PARK LIFE

Chessington & Hook Utd 0  - 1 Corinthian-Casuals
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 8th July 2025
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Additional photos from Andy Nunn here.

Mu Maan was delighted in the continued progress of Corinthian-Casuals’ preparations for the new season as his side defeated Chessington & Hook, keeping a clean sheet in the process.

Speaking of the defensive performance, Mu quipped “You work from the back. If we don't concede goals, we won't lose games.”

That’s not to take away from the attacking threat Casuals maintained throughout the ninety minutes. The game had ‘glorified training session’ written all over it, played within the setting of Chessington’s back pitch. Golden sun cast long shadows across a good gathering of Casuals fans, holding plastic pint refreshments and fending off the gnats and nasties – summer vibes.

As local an opposition as Casuals can get, this was the ‘Skip It Derby’ – commented by more than one onlooker on the night, due to the fact that both team’s shirts are sponsored by Mu and Mo’s waste removal company. A testament to how much the brothers support local sport.

Chessington, who play a step lower and now coached by ex-Casuals boss Tony Reid, proved a tough defensive challenge with their back four and keeper putting in a decent display. And they had to work hard to keep the score down. Though they themselves mustered a decent chance at the end of the first half, forcing a fine first save from the Corinth keeper.

Changes aplenty for both sides in the second half once again muted the finesse of what we saw in the first half, but Casuals struck home courtesy of one of Mu’s recent additions. All three goals in this campaign so far, coming from new faces.

The home side came closest tapping in, only to see the Assistant Referee’s flag up for offside. Theo Soman also had the ball in the net for Casuals, but that too, was ruled out due to an infringement in the build-up.

Despite the park football feel, it was an important run-out for the squad ahead of two tougher tests in the next seven days; first at home to a Sutton United XI and then away to Step 3 Basingstoke Town on Tuesday night.

“More minutes in the bank for us tonight,” said Mu after the match. “We played some great football at times. Like I said against Burnham, I think we got out what we needed to get out of this session. Personally, I thought we could have scored a few more goals, but overall, I’m very pleased.

“We could have and should have made the scoreline more convincing. There’s still room for improvement. It could always be better. But listen, it's the second game, and we just continue from here.

“Selection for places is a headache, but it's a good headache. We've got some talented boys in there. That’s two games now, that they've come in with high energy. The quality has been good, but there's always room for improvement, and it's for me as the Gaffer to make the decisions as to who starts.
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“It was great having Tommy Smith in tonight. Players like Tommy are 100% needed in this league. Experience. Also, with players like Quincy Rowe as well, yet to come into the fold. Clayton has been very solid in the two games played so far. And of course, Arsenii, who was a real find last season. You work from the back. If we don't concede goals, we won't lose games. So, I think everything else will come naturally.”