Corinthian-Casuals 1 – 1 Balham
Combined Counties League Premier South
Saturday 30th August 2025
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree
Additional Photos courtesy of Andy Nunn.

Corinthian-Casuals Manager Mu Maan says the only positive thing to come out of the 1-1 draw with Balham was salvaging a point.

An early Olly Meadows opener was cancelled out by himself, helping Casuals to rescue a point from an otherwise under-par performance by the home side.

Following a dramatic win over Epsom & Ewell five days earlier, Maan extensively shuffled his pack, introducing Charlie Sell – on loan from Aldershot alongside incoming Marcos Dos Santos, Wilgnner Ewerthon and Raekwon Bailey-Allen in an all-middle shake-up. A late, late injury to Goalkeeper Mo Maan meant Sanghyun Baek was back between the sticks, just ten minutes before kick-off.

But they found themselves behind before anyone had a chance to settle. A Balham corner was bundled home by Meadows in just the second minute. It gave something for the visitors to bite down upon. In a two-horse race, Casuals were third… not able to get hold of the match, nor, at times, the ball. Corinth were limited to a few half chances and thankfully for the support, so were Balham.

With wholesale changes made to the midfield, Corinth came out for the second half all guns blazing, and before long, they had their equaliser. A Wilgnner corner was headed into the net at the near post by defender Meadows, much to the relief of the 225 in attendance. Would Casuals kick-on? It looked like it. Now, much more threatening, Balham were forced to retreat, backtrack and defend. Tommy Smith found himself at the back post in  the best of a flurry of chances, but the angle defeated him. Andre Coker slid 'Gazza Euro-96' style at the back post in what looked like a glorious chance to take the lead.

But when George Bond was sent to the sin-bin for protesting a foul upon him, which had actually tore a hole in his sock, it put Casuals on the backfoot. Baek had to be alert as the defence floundered and struggled to clear lines. Balham were bouncing and Casuals were holding on. After nearly 100 minutes played, all three possible results wouldn’t have looked out of place on the vidiprinter. However, it was Maan who was most relieved to get a point.

“I said it to the boys in the changing room after that I'm happy with the point, all things considered. We didn't get going at all today. Balham beat us to the first ball… to the second ball. The second half, even after we equalised, we weren’t good enough.

“I can’t quite put my finger on it but it seemed like we didn’t want it. I think there was a belief that we could just turn up and get the three points. That’s not going to happen in this league, no matter who we play.

“They outworked us. They won everything… we can’t be so complacent in the future. We know where that complacency leads.

“We made some changes for the second half and it worked for a while. Then we fell off the pace again. It didn’t help that George got sin-binned for the last ten minutes. It gave them the impetus and they were all over us, so I was happy to take the point in the end.”

Corinthian-Casuals 2-1 Epsom & Ewell
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Monday 25th August 2025
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Stuart Tree, Andy Nunn, Harvey Abbott

Corinthian-Casuals sealed a statement victory of character and combat after their hard-fought performance was rewarded late on, with Mu Maan’s side finally cracking 10-man Epsom & Ewell in added time.
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The Brazilian brigade paved the way to another three points, as goals from Rafael Barbosa and Wilgnner Ewerthon proved to be decisive on a blazing Monday morning in Tolworth.

There was an an unfamiliar 11:30am kick-off time for Casuals on Bank Holiday Monday, but an early start never threatened to retract the flavour from another spicy encounter against our former tenants, looking to make it a bitter return to the Armada Group Stadium for the Salts.

After surrendering five to Sevenoaks in the FA Cup last weekend, Mu Maan selected brother Mo in goal, behind a back three comprising of Tommy Smith, Quincy Rowe and Clayton Afonso – a seasoned defence which oozed experience. It paid off, with the Mo Maan not facing a shot on goal in a stagnant opening half hour.

Epsom’s first attempt came on 35 minutes, when Luke Miller’s effort from a rebounded free kick forced Maan into a full stretch stop. Then, George Bond orchestrated a rapid Casuals response, energetically bursting into the box and teeing up Diogo Da Silva, whose effort was blocked.

