Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 1 Wingate & Finchley
Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Saturday 2nd October 2021
Report and pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)
​Additional photos: Andy Nunn (set here)

For the third round in succession, Corinthian-Casuals will need a replay if they are to progress in the Emirates FA Cup following a 1-1 draw with Wingate & Finchley on Saturday.

The two sides will face each other again on Tuesday evening to determine who progresses to the Fourth Qualifying Round. For Casuals, it’ll be the first time reaching this stage since 1983 and for Wingate and Finchley, the first time ever since their amalgamation in 1991.

Casuals, who had played the bulk of the match with ten men, led through an audacious Beckham-esque strike from the halfway line courtesy of Kieron Cadogan. But they were pegged back with ten minutes remaining when Alphanso Kennedy cleaned up following a parried cross from the right.

In atrocious conditions, with driving rain and strong winds, good, free flowing football was always going to be hard to achieve. Casuals struggled directly into the wind for large parts of the first half. Captain Danny Bracken had to be on full alert in goal due to the tricky handling conditions, fruitlessly wiping his gloves on what was surely an already soaked towel hung in the net.

The tie became tougher for Corinth on the half hour mark when Ola Williams was shown a second yellow card to become the first Casual to be sent off this season. Protests from both players and management led to further cards being issued – this was real muck and nettles football.

There was a heart-in-mouth moment when Wingate’s Smyth tapped in from close range before the linesman had raised his flag for offside.

But with just ten men, Casuals played as eleven and were determined that the situation wasn’t going to hamper them. Whilst Wingate had been on top for large parts of the first half, it was Corinth who opened the scoring with a Puskas-award-winning effort from Kieron Cadogan. A little shimmy to take out one midfielder, he immediately spotted Ben Goode off his line, and lobbed him from the halfway line.

The key moment in the game then fell to Casuals with twenty minutes remaining. Warren Mfula found himself bearing down on goal but was upended, not once but twice by the combination of Gibbons and Goode. Take your pick as to which one was a penalty. Inexplicably, referee Aaron Farmer didn’t see either challenge as a foul and waved play on!

It would come back to haunt Casuals as Wingate equalised with ten minutes remaining when Bracken could only parry a cross into the path of Kennedy to tap in from close range.

Both sides searched for a winner with Wingate having another struck off for offside and Casuals going close twice, courtesy of substitute Hakeem Adelakun and Emmanuel Mensah. But it was not to be decided on this day and the two sides will meet again on Tuesday in North London.

“That’s a really unfair result on us today,” said Manager James Bracken after the match. “My brother’s made an error for the goal and it’s not a good one for us to concede but on a very wet day, it’s understandable and I have no problem with that.

“In my opinion, we deserved to still have eleven men on the pitch. We played an hour with ten men and should’ve had a penalty when 1-0 up. That would’ve put the game out of sight. So I don’t think it’s a good result. We worked our socks off and were better with ten men than we were with eleven. We did enough in that last hour to win the game.

“On paper, after thirty minutes when the sending off happened, I’d have reluctantly taken the replay. But with just ten men, we should’ve come away with the win.

“The first half wasn’t good enough from us. We were never at the races. Half time was a wake up call for a few of the boys – a few truths told that they weren’t good enough. We had an instant impact upon changing a few things. We looked a threat going forward and comfortable in defence. We got the goal and should’ve killed it off. Only one team was going to win and it was us.

“The fact that we had chances is a testament to the boys’ attitude. Second half, we’ve had better intensity, passed the ball much better, took care of the ball. We need to replicate that on Tuesday but with eleven players.”
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When asked who he’d like to see drawn out of the hat for the next round of the Cup on Monday, Bracken replied, “the lowest ranked team left in it. Then in the round after that, the lowest ranked team left in it, then it’ll be the Second Round proper and we’ll take the best possible tie we can get, away from home and have a great payday. That’s ideal for me.”

Wingate and Finchley 2 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 28th August 2021
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set of pictures here)

It was Corinthian-Casuals best result at Wingate and Finchley for years but James Bracken will feel aggrieved with not taking all three points home following a stellar first half performance.

A brace from Warren Mfula inside the first half put Casuals in the driving seat for their first win of the season but were pegged back by their hosts with just six minutes remaining.

Casuals had the better of the attacking play in the first period with the front three of Mfula, Kieron Cadogan and Ben Cheklit regularly slicing through the Wingate back line. A great ball to Mfula saw the striker calmly finish from 15 yards to give Corinth the lead within quarter of an hour.

