Wingate & Finchley vs Corinthian-Casuals
London Senior Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 12th February 2020 - 7.45pm
Maurice Rebak Stadium, Finchley N12 OPD

Tuesday night offers up more cup action for Casuals as they venture North of the river to face Wingate & Finchley in the London Senior Cup Quarter Final.

It’s Casuals last chance at silverware this season following the exit of the Velocity Trophy this past week.

James Bracken’s side received a bye in the first round before defeating Woodford Town 2-1 at the Harlow Arena back in December. Wingate have also only played one match in this competition having knocked out Dulwich Hamlet by three goals to two at Champion Hill.

The two sides have met already this season, in a 3-3 thriller at King George’s just before Christmas. A last-gasp Mark Jamison goal for Casuals ensured a share of the spoils having gone behind late on. Both Corinth and Wingate are at the wrong end of the Isthmian League Premier table with Finchley sitting second bottom. It hasbeen a campaign that looked increasingly grim for the Blues. However, they boosted their chances of survival with a 1-0 win over struggling Bishop’s Stortford and more impressively, a 2-1 victory on Saturday against East Thurrock.

Casuals last visit to the Maurice Rebak Stadium was just over a year ago and ended in a 2-0 victory for the home side, but the Amateurs got their revenge with a 3-1 reverse later that season.

On paper, there may not be many goals scored, with both sides having netted just 28 times in the league – the second lowest tally. The difference might come down to defence; Casuals are far more miserly having let in 15 fewer goals. Wingate have only won twice at home in the league but in cups, have been stronger. They’ve won three, drawn one but most recently lost twice - Margate in the Velocity Trophy and Brentford in the Middlesex Senior Cup. The last two matches were played in front of 44 and 47 people respectively (Bees were clearly the obvious draw of the two).

Whatever happens, and how many it happens in front of, the tie will be concluded on the night. A penalty shoot-out could determine the winner if the scores are level at full time. It’s likely we’ll encounter one ex-Casual on the night – Bradley Woods Garness, who was at King George’s last season has recently signed for the Blues.

The winner will go on to face either Hendon or 2018 winners Balham in the semi-final. A preferable outcome for Casuals supporters would be to play the latter seeing as they groundshare with Colliers Wood, just a couple of miles down the A3. That is of course, should Casuals progress.

Also left in the competition at this stage is Erith, who booked their place in the semi-final with a 2-1 win over Tooting & Mitcham. Facing them will be either AFC Wimbledon or Brentford B who will battle it out in arguably the tie of the round.

Wingate last won this competition nine years ago. You need to look a little further back for Casuals, who shared their only ‘win’ with Old Westminsters in 1887. Amazingly, Corinthian-Casuals in the current guise have never lifted the trophy. The closest they came was reaching the final in 1957, losing out to Briggs Sports (3-0). Perhaps this signals James Bracken’s best chance to rectify that in his time at the club.

Sadly, just 27 clubs entered into this once prestigious competition as some now view county cups as solely an opportunity to stretch the legs of their squads. There are over 90 teams eligible for the tournament so it’s disappointing to witness a particularly low participation. Come what May, that won’t matter in the slightest to the Captain that lifts the trophy for their team. Let’s hope he’s in Chocolate and Pink.

The Maurice Rebak Stadium is in Summers Lane, Finchley N12 OPD. The nearest Underground station is West Finchley Station (Northern Line - High Barnet branch). The station is a 10-15 minute walk away from the Ground. Alternatively go to East Finchley Station and get a 263 bus heading North towards Barnet. Get off at the bus stop just after Summers Lane traffic lights.
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Admission is £12 adults, £6 concessions, £3 for Under 16s and Under 12s go free. 

Margate vs Corinthian-Casuals
Isthmian League Premier Division
Saturday 8th February 2020 - 3pm​
Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate CT9 5QZ

​For any Corinthian-Casuals fan who was party to the first 45 minutes of Isthmian Premier football last year, the trip to Margate wasn’t such a jolly boys outing.

James Bracken’s newly-promoted Casuals had a shock welcome to Step 3 football, finding themselves 5-0 down at the half time interval. Keeper Mo Maan struggled with a back injury early doors, himself deputising for the crocked Danny Bracken. Five shots… five goals.

But by quarter to five, there was more to be optimistic about the season ahead; Casuals had won the second half 2-0, missing a penalty and a goal-line scramble in the process. A good away contingent playfully cheered with their newly-bought inflatables, but it was a wake-up call to several players as to what was required from the very first minute at this level.