Corinthian-Casuals 3-5 Sevenoaks Town
Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Saturday 16th August 2025
Report: Josh Lamey
Images: Stuart Tree and Andy Nunn
 
Corinthian-Casuals bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup in style, in an eight-goal thriller in front of an animated Armada Group Stadium.
 
Against step four opposition, in Sevenoaks Town, Casuals put in a performance to be proud of, recovering a three-goal deficit before falling victim to two late goals.
 
The FA Cup fever was setting in around the ground prior to kick off, but unfortunately for Casuals, the bubble of excitement burst just five minutes into the tie. Sevenoaks wrote their name onto the scoresheet first, courtesy of a well-engineered inswinging corner that was headed home by Charlie Dickens.
 
Casuals threatened to amend a slow start in the subsequent minutes. A fluid counter-attack gave them the licence to pounce on a shortage of Sevenoaks centre-halves, and just as Raf Barbosa’s finish trickled into the corner, roars of jubilation shifted to cries of frustration at the sight of the linesman’s raised flag. Then, Andre Coker must’ve thought he had fashioned the equaliser, but following a tantalising ball across the face of goal, the marksman could only strike the foot of the post.
 
The Oaks’ seasoned striker Warren Mfula – formerly a popular figure at Casuals – led a late Sevenoaks charge as half-time approached, rolling it square to James Jeffrey, who forced a crucial save from Sanghyun Baek at his near post.
 
Town began the second half how they started the first, by denting the hosts’ spirits. Dickens continued to alarm the Casuals defence from left-back, and his sweet half volley ricocheted into the path of Tolu Jonah who couldn’t miss. After a reshuffle of the Corinthian pack, the Oaks pulled even further ahead. Mason Doughty sprinted through the final third before opening up his body and curling in a calculated third.
 
However, the noise never faded from the 302-strong Corinthian contingent despite the scoreline. The unwavering support was repaid when substitute Patrick Maia floated in an inviting cross from the right flank which kissed the boot of Raf Barbosa, whose pure first-time volley reignited the cup spirit around the ground.

Cobham 1 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties  League Premier South
Saturday 9th August 2025
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Additional photos: Andy Nunn

Corinthian-Casuals Manager Mu Maan issued a “statement of intent” to the rest of the Combined Counties following a dramatic 2-1 win at Cobham.

Goals from Brazilians Rafa Barbosa and Marcos Dos Santos ensured Casuals walked away from the Reg Madgwick Stadium with a vital three points.

And with many tipping Cobham to be in the title race this season, the result meant even more to Maan following a poor performance at Badshot Lea just three days earlier.

Corinth came into the match missing Captain Arsenii Protsyshyn and Tommy Smith in defence as well as Shea Cascoe Rogers, who’ll be out for several weeks with a sprain. In came George Bond, on dual registration from South Park as well as a return for Andre Coker following a one match suspension.

Cobham were coming off the back of an impressive 4-0 win away at Tooting and thus, full of confidence, being unbeaten this season. It was the hosts who dominated the ball, with large amounts of possession in the middle of the park. But they were unable to turn the screw, with chances limited to corners or set-pieces. And so often is the case, it was Casuals who opened the scoring against the run of play. Bond fired a shot at Conrad Knight who could only parry it, leaving Barbosa to nod home.

Heat haze enveloped the pitch; an indication of the tough temperatures dictating the intensity. It looked as though the visitors were going to keep Cobham at bay, but in the 86th minute, a foul on the edge of the box saw Patrick Murray convert a low free kick into the corner of the goal.

But the drama wasn’t to end there. In a final twist, Diogo Da Silva’s wide free kick was brushed home by the head of Dos Santos to give Casuals a vital three points, at what will be, a tough place for any side to get a positive result.

Badshot Lea 3-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Tuesday 5th August 2025
Report: Josh Lamey
Images:   Harvey Abbott

Raf Barbosa’s early opener was eclipsed by a clinical Badshot Lea performance, which left Corinthian-Casuals reminiscing on a sharp start that fizzled out.

Mu Maan’s side are acclimatising to their second season in Step 5, and had shown early signs that their potential can translate into a healthy league position come April. A point at Tooting & Mitcham on opening night – despite a performance that perhaps warranted all three – preceded Saturday’s cup classic: a hard-fought 4-2 win over Abbey Rangers in the FA Cup extra preliminary round, but a summer’s evening in rural Surrey proved to be a different challenge altogether.