Fifteen minutes later and Mfula was once again on hand to race through and put a second past Fergal Hale-Brown in the Wingate goal (see photo above).

The game could’ve been put to bed just before the break when once again, Mfula had broken through latching onto another delightful ball only for this occasion to see his shot saved by Hale-Brown. Had that chance been taken and Wingate would’ve faced an almost insurmountable task in getting back into the game.

As such with football, the third goal is always the key; Casuals could’ve easily snatched one early on in the second half. Again, penetration into the Wingate box was frequent, just the defending was more resolute. Elliott Bolton’s rasper of a shot was well tipped over the bar by the increasingly busy Hale Brown.

But Wingate struck back with a fine goal of their own. Bilal Sayoud placed his header from a cross perfectly into the bottom corner past a despairing Danny Bracken.

And that’s when it all started to shift in momentum. It wasn’t helped when Casuals lost Michael Abnett through injury only for Hakeem Adelakun, his replacement, to also be subbed off just ten minutes after coming on, again through injury. This forced players to be shifted out of position and gave Wingate even more impetus to mount a challenge.

It all went wrong for Casuals with just six minutes remaining. A failed roulette turn by Will Efambe was seized upon by Wingate who capitalised – Danny Bracken saved well from the original shot but Jack Strange’s clearance hammered into Darnell Goather-Braithwaite and as such with bad luck, flew into the back of the net.

It could’ve gotten worse for Casuals, who were hanging on by the end. Bracken collided with Coskun Ekim, allowing Wingate through on a keeperless goal but the final shot was deflected over by an unnamed Casuals rear-end. And Bracken pulled off an outstanding save to ensure it wasn’t an entirely fruitless afternoon.

Certainly a ‘game of two halves’ Casuals will need to put in more of their first half performance and less of their second half effort if they’re to get points out of Monday.

Wingate & Finchley 4 - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 20th October 2020
Report and Photo: Stuart Tree
​Photos from Andy Nunn can be seen here.

Corinthian-Casuals continued their points drought at Wingate & Finchley in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division, succumbing to a 4-1 defeat.
 
The Maurice Rebak Stadium has been a fruitless place to pick up points for the Casuals and a second-half capitulation ensured that run continued.
 
It bucked the trend for James Bracken’s side who’d performed so excellently in their last four matches. Worrying was the lack of fight in the second half where usually, Corinth excel – even more so this season as every single one of their thirteen goals scored have been after half time.
 
It wasn’t always that way. Casting memories back to the beginning of the match and it could’ve been so different. If it hadn’t have been for stand-in Wingate keeper Dante Baptiste, Casuals would’ve certainly taken the lead. Best of the lot was a vital touch to steer Jerson Dos Santos’ close range effort off the post. Baptiste, praised by the Wingate Twitter feed was certainly the busier of the keepers, not to say that Wingate didn’t threaten themselves.
 
Corinth fell behind in the 39th minute courtesy of a penalty when a handball was adjudged to have occurred in the box. Ahmet Rifat coolly placed his spot-kick into the left corner and the home side took the lead into the second half.
 
They should’ve made it two when a defensive lapse allowed Ofori-Acheampong through on goal but inexplicably lofted the ball too high and over the bar when it looked easier to score. It was a vital let-off. Minutes later, Jack Strange powered home a header for the Casuals from a corner and Bracken’s side were well in the contest.
 
But the play broke down, the game became fragmented and the momentum was lost. Wingate began to probe again and the second goal became inevitable. A lack of closing down forwards led to Wingate taking the lead as Rifat grabbed his second.
 
A third was added by Rifat, almost direct from a corner and that was the game effectively sealed. Ofori-Acheampong added a late fourth to pile on the misery and ensure that Wingate moved above Casuals on goal difference in the league table. It was certainly an evening to forget.

Wingate & Finchley 1 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals
London Senior Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 12th February 2020
Match report and pics: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)
 
Corinthian-Casuals cup participation came to a close for another season as they exited the London Senior Cup at the hands of Wingate & Finchley.
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A solitary goal from the wonderfully named Great Evans was enough to see the hosts progress to the semi-final where they’ll face either Hendon or Balham.

For Manager James Bracken, it was a frustrating evening where his side had started brightly but failed to capitalise and never found the level required until too late.

The side had been re-shuffled from the weekend with the likes of Coskun Ekim filling in at the back and Casuals playing an unfamiliar shape. It looked to be working at first, where the Amateurs had the bulk of possession and the best of the early chances.