Skip ahead to February when the two teams met again and both sides were around the same position in the league table. In fact, Ex Maidstone boss Jay Saunders had just taken over at Hartsdown Park and that ‘new manager bounce’ paid off, with Gate winning 3-0 at King George’s. It wasn’t a great return – in fact, Margate secured the best ‘aggregate’ win over Casuals of any opponents last season.

Now, Casuals once again embark on a journey down to the Kent coast in search of their first league win over Margate. Earlier this campaign, a first minute Elliott Reeves goal was added to by Hafeez Sanusi before Brad Wilson gave Casuals hope ten minutes from time. Alas, it was too little, too late and Margate took the points once again.

However, Bracken’s side (of those who remain from two years prior) will remember how to win on the 3G at Hartsdown Park. The Casuals won on penalties in the Velocity Trophy back in October 2017 following a dramatic 2-2 draw (pic). That run saw the Amateurs make it all the way to the semi-finals, scaring Tamplin’s Billericay in the process.

Margate come into this game on the back of two league defeats. A 3-0 loss to Enfield Town was surprisingly followed up with a 1-0 loss to Merstham (we could’ve done without that). Casuals will also take heart in the fact that Margate have only won three times at home in the league this season. Only Bowers & Pitsea, Lewes and Wingate have worse records. However, Casuals aren’t too hot on the road but have won on artificial surfaces twice this season (the aforementioned Bowers and Woodford Town).

Look out for some talented players in Jay Saunders’ squad. Daniel Kaddell is their current top scorer with 12 goals. Noel Leighton and Elliott Reeves are each just one behind. Also look out for Chris Sessegnon – he’s the older brother to twins Ryan (Tottenham Hotspur) and Steve (Fulham).

To find your way to Hartsdown Park, it’s on Hartsdown Road in Margate CT9 5QZ. Margate railway station is approximately 10 minute walk to the ground.

Kick-off is at 3pm. Prices for admission are £11 for adults, £8 concessions*, young persons (aged 11-17) can enter for a fiver and Children under the age of 11 come free with an accompanying adult.

* A concession is defined by the club as Males over 65, Females over 60 and Disabled Fans.

Corinthian-Casuals vs Burgess Hill Town
Velocity Trophy Knockout Stage
Tuesday 4th February 2020 - 7.45pm
King George's Arena, Tolworth KT6 7NA

Tuesday night sees the return of Burgess Hill Town to King George’s Arena for this first Velocity Trophy cup tie for the Casuals this season.
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Changes to the format has meant all Isthmian Premier sides were given a ‘bye’ to this knockout stage. Opponents Burgess Hill had to negotiate their way through a Champions League style group phase to reach this point.

The Hillians topped their table with maximum points with wins over Haywards Heath Town, East Grinstead Town, Three Bridges, Hastings United and finally Chichester City.

It’s an impressive showing from Jay Lovett’s side in what has been a difficult season back at Step Four following their relegation from the Premier division last term. Burgess Hill currently sit in 16th place (out of 20) with 24 points from 22 games. Max Miller sits as the top scorer for the Hillians but closely followed by two ex-Casuals. Warren Mfula left King George’s in the Summer to ply his trade at the Green Elephants Stadium, and despite making an immediate impact, ventured onto pastures new shortly after.
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Less known as a Casual is Aaron Smith-Joseph (pic left), who’s notched six goals this season. The young forward made one solitary substitute appearance for Corinth under Matt Howard back in 2015 – a 2-1 loss to East Grinstead Town. Smith-Joseph was with Woking and likely brought in by Howard as with several other players at the time (such as current defender Andy Mills and Charlie Carter – now a pro at Stevenage).

Despite a 2-1 loss to Whitstable Town at the weekend, Burgess Hill will come here looking to continue their unbeaten run in this competition. For Casuals Manager James Bracken, it’s another chance to add some silverware to the trophy cabinet whilst also taking a breather from league pressures, which resume with a trip to Margate on Saturday. He’ll look to replicate the 3-0 win over Burgess Hill at home last season (main picture), to ensure progress to the last eight.

If the scores are level on the night, the tie will be decided with a penalty shoot-out.

Prices are £10 adults, £6 seniors, £4 students and Under-18s come free with an accompanying adult.

Safe journey to everyone who makes the trip to King George’s, wherever you may be. ​