With just seven minutes on the clock, Casuals took an early lead when Marcos dos Santos picked out the run of the returning Barbosa, who slotted beyond a stranded Harry White before charging into a huddle of Corinthian joy to the left-hand side of the goal.

However, it took Badshot Lea just 15 minutes to fashion their response. An outside-of-the-boot pass unpicked the Casuals defence, and despite the best efforts of the back-peddling Tommy Smith, the ball was bundled in virtually on the goalline. A fast start at Westfield Lane.

And as the sea of claret and blue continued to surge forward, the turnaround was complete when first-half substitute Louis Pask causing more problems in the final third. Pask’s determination allowed him to muscle his way through, and by weaving and cutting inside, he dispatched his side’s second.

Quincy Rowe and Rewan Alyasi were called upon by Maan at half-time to reinforce the rearguard and to add some energetic flair to the wide positions respectively in a bid to regain control of the game.

Rowe almost made the perfect entrance when the ball broke kindly for the experienced centre-half on the edge of the box, but White scurried across to intervene just in time. Meanwhile, the Baggies had a chance of their own, but Casuals keeper Sanghyun Baek produced a smart reflex stop from close range following a swift counterattack.

Spurred on by the noise of the travelling Corinthian contingent, Casuals continued to throw bodies forward in search of a desperately desired leveller. Arsenii Protsyshyn had a couple of efforts saved, one of which would’ve arrowed into the roof of the net had it not been for the fingertips of the Badshot keeper.

However, Corinthian-Casuals’ fate was sealed late on. A blistering run down the right from the Baggies’ winger carved out the opportunity to pick out an unmarked Eric Kerage, who tapped home the winner from close quarters.

The result brought Casuals back down to earth after their FA Cup joy, but Maan’s side will be looking to reignite their start to 2025/26 when they travel to the Leg O’Mutton Field to face one of the early promotion favourites, Cobham.

Corinthian-Casuals: Baek, Dos Santos (Rowe 45), Protsyshyn (c), Adelakun (Soman 71), Smith, Afonso, Bailey-Allen, Ewerthon (Ejeta 90), Vitinho (Alyasi 45), Masikini, Barbosa

Abbey Rangers 2 - 4 Corinthian-Casuals
Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 2nd August 2025
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree (full set of photos here)
Additional photos from Andy Nunn and Harvey Abbott
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Corinthian-Casuals overcame the first hurdle of the FA Cup for the first time since 2021 with a fine 4-2 victory over fellow Combined Counties outfit Abbey Rangers.

Goals from Rae Bailey-Allen, Shea Cascoe-Rogers, Patrick Maia and a penalty from Andre Coker sealed the win at Addlestone Moor in front of a partisan Casuals crowd.

The win puts Casuals into the next round, knowing their opponents will be Sevenoaks Town – who boast former Corinth favourite Warren Mfula in their side.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Mu Maan’s Casuals; following a stalemate at half time, Maan made bold changes to his attacking line, but succumbed to a well crafted Rangers set-piece, nodding home a header.

Not letting Rangers settle into protecting a 1-0 lead, Casuals pressed and Arsenii Protsyshyn pushed forward from left back and delivered a dangerous ball that Abbey fluffed, with Rae Bailey-Allen bundling the loose ball over the line.

 ​Tooting & Mitcham 0 – 0 Corinthian-Casuals
Combined Counties Premier Division South
Tuesday 29th July 2025
Report: Josh Lamey
Photos: Stuart Tree
Full set of photos can be seen   here
 
Controversy concluded Corinthian-Casuals’ 2025/26 league season opener after they were denied a late winner by the assistant referee’s flag at the end of an admirable away performance.
 
After wrapping up their pre-season schedule with a thrilling yet fruitless 5-3 defeat to Leatherhead in the Harvey-Hill Vase on Saturday, attention turned to the inaugural game of the league season.
 
There could be no better way to commence the campaign than the short venture to Imperial Fields – two proud local sides clashing under the lights with the prize of three precious points up for grabs. Hence, it felt fitting that the Tooting & Mitcham stadium announcer declared: “This is football” moments before the first whistle.
 
