Smash and Grab

Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 2 Horley Town
Combined Counties League Premier South
Saturday  8th November 2025
​Report and Photos : Stuart Tree (full set here)​

Corinthian-Casuals boss Mu Maan couldn’t believe his side conspired to lose to Horley Town in the Combined Counties on Saturday.

Two goals from two identical set pieces undone Casuals at home for only the second time in the league this season.

“I can't believe we've lost that one,” admitted Maan after the match. “They didn't create any chances until the set piece. And I said to the boys at halftime, the only way that we were going to lose this game is from a set piece. And that's exactly what happened.”

Andre Coker had given the hosts the lead early in the first half but were pegged back on the stroke of half time before succumbing to Horley at the death.

Whilst it wasn’t the capitulation of last season that saw Horley come back from three goals down to earn a draw, Casuals will feel sick that they got nothing from this encounter.

It was already a disappointing afternoon learning that George Bond had taken an offer from Redhill. The ever-present full back’s departure was a blow for Maan, in a squad already struggling with injuries.

And it all started with a couple of bizarre twists; the absence of one official saw kickoff delayed until a replacement was sourced. It’s both club’s thanks to John Chinnery – a registered official for stepping in at the last minute. Even then, when the two teams emerged twenty minutes late, the kit clash was evident for all to see. With the setting sun low in the sky, it was almost impossible to differentiate the sides. Ten minutes in and at the request of the Casuals management, the home side swapped into their change strip.

The contrasting clarity paid off; Casuals silkily moved the ball down the right hand side before lifting a delicate cross to Andre Coker on the edge of the box, who calmly dummied a sliding Ben Dyson challenge and firing home into the top left corner of the Horley net.

It was a dominant first half display until Casuals fell into their trap of taking their foot off the gas. It allowed Horley back into the game and via a poorly defended free kick, they’d found an ugly equaliser.

The real disappointment was the lack of drive or urgency from Corinth. The second half played by in the middle third with little or no threat at either end. Substitute Patrick Maia was unlucky not to beat keeper Sam Saward to the loose ball. Saward was otherwise never tested as Casuals found it hard to produce a final killer touch.

And it all turned sour when Joe Carrington popped up with his second of the match deep into stoppage time. To concede from a set piece is sloppy but to do it twice from the same position to the same man is criminal. Casuals got what they deserved in light of their second half performance. They’ll need to pick themselves up quickly as King George’s hosts Guildford City on Tuesday night.

“I'm very, very disappointed,” said Maan after the match. “I said to the boys, the next four games are very, very vital for our season. We need to get points on the board. We're at home.”

“We played well at first. We had some good moments. We were moving the ball nicely. My personal opinion is that Gabs coming off changed the game. He was the hold up man and we were playing through him. After that, we had to change the formation a little bit, and I don't think the subs made an impact as we’d have liked.
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“We didn't get going the second half. We had a few moments and the game was there for the taking. You know, we're at home, had a few chances but didn't take them. So yeah, it’s very hard to take.”