But as the half progressed, Wingate grew in confidence and by the break, Danny Bracken had been the busier of the two goalkeepers. The Blues had also hit the post from close range and Warren Morgan produced a fine block to prevent Wingate taking a half-time lead.

Casuals began the second half as they did the first, and two great chances presented themselves in quick succession. Sadly, clinical finishing evaded Corinth and as with the Velocity Trophy exit the week before, it would ultimately be their undoing.

Just seven minutes into the half, Great Evans took down a weighted lobbed pass and slotted home from close range.

Wingate looked to finish off proceedings, but Bracken did well to keep out Charlie Ruff’s shot and the Blues also had a goal disallowed for offside. Casuals made changes and livened up in the last ten minutes. Substitute Gabriel Odunaike also had a goal chalked off by the linesman’s flag and fellow sub Matty Bakare finally tested keeper Fergal Hale-Brown, who got down well to keep out the midfielder’s low drive.

After the full-time whistle, where the players and management thanked the few hardy Casuals fans who braved the cold, Manager James Bracken apologised saying ‘it wasn’t good enough.’ He’ll be insisting a much better performance in the next few weeks when Casuals return to the Maurice Rebak Stadium for the all-important league ‘six-pointer’.

“The performance was more disappointing than the result,” said Bracken after the match.

“We’ve set ourselves up to be good enough to win in both our last two cup matches and on both occasions, the performances haven’t been good enough.”

“We took our foot off the gas after 25 minutes because it seemed like it was a little too comfortable for us. If you do that at 0-0, then nine times out of ten, you lose the game.

“The final third from us tonight was really poor. For all the possession and domination in the first half hour, and with good spells throughout the game, we’ve not forced their keeper to make enough saves."

Now, Bracken looks ahead to the all-important league campaign and four vital games coming up.

“We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up but the next four are winnable. I’m realistic – every game is winnable but we don’t want to be relying on our run-in at the end of the season. We need to pick up as many wins as we can and see where we are. We can’t be looking at other team’s results – we need to take care of our own matches.

“Our results since the turn of the year puts us sixth in total points won, so we’re much improved. We’ve let in the same amount of goals as Worthing. If you’d had said to me, we’d have conceded the same number of goals as the league leaders, I’d have presumed we were third or fourth in the table.

​“However, we’re not and we need to be more clinical. Losing Shaun (Okojie) wasn’t ideal but other lads now need to step up to the plate and score goals.

“I think the players are good enough. But they’ll only get away with one or two more performances like that before we decide to make changes. I’m loyal as anything. We’re not a revolving door club and that’s why there’s an affinity with the fans and the players – they get to know them, appreciate each other and appreciate their qualities. We work with players here. We try to improve them as best as we can and we’ll always do that.

“But we’re here to win games of football. The next four are winnable but if we don’t look like winning them then we’ll look at changing things. It’s a wake up call.

“I’m optimistic though. There’s been some dark times this season and a lot of soul searching to be done. When you’re playing well but keep losing 1-0, then you question everything. But in 2020, we’re sixth in points earned, morale is good.
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“Perhaps tonight, like with some of the cup competitions this season, have been overlooked by some of the players. This tonight was more than winnable with a semi-final place at stake. Maybe I wanted to win a trophy more than some of the boys who’ve played. But they know what’s required of them in the league. They’re up for the challenge and they’ll give everything.”  

Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 1 Wingate & Finchley
Bostik League Premier Division
Saturday 13th April 2019
​Report: Cameron Smith. Pics: Stuart Tree (full set here)

Majed Osman’s brilliantly taken brace complimented an acrobatic screamer from Warren Mfula during Corinthian-Casuals’ comfortable 3-1 victory over Wingate and Finchley, which added three more points to the hunt for safety in the Bostik Premier Division.

Emotions were high at the premature final whistle last week in West Sussex, for both travelling supporters, players and staff. James Bracken let loose in the post-match interview, and rightly so. The refereeing decisions that cost three vital points for Casuals were laughable in hindsight as the pink and brown army had another essential game they needed to win- Wingate and Finchley FC were coming to Tolworth.

Just one position below Casuals, the North Londoners had the same desire as the hosts- the desire to maintain Bostik Premier status. Bracken made one change from last week’s spirited performance as Spencer switched from right midfield to right back for the suspended Morgan whilst Kevant Serbony was on the wing.

