve taken something from the evening.
 
“This game, we started slowly but not capitulated. We’ve kept in the game until half time and bossed it after that. We need to put 90 minutes together now. This is where the boys need to show their maturity that this level requires. The discipline, the focus, because these games are intense from the first minute to the last. Whereas last season we could play well for 45 minutes and win, this year we’ll give ourselves a lot to do if we don’t start right.
 
“First 45 minutes will be our target to improve. We know we only get better as games go on. That’s been the case since I’ve been here. Our fitness levels and energy is good and our heart and desire for the win can never be questioned.
 
“We’ve had three different goalkeepers for three different games but it’s been a lot worse than that.
 
“I signed a keeper on Tuesday who came in and done a job for us against Folkestone. I signed another on the same day to play against Merstham. Unfortunately he phoned me Thursday night informing me he’d cut his head open and had 14 stitches from a training injury.
 
“I managed to get Bradley Comins, who I know from my days at Sutton who’s done a really good job. The boy keeps his shirt… he was fantastic. He looked assured. I’m really pleased with him.
 
“But I’ve never known anything like it regarding the goalkeeping situation. I’ve never had a more stressful week in management… or in life! We’ve signed seven goalkeepers and today, I had the seventh one available with six out. You tell me when that’s ever happened anywhere, ever. Because I’ve never heard of it. Six goalkeepers, all signed… all out.
 
“When they’re all back fit, I’ll have plenty of competition for places. At the minute, it’s a case of just getting one out there which we’ve done.

​"I’m pleased with a few of the boys to be honest. Warren Mfula gets a mention. He’s a lad that’s come in and he’s worked his socks off. He’s an absolute gem. He leads the line, works for 90 minutes for the whole team. But there’s a few who I could mention individually today.

"Now we need to focus on the two cup games over the next week and we turn in two good performances and get two wins under our belt, putting ourselves in the next round of these competitions and go into the Kingstonian game with the confidence that we can play at this level and give it a proper good crack."

Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 1 Merstham
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 18th August 2018
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)

Corinthian-Casuals earned their first Bostik Premier League point on Saturday but Manager James Bracken believes it should’ve been three points as his side drew 1-1 against Merstham.
 
“Should’ve been three points on the board for us,” said Bracken following the match. “I’ll take a certain amount of responsibility for it because we’ve changed things and it didn’t turn out to be a positive first half from us.
 
“Second half, we’ve dominated the game, had them rattled the whole half and should’ve won the match. Without a shadow of a doubt, we should’ve won that. We had two or three very good opportunities.”
 
Bracken was yet again having to make a last ditch signing to ease his goalkeeping injury crisis.
 
Brother, Captain and League keeper of the year, three years running, Danny Bracken is out with a broken leg. Replacement Mo Maan injured his back during the opening day defeat at Margate with fellow summer signing Jack Wingate also crocked. Even Casuals’ kit manager, who is also registered as a goalkeeper injured his eye in a bizarre work-related accident and cannot play.  
 
A new signing was due to play, but the curse struck once again as a nasty head injury required 14 stitches on Thursday. In came Bradley Comins, a player James knew from his Sutton days.
 
The first half was a cagey affair with both sides looking to get their first points of the season. However, on 18 minutes, the deadlock was broken when Reece Hall lofted a ball over the reach of Comins to give the visitors the lead.
 
Both sides rarely threatened each other’s goalmouths for the remainder of the half and Merstham probably edged the better of the limited half chances.
 
But it was all change at half time as Casuals looked to get back into the match. On came Danny Cunningham to add firepower up top. It was just before the hour mark when Corinth were back on level terms. A surging run down the wing saw Juevan Spencer upended by Reece Hall in the penalty area. Up stepped Cunningham to dispatch the penalty.
 
Casuals should’ve made it two when a wicked cross from Hakeem Adelakun evaded three oncoming attackers – Warren Mfula getting a slight touch but only out for a goal kick. Max Oldham’s set up for Mfula’s shot was expertly saved by Chris Haigh in goal.
 
The game opened up and Merstham looked to counter. Dan Bennett caused problems but Comins was equal to everything. The final fifteen minutes saw end-to-end action in what was more like a cup-tie where winner takes all. But it ended all square and honours even. Merstham taking the first half and Casuals the second.
 
Eyes turn to cup competition now as Casuals host Westfield in the Velocity Trophy on Tuesday and Croydon in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Read James Bracken's comments following the match here >>