A fixture of fine margins on paper was epitomised early on, with both sides carving out half-chances in the opening half hour. Most notably for Casuals, a wayward effort over the bar from Shea Cascoe-Rogers, craftily manufactured by new signing Andre Coker’s flick around the Stripes’ centre-half.
 
Coker continued to express glimpses of his Step 3 experience, looking to flourish once again after a successful campaign at Cray Valley. He had an opening of his own on the 15-minute mark, manoeuvring and striking sweetly into the goalkeeper’s grasp. A fast start from the visitors.

​“Yeah, a good, good game of football,” said Manager Mu Maan after the match. These are two big clubs in the Combined Counties going at it.”
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“It was cagey at times, but we had a few chances… they had a few chances. We had a goal disallowed in the end, but first game in and it’s a clean sheet away from home. This is not an easy place to come and get a result. I’ll take a point coming away from here and I’m always pleased with a shutout.

“We could have gone on to nick it. I think we had four or five corners in a row. Andre’s had one cleared off the line. But to be fair to Tooting, they've had a few chances as well. Good end-to-end stuff.

“The only dampener on the night is that red card. Did Andre handle it on purpose? We’ll have to look back at it. But listen, even with 10 men, we still threatened.

“I think for the second half. We edged it. They had good possession at times. We looked dangerous in those other moments. Overall, it was a little bit cagey at times. But as I say, coming to Tooting and getting our first point on the board, I’ll take that.

“It’s onwards to the FA Cup on Saturday, and our focus will be solely on that for now.”

Corinthian-Casuals 3 – 5 Leatherhead
Geoff Harvey / Jimmy Hill Vase
Saturday 26th July 2025
Report and Photos: Stuart Tree
Full set of photos can be seen here.
 
If nothing else, from a spectator’s point of view, this has been one very entertaining pre-season campaign for Corinthian-Casuals. And whilst they were unable to wrestle the Harvey-Hill Vase from Leatherhead for a second year in succession, the 288 in attendance would’ve had real value for their money in this last friendly before the important stuff begins.
 
The six warm-up fixtures have produced 29 goals – nearly five a game! Some spectacular too, such as Rae Bailey-Allen’s solo effort against Sutton, Diogo Da Silva’s 25 yarder at Basingstoke and Rafa Barbosa’s overhead kick at Croydon. Another Brazilian, Wilgnner Ewerthon got in on the act with a wonderful free kick, to cancel out Leatherhead’s super-quick start. Before five minutes were on the clock, it was 1-1. We were surely going to bust the five goal average.
 
Tobi Falodi looped a shot onto the bar and Bailey-Allen also struck the temporary woodwork from close range before Leatherhead asserted themselves with two bullet headers from corners, leaving the makeshift Casuals defence standing still. Both sides had made a number of changes for this fixture, which had been arranged long before the ever-expanding schedule of the season was announced. Casuals face Tooting in the league on Tuesday whilst the Tanners, who have one last pre-season hurrah against Farnham, enter the FA Cup on Saturday. Thus, Corinth fans may not have recognised many faces in the line-up with Marcos Dos Santos perhaps the only ‘guaranteed’ starter donning the Captain’s armband.

“A good game of football,” was Mu Maan’s summary at the end of last night’s 2-2 draw with Step 6 side Croydon FC in our penultimate pre-season fixture.

The game, played at Whyteleafe’s Church Road, began poorly for Casuals, who let Croydon in for a sloppy opening goal before giving away a soft penalty to allow the hosts to take a 2-0 lead at the break.

But there were already clear signs of improvement by the time the referee blew for half-time as Arsenii Protsyshyn hit the crossbar with a fierce drive and Andre Coker saw his well-struck effort turned over by the Croydon keeper.

The second half was controlled by Casuals, though. Coker got his first goal in our colours shortly after the break, before his replacement Rafael Barbosa equalised late on with a spectacular overhead kick.

“We had a lot of possession first half,” the gaffer reflected. “I wasn't happy with the goals – and another penalty conceded.

“But we rectified that and I think we could have scored maybe two or three in the first half. But I think our final pass, our final shot let us down.

“In the second half, to be honest with you, it was all us, and at times the football was amazing to watch. No disrespect, it was attack versus defence and I just think our execution in the second half was much better. Our decision making was much better. Onwards and upwards.”