The temperamental British weather was certainly showing off on the Saturday afternoon at King George’s with a pre-match lashing of rain and hailstones before slightly brightening up for a cold first-half. As far as attacking went, the first half was brilliant for Casuals, with Rudoni and Antonio linking up with Osman and Mfula extremely well. In the 14th minute, there was a free-kick for Casuals and the usual taker Coskun Ekim aimed to curl it so it would land on Reece Hannigan’s head. The ball flew towards the no.5, but was cleared by Wingate’s Cronin before falling to Osman on the edge of the box. Controlling and edging closer, the little magician powered the ball towards goal and it ended up rippling the net following a slight deflection. An early goal is not something Casuals are used to, but it was greeted with warmth from behind the goal. Osman had put Casuals 1-0 up!

Form might have dipped after the goal plummeted in and the home side were given the dangerous luxury of a one-goal lead. Scrapping for the ball and closing down hard, Corinthians were under pressure from the Blues. This pressure was sustained, but Casuals’ rock-hard defence were not going to go down lightly. A second goal was what Bracken wanted before the first 45 ended, and the players knew it. Antonio found himself on the right flank when he crossed for Mfula in the area. With his back to goal and the ball in the air, it would seem futile to try and touch the ball and play backwards, as would kicking aimlessly. Positioning his body and jumping like a gazelle, Mfula sliced the ball into the back of the net whilst in the air and not even looking at goal. A wonderful scissor strike from the prolific striker gave Casuals two goals to go into the second-half with.
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The hail was forgotten when teams walked out for the second half as any sign of wind or cold disappeared ahead of sun, sun and sun. A thirty minute period after the second half kicked off offered hope for Wingate and Finchley. Complacency is not the word to use when describing Casuals, it was still very concentrated and involved.

​Lacklustre overall, the binding midfield and strong defence is what kept Casuals from conceding… until Anthony Mendy tucked the ball past Danny Bracken, removing his clean sheet. It was inevitable and it was at the perfect time. The 72nd minute allowed enough time for another one from Wingate, so they could equalise or even complete a comeback. Majed Osman had other ideas.

Hamilton Antonio had another fantastic game. Example of his class? His assist for the third. The tricky midfielder intelligently latched onto a poor ball played out by Wingate’s right-back and paced forwards. Antonio played it to Osman. Taking it in his stride, the no.11 was allowed time to compose himself before placing the ball with enough power for it to nestle brilliantly in the top corner. Past the helpless Gore in goal, Osman’s terrific strike was relief for everyone, particularly the frustrated
Mfula, who dropped to his knees and punched the air when the third goal was secured. Wheeling away ecstatically, Osman celebrated with players and fans as Casuals had sealed the deal only two minutes after conceding. That just demonstrates the real team spirit James Bracken has established.
The final fifteen were quiet as Antonio and Ekim bossed the midfield, Majed Osman nearly grabbed a hat-trick when he went for goal himself instead of playing in sub Dillon, but it was cleared.
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Full-time meant Casuals had won and achieved three points for their Bostik Premier campaign; we wish Wingate and Finchley the best for the rest of the season. Osman’s genius and Mfula’s 19th goal was the difference between the two sides, as well as the whole team’s effort to bounce back. Three games remain for the pink and brown army… can Casuals create some momentum and go to Potters Bar Town and win next Saturday?

Manager James Bracken spoke to Stuart Tree after the final whistle.

"We’re not playing for safety. We haven’t been for a while. We’re playing to finish above Kingstonian. We’ve talked about winning that ‘mini league’ which we’re in with a shout of doing.

"Of course, we’re aware that we could not afford to lose games on the chance that those below us may pick up points. The closest we’ve been to that drop zone in recent months is five points, so it’s never been a case that we would find ourselves slipping into it.

"We’ve lost just one in the last four now, and even that defeat should’ve been a win. Disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet against Wingate, but we’re not conceding many right now so we’re doing just fine.

"Majed has hit two good finishes along with Warren’s overhead kick, following great build up play. All three goals were well taken. That’s what we’ve not done enough of this season. We’ve missed a lot of chances over the course of the year. Today, I don’t recall us missing a great chance. Some days you go away wondering how you haven’t scored five or six. Against Wingate, we’ve scored from those good chances. It makes for much more comfortable viewing from the touchline than usual.

"We’re still going out to win our remaining games, finish above Kingstonian and give the fans something to cheer. They’ve backed us all season, especially in some tough periods where we haven’t got the results. They see the effort and commitment is there and continue to get behind the team.

