That's Entertainment

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 fourth from Leatherhead on the stroke of half time looked to have killed the game off from a competitive standpoint, but Casuals have made a habit of getting back into games when behind. Barring the win at Chessington, Mu Maan’s team have got back on level terms in each of the five other pre-season games.
 
Alas, a penalty stroked home and a scramble in front of goal which saw Dos Santos poke home put the score at 4-3, before Leatherhead once again exposed Casuals from wide and put the game to bed. That comeback record had been snuffed out. There was time for some ‘handbags’ which saw the departure of one Casuals trialist, just to spice up proceedings before Leatherhead’s Captain was awarded the vase by club stalwart Brian Philips. Win it again next year and the question of ‘should Leatherhead keep the trophy permanently?’ could be legitimately asked. If nothing else, it’ll look good on the bar with flowers in.

“We conceded some very sloppy goals today,” admitted Maan after the match. “Goals from three or four set pieces, one from a throw in and that just comes down to lack of organisation and communication.
 
“Saying that, and I don't know how many of their boys were playing from their first team, but I think at times we gave a good account of ourselves. I think the second half we were actually the better team.
 
“I'm just frustrated about the goals that we conceded because in open play, they didn't really do that much. The boys that came in today, they did well. We had a few players missing as I didn't want to take the risk of injury or fatigue with the Tooting game coming up fast on Tuesday. But this felt like a good opportunity to give these players a chance to show me what they're made of.
 
“Listen; Tooting on Tuesday will be a tough game, but we've prepared well. And we're ready to go.”