By Stuart Tree
It’s five past five on Saturday the 9th of November and Jerson Dos Santos had just poked home a 96th minute winner at Guildford City to give Corinthian-Casuals a hard fought tenth win of the season. The feeling was good. Ask any Casuals fan if the season had been a success up to that point and there would be a resounding yes!
Fast forward to April and Casuals had embarked on an 18-game winless streak that had seen Casuals plummet from playoff outsiders to hovering around mid-low table. A win against relegated Spelthorne Sports on the last day of Mu Maan’s inaugural managerial campaign lifted spirits and also Casuals’ position to 13th in the league. Had the season been a success? The answer might not be so resounding.
Maan’s task was set in three parts; Stabilise the club on field, bring back that ‘Casuals’ feeling, especially with the fans and obtain at least a mid-table finish. Arguably, the first two objectives were complete. Following two relegations and a season which saw 99 players wear the Chocolate and Pink, it was imperative to bring a sense of identity back. The appointment of Mu Maan was a popular decision amongst the faithful. A former player who began his career with Corinth and amassed over 100 appearances, Mu scored goals that lived long in the memory (that free kick against Greenwich in the playoff semi-final for instance). Alongside him was former striker Gabriel Odunaike, his brother and Isthmian League South winner Mo Maan as well as Richard Blackwell.
An away pre-season visit to Tilbury to see Casuals take on Grays Athletic was fan's first viewing of this new look side and many were delighted to see old stalwarts Warren Morgan and Reyon Dillon amongst the new look Casuals side. Joining them was Shea Cascoe-Rogers, the shining light of an otherwise dull previous season. Notably, a host of talented Brazilian players joined the cast – all the more poignant considering the club’s South American ties.
It’s five past five on Saturday the 9th of November and Jerson Dos Santos had just poked home a 96th minute winner at Guildford City to give Corinthian-Casuals a hard fought tenth win of the season. The feeling was good. Ask any Casuals fan if the season had been a success up to that point and there would be a resounding yes!
Fast forward to April and Casuals had embarked on an 18-game winless streak that had seen Casuals plummet from playoff outsiders to hovering around mid-low table. A win against relegated Spelthorne Sports on the last day of Mu Maan’s inaugural managerial campaign lifted spirits and also Casuals’ position to 13th in the league. Had the season been a success? The answer might not be so resounding.
Maan’s task was set in three parts; Stabilise the club on field, bring back that ‘Casuals’ feeling, especially with the fans and obtain at least a mid-table finish. Arguably, the first two objectives were complete. Following two relegations and a season which saw 99 players wear the Chocolate and Pink, it was imperative to bring a sense of identity back. The appointment of Mu Maan was a popular decision amongst the faithful. A former player who began his career with Corinth and amassed over 100 appearances, Mu scored goals that lived long in the memory (that free kick against Greenwich in the playoff semi-final for instance). Alongside him was former striker Gabriel Odunaike, his brother and Isthmian League South winner Mo Maan as well as Richard Blackwell.
An away pre-season visit to Tilbury to see Casuals take on Grays Athletic was fan's first viewing of this new look side and many were delighted to see old stalwarts Warren Morgan and Reyon Dillon amongst the new look Casuals side. Joining them was Shea Cascoe-Rogers, the shining light of an otherwise dull previous season. Notably, a host of talented Brazilian players joined the cast – all the more poignant considering the club’s South American ties.
Pre-season was all about getting this new squad prepared for life at Step Five and no tougher task was set on the opening day than a trip to fancied North Greenford United. By this point, another fan-favourite had re-signed – Ben Cheklit, to really give the supporters something to cheer about. Raf Barbosa’s (pic above) equaliser in the second half saw the tie go to a replay in what was a hugely encouraging performance. Sadly, a late-late winner in extra time meant it was United who progressed and Casuals bowing out of the world’s most famous cup competition.
It wasn’t getting easier either. A visit to Kiln Brow opened up the league – away to the fancied pre-season title contenders Redhill. Impressive football was on display but once again, Casuals fired a blank in front of goal and a solitary toe-poke from the Lobsters saw the home side take the three points.
No sooner than the dust had settled, Casuals had their first points on the board. A dramatic 4-3 win away at Sheerwater, where Corinthian fans made up 95% of the attendance, saw Raf Barbosa net the winner and bag his second of the season.