"The target is nine points from the remaining three games. Worthing here on Monday will be tough. They play on the Friday and we’re a day later. Potter’s Bar’s pitch is unforgiving, and we haven’t got a big squad. We had seven or eight missing again today, so we don’t have a massive amount of freshness coming in between Saturday and Monday.

"Having an extra 24 hours rest for Worthing will make a massive difference. I’m not making excuses because we’ll still get out there and give it the best we’ve got. But if we come up light in the tank, I’m already mentally prepared myself to deal with it, because I understand these boys aren’t robots.

"Two games in three days at the end of a long old season makes zero sense. We wanted to switch to the Friday ourselves but unfortunately Potters Bar had too many players unavailable.

"If we get out there and play as we can, we’ll get a win, and hopefully finish the season at Whitehawk 100% safe. Whether they need something from the game or not is irrelevant; we won’t be doing them, nor anyone else any favours. We’ll try to win a game of football as we always do."

Wingate & Finchley 2 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals
Bostik League Premier Division
S​aturday 1st December 2018
Match report and photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)

Corinthian-Casuals suffered their first defeat in the league in five matches, but Manager James Bracken insists his side are “still in the mix”.

The 2-0 loss at Wingate & Finchley on Saturday dropped the Tolworth outfit to tenth in the league but are just two points outside the playoff places with at least one game in hand.

“We’ve won five of the last six so losing a game doesn’t put us out of contention,” commented Bracken.

“We’re right in the mix. We’re still four points behind K’s with two games in hand. Had we won, we’d have been in the playoff places because Worthing lost. Leaders Dorking lost with Tonbridge winning their first game in six, so everyone is dropping points.”

Casuals headed into Saturday’s clash in North London on the back of a dramatic 2-1 win at Leatherhead. But they were slow out of the blocks and Sean Cronin gave the hosts the deserved lead after twenty minutes. Prior to that, Wingate had a strong penalty appeal given only as a free kick and a goal disallowed for offside.

Casuals grew into the game and forced a succession of corners. They were having joy on the wings too. Gabriel Odunaike cut his cross back only for Mfula to fire over. Jordan Clarke’s wicked curling shot looked goal-bound too, but whistled wide of the upright.

Despite Corinth enjoying prolonged periods of pressure, Wingate struck again after the interval. Picking up on a loose Casuals pass, they surged on the break and made it 2-0 courtesy of Reece Mitchell.

Casuals continued to get something from the game but were unable to muster a comeback for the second time in a week. Juevan Spencer went closest when his chip clipped the crossbar.

“The first twenty minutes were a write-off,” said Bracken after the match.

“We’ve gifted them two goals. The first was a poor goal to concede on our part. Even the second goal, we’ve given away the ball very sloppily under no pressure. But if you look at the bigger picture, there was plenty to be pleased with. Let’s bear in mind, we’ve come to Wingate – an established club at this level, given them a two-goal lead but been the better team. That’s football for you.  

“Their keeper has made a couple of good saves and there have been a couple of deflections which could’ve easily gone in.

“I thought we were a little unlucky at times but too often, we weren’t clinical enough. We got into some great positions. We had three or four one-on-ones coming in on the angle and not hit the target.

“Today could’ve easily been a 3-2 or 4-2 win for us had we taken our chances.”

“We didn’t start with enough fire in our bellies and the first twenty minutes, we were very passive. Tactically, we had errors to correct at half time. To be fair to the lads, they implemented the changes in the second half. That’s why most of play was in their half other than when we sloppily gave the ball away.

“It was like a basketball game in the second half. End-to-end stuff. Sadly, we gifted them a goal by just doing the wrong things. We were playing well but had a lapse where we gave away possession too easily. They’ve scored off the back of a break-away. All we had to do was keep playing the way we were as it was working. Had we equalised, I believe we’d have kicked on and got another.

“But apart from the first twenty minutes, I can’t be too critical of the boys. They put in a good amount of work and especially in the second half, we were worthy of coming away with something.

“I’ve learnt more about myself in these first few months in the Bostik Premier League than I’d learnt about myself in the previous ten years. I always knew I was a winner, but I didn’t quite realise how much I hated losing. You have to come breathing fire every week. You cannot pick and choose what games you’re motivated for. If we do that, with the quality we have, we’ll win most weeks.”
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Casuals travel to Lewes on Wednesday night.