The squad is taking shape with one more pre-season game to come this Saturday, at home to Leatherhead, and Mu views the competition for places as something that will strengthen us in the campaign ahead.

“Before the game, I asked the boys to look around them, because there's some very good players in there – experienced players in there. And I think we're going in the right direction. The squad is shaping up, but there's always room for improvement, although I'm very happy at the minute. Of course, I’m not happy conceding two goals, but overall I’m pleased.”

As Coker impresses up front with his tidy link-up play and sharpness in the box, while Barbosa brings tenacity and flair when selected to lead the line, it feels like the gaffer’s options up front are particularly strong right now, and that’s just how he likes it.

“That's a good headache to have,” he says. “Listen, Andre Coker is very well known in non-league. He's a proper player… and so is Rafa. It's healthy competition and that’s brilliant.

“We’ve got one more pre-season game, then the real business. I’m looking forward to Leatherhead. It will be another tough game, and then, just like that, the season is on you!”

Basingstoke Town 4-3 Corinthian-Casuals
Tuesday 15th July 2025
Pre-Season Friendly
Report: Josh Lamey
​Interview: Chris Randall
Images: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Additional  Images from Andy Nunn here
 
Corinthian-Casuals’ quest to Hampshire brought both torrential rain and an onslaught of goals, but despite a spirited performance, Mu Maan’s side were edged out in a seven-goal thriller by Step 3 side Basingstoke Town.
 
The pink-and-chocolate army have been revelling in the return of the ‘Casual life,’ having now got four pre-season games under the belt. There was an opening defeat in a match of fine margins, as Burnham battled back to clinch it late at the 1878 Stadium. Then Mu Maan shuffled his squad against Chessington & Hook United and secured a win on the hosts’ practice pitch.
 
Most recently, Corinthian-Casuals welcomed supporters back to an upgraded Armada Group Stadium, which has had a makeover over the summer. The stylish new club shop and Roger’s Bar weren’t the only successes of the afternoon, as Corinth came from two behind to secure a deserved draw against a youthful Sutton United.
 
Tuesday night brought Casuals’ toughest test so far, as they travelled to Basingstoke’s Winklebury Football Complex. The visitors – who play in the Southern League Premier Division South – flourished in the opening 20 minutes, as a perfectly timed slide-rule pass from new acquisition Raekwon Bailey-Allen glued to the feet of Trey Masikini, who made no mistake with a cool finish.
 
Following an early fright, the Stoke created a series of opportunities to draw level. Twenty-five minutes in, and after fashioning a pocket of space in the area, the hosts’ No4 rattled the post with a venomous strike. Casuals were forced into a rearguard action, and it was thanks to the athleticism of our trialist goalkeeper that we took a lead into the break.

“We stood on our own two feet today, the first half was very good,” Manager Mu Maan speaking to Chris Randall after the match. “I’m proud of the boys after today; that was a good shift, against a good team. That was a good overall performance.”

It was clear Mu felt that the Corinth should’ve got more from the game, and that decisions, more often than not, fell in favour of the hosts: The deciding penalty was a key focal point late on in the game. 
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It didn’t dampen the boss’ spirits though, as he joked about the quality of the Casuals’ performance: “I don’t know if it’s the 3G surface that a few of the boys love! Well, not the older boys on their knees!”

Asked about the impact of some new faces on the night, Maan said: “The lads that I have brought in bring leadership, quality, the main ingredients. I’ve kept a lot of the players from last season and it’s just a few tweaks - they’re here to make us stronger and I am sure they will do that.”

Casuals’ pre-season has seen a well-balanced mix of ingredients; the return of some familiar faces and new ones, and as the coaching staff have dialled in their selections, the performances on the pitch have moved in tandem. 

“I’m just looking for performance and for the boys to understand the way that we’re trying to play. Tooting and Mitcham is around the corner, so now it’s about performance and sticking to our structure, ultimately implementing everything we’ve done in pre-season.”

“I think there has been a good energy from the Burnham game. Burnham, Chessington and Hook, the first half of Sutton United I wasn’t very pleased with but overall the energy has been very good; we look lively, we look sharp, and may long it continue!”

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