Corinthian-Casuals 0-1 North Greenford United
                                        Balogun 117
Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round replay
Tuesday 6 August 2024
Match Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Stuart Tree

Despite a swashbuckling performance, Corinthian-Casuals fell agonisingly short of a place in the preliminary round of the FA Cup after North Greenford United snatched away the chance in the dying embers of extra time.

After a well-fought draw on Saturday afternoon, which could have seen Mu Maan’s men decide the tie in Middlesex, North Greenford visited a pristine Armada Group Stadium at King George’s Field due to Brazilian bagsman Barbosa’s deadly finish which forced an FA Cup replay for the second season running. Fans were hopeful prior to kick-off after an inspired second half away from home, yet it wasn’t going to be a smooth ride against fellow Step 5 opponents.

Tuesday was a night of many occasions. It marked the first competitive home game for new gaffer Mu Maan and, for some, a first taste of action in Tolworth. However, it’s always nice to welcome back some old faces, as the returning Ben Cheklit and Hakeem Adeluakun received warm receptions from the home faithful. Additionally, yesterday was the first run about in the sharp new home threads which are set to become a staple of the Combined Counties Premier Division South this season.

It was a smash-and-grab affair in the opening minutes, as each side took it in turns to swing pinpoint crosses into the middle but, ultimately, nobody was there to tap home for either team.

A fantastic turn-out from both sides of 271 meant that the atmosphere was boiling within the ground. The North Greenford megaphone was drowned out by the Casuals drums after an error from Jacob Ballheimer in the visitors’ net led to Barbosa picking his pocket and laying it off for Reyon Dillon, only for his attempt to be miraculously scrambled off the line.

Casuals were beginning to find their feet in this replay, and another chance arose with Cheklit standing over a free kick just outside the area. As all of Tolworth held its breath, the effort looked destined to nestle in the top corner, but Ballheimer got across to make a wonder save to preserve the stalemate.

However, minutes later and North Greenford had an opening of their own: Charlie Jay Mitchell’s attempt cannoned back off the woodwork as both sides headed into the break needing a breakthrough if they were to progress.

It wouldn’t be a true FA Cup tie without the spectacular, as four bicycle kicks were attempted all night. Although some were closer than others, it all added to the sheer excitement of the tie when Barbosa’s athletic effort sailed just wide after the break.

Despite the early antics of the second half, there wasn’t much to write home about up until the 70th minute, where a ball over the top was met by Barbosa again who took it around the keeper, and yet another goalmouth clearance left Casuals wondering how they didn’t already have one foot in the next round.

There was a late flurry of opportunities for both sides, as North Greenford looked to hit on the counterattack, meanwhile Casuals looked to force a way through via set-pieces. However, after 180 minutes of battle, the tie was to be decided by extra time.

The first 15 brought encouraging signs from the home team, as a catalogue of early crosses were whipped in but all efforts could only find the thankful grasp of Ballheimer. The noise from the crowd continued, and we were set for an all-or-nothing finish.

Casuals continued to bang on the door for the remainder of extra time, with efforts from Shea Cascoe-Rogers and Frazier Osunkoya putting pressure on the North Greenford back line. However, they managed to reclaim the ball, pounce on a Corinthian mistake and Oluwajenyo Balogun finished well to send the visitors into ecstasy. There was time for one last attack for Mu’s men to try and salvage the tie, however Adelakun’s corner was diverted onto the frame of the goal by Marcos Dos Santos in the closing stages, meaning North Greenford progressed to the preliminary round.


Corinthian-Casuals: Greenaway, Gjoshe, Pilonetto (Adelakun 112), Onovwigun, Morgan, Dos Santos, Hudson (Cascoe-Rogers 59), Barbosa (Murad 74), Dillon (Osunkoya 67), Cheklit, Brown (Da Silva 74)

North Greenford United 1-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Martin-Thomas 13 Barbosa 75

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 3 August 2024
Match Report: Dominic Bliss
Images: Stuart Tree

The FA Cup has a special ability to bring out the cliches, but it would be difficult to label Saturday’s season opener at North Greenford United anything other than a good old-fashioned game of two halves.

