​Samba Style Sinks the Salts

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.

Derby day is always a feisty affair, and the scorching lunchtime sun only heightened the rivalrous tempers. Casuals were momentarily reduced to 10 men early in the second half, after Smith’s dissentient argument with the referee saw him in the rugby-style sinbin. In this time, Casuals were able to shrug off the numerical disadvantage and forge ahead, courtesy of Barbosa’s calculated curler into the far corner on the stroke of the hour.

Though, the visitors wouldn’t have to wait long for their equaliser. Kingsley Anokye pounced upon a loose ball deep into Corinthian territory, firing high into the roof of the net. A scuffle between centre-forward and goalkeeper ensued when the Salts had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards, but their number nine was adjudged to have impeded Maan.

Smith was back on the field, but before long, Epsom suffered a dismissal of their own. Barbosa was sent scampering through on goal by an inch-perfect Vitinho pass, but last man Toby Young thwarted the Brazilian, clipping his heals on the brink of the area, costing Corinth a shot at victory. Hostility continued throughout the remainder of the game, with neither side settling for the point.

After a 2-1 win over Epsom on last year’s Bank Holiday Monday, it felt destined that Casuals would replicate the score late on. It wasn’t quite the finest ‘Joga Bonito’ that King George’s has seen, but when Brazilian substitute Wilgnner Ewerthon’s wide free-kick flew through a crowded area and crept in at the far post, it was just meant to be. Amid the wild celebrations in the stands, the Brazilian raised the Corinthian corner flag, crowning derby day delight on our hallowed turf.

The fruitful performance saw Casuals climb to third place in the Combined Counties Premier Division South, having played a game fewer than table-topping Abbey Rangers. The pink-and-chocolate army are back at King George’s on Saturday, facing Balham at the usual 3pm kick-off time.

“I'd prefer to win it earlier than the last minute,” said Maan after the match

“We didn't really get going the first half. It was a sloppy start from us. It was a slow paced game. So we had a few words at half time. They didn't really cause us much danger though. We gave them the ball too many times, but we got a reaction second half and we were the better team. And for me personally, I felt that there was only one team that was going to win.

“It's all about getting three points. Of course, you want to win it with a good performance. You want to play good football but at the end of the day, it's the three points that matters.”
 
Corinthian-Casuals: Maan, Ejeta, Bond, Smith, Rowe, Afonso (Vitinho 14), Protsyshyn (Dos Santos 83), Masikini (Bailey-Allen 60), Da Silva, Coker, Barbosa (Maia 77)
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