Corinthian-Casuals came out for the second half of Mu Maan’s first competitive game as manager looking like a team inspired after a lacklustre opening 45 minutes that saw us trailing 1-0 at the break. In the end, we not only found the goal required to force a replay but travelled home wondering if we might have won it there and then.

North Greenford are a strong Step 5 side. They finished eighth in the Combined Counties Premier Division North last season and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Vase. They are a settled team who have enjoyed a good pre-season, and they began the game looking confident. Casuals were finding their feet in the opening exchanges, although it was clear from the outset that Mu has assembled a technically gifted group who will look to play attractive, fast-paced passing football as often as possible.

The hosts made the better start, though, forcing a good save from Jack Greenaway just under quarter-of-an-hour into the game, before Christopher Martin-Thomas headed them in front from close range when we failed to properly clear the resulting corner.

Casuals had to ride the storm a little after that, as North Greenford pushed forward in search of a second while the going was good. We held firm, with centre-backs Warren Morgan and Marcos dos Santos looking assured in and out of possession, but there were moments when the home side broke through, and in truth they could have been further ahead at the break had they taken their chances.

Casuals could also go in at the break feeling a little unfortunate, having hit the woodwork and had a Frazier Osunkoya goal ruled out by a very tight offside decision on 24 minutes.

The last 10 minutes of the half suggested that the cobwebs had blown away and we were ready to take a foothold, and a triple substitution from Mu at the break made certain that we began the second half with fresh impetus.

It has been clear to see the brand of football Mu and his staff are looking to develop here throughout pre-season, and it all came together in the second half on Saturday. It was a display of slick passing moves, clever runs off the ball and lively, adventurous forwards who are clearly unafraid to run at defenders or attempt a killer pass.

Shea Cascoe-Rogers, Ben Cheklit and Reyon Dillon were the three familiar faces who came off the bench for the second 45, and they were soon joined by a couple of new arrivals who looked equally sharp, in winger Riyo Brown and striker Raf Barbosa.

The latter was one of five Brazilians in the matchday squad, and there is a genuine sense of excitement about this South American influx at a club with such strong links to the world’s most famous footballing nation.

Casuals’ changed forward line, backed up by a dominant midfield display from another debutant, Michael Onovwigun, took control of the game after the restart, creating chance after chance as we hunted for an equaliser. Returning fans’ favourite Cheklit fired wide, Barbosa was denied a one-on-one opportunity by a questionable offside flag, Brown hit the stanchion with a fine effort, and Cascoe-Rogers consistently asked questions of the home defenders with his jinking runs. Dillon was hungry too, dovetailing well with Barbosa.

It was the Brazilian whose brilliantly taken goal on 75 minutes made the headlines – quite literally, in fact, as the official social media accounts of the Emirates FA Cup pounced on the ‘fairytale’ narrative.

At the end of a slick passing move that took us from our own half to the edge of the opposition penalty area, Onuvwigun played a fine through ball with the outside of his right boot which Barbosa controlled expertly before coolly firing a daisycutter past the goalkeeper and sending the impressive travelling support into raptures.

A Brazilian scoring for Corinthian-Casuals in the FA Cup… it really is the stuff dreams are made of, but nobody involved is any doubt as to the reality of the situation. Tuesday’s replay will define how fondly we look back on this intense opening to the new season.

Corinthian-Casuals: Greenaway, Gjoshe, Pilonetto, Onovwigun, Morgan, Dos Santos, Hudson (Brown 60), Ewerthon (Barbosa 68), Osunkoya (Dillon h/t), Da Silva (Cheklit h/t), Murad (Cascoe-Rogers h/t)