It was becoming clear a lack of firepower was hindering the side and following a 4-1 loss in the FA Vase to eventual winners Whitstable Town, Maan sourced back-up in the form of former Casuals’ Kieron Cadogan, Jerson Dos Santos and Trey Masikini as well as Hakeem Adelakun further back in the line. Fans truly had their Casuals back.
Cadogan was instrumental in his first few games; pivotal in the 2-1 win at Tooting and a first half hat-trick in a humdinging 5-4 at Horley Town. Casuals followed it up with another six-goal thriller, winning 4-2 at home to Sheerwater. By now, Casuals were in fourth place and looking hungry for at least a playoff spot. It would be their highest placing of the season.
It wasn’t getting easier either. A visit to Kiln Brow opened up the league – away to the fancied pre-season title contenders Redhill. Impressive football was on display but once again, Casuals fired a blank in front of goal and a solitary toe-poke from the Lobsters saw the home side take the three points.
No sooner than the dust had settled, Casuals had their first points on the board. A dramatic 4-3 win away at Sheerwater, where Corinthian fans made up 95% of the attendance, saw Raf Barbosa net the winner and bag his second of the season.
It was becoming clear a lack of firepower was hindering the side and following a 4-1 loss in the FA Vase to eventual winners Whitstable Town, Maan sourced back-up in the form of former Casuals’ Kieron Cadogan, Jerson Dos Santos and Trey Masikini as well as Hakeem Adelakun further back in the line. Fans truly had their Casuals back.
Cadogan was instrumental in his first few games; pivotal in the 2-1 win at Tooting and a first half hat-trick in a humdinging 5-4 at Horley Town. Casuals followed it up with another six-goal thriller, winning 4-2 at home to Sheerwater. By now, Casuals were in fourth place and looking hungry for at least a playoff spot. It would be their highest placing of the season.
Losses to Whyteleafe, Cobham and Abbey Rangers saw confidence drain out of the side. It was a blip that needed to be turned around before the front runners moved out of sight. The task wasn’t made easier by the relentlessness of the schedule. Playing every Tuesday and Saturday since the beginning of the season only gave Mu and his staff limited training time. The winless run looked to continue against Abbey Rangers until Shea Cascoe-Rogers plucked out two late strikes to give Casuals their first win in nine games.
Wins against Spelthorne Sports, Balham and Sheerwater cemented Casuals’ spot before the last gasp win over Guildford. The rally cry following the game was ’54 points – that’s how many are still up for grabs’. But Maan’s side would only pick up a further eight points for the remainder of the season.
Could it have been different? Of course. A 4-3 loss to unbeaten Jersey was heartbreaking. Leading 3-2 in stoppage time, Casuals conceded twice to go from obtaining the best win of the season to leaving with nothing. Worse still was the draw with Horley. Casuals led 3-0 at half time and then forgot how to play football, clinging onto a draw at the final whistle. There was the 4-4 draw with Camberley, rescuing a point in the 96th minute, only to repeat the feat at Sandhurst when Frazier Osunkoya headed home even later.
Wins against Spelthorne Sports, Balham and Sheerwater cemented Casuals’ spot before the last gasp win over Guildford. The rally cry following the game was ’54 points – that’s how many are still up for grabs’. But Maan’s side would only pick up a further eight points for the remainder of the season.
Could it have been different? Of course. A 4-3 loss to unbeaten Jersey was heartbreaking. Leading 3-2 in stoppage time, Casuals conceded twice to go from obtaining the best win of the season to leaving with nothing. Worse still was the draw with Horley. Casuals led 3-0 at half time and then forgot how to play football, clinging onto a draw at the final whistle. There was the 4-4 draw with Camberley, rescuing a point in the 96th minute, only to repeat the feat at Sandhurst when Frazier Osunkoya headed home even later.
Playing the bottom four in the last four games of the season should’ve yielded more than four points and after falling behind to Spelthorne in the last match, it looked like a completion of a sour last half of a season. Trey Masikini’s brace ensured that the fans at least went home happy and Casuals ended up 13th in the table, some 25 points adrift of the playoffs.
Was the season a success? I’ll leave that to you to decide. Was it entertaining? Absolutely. Over three and a half goals per game on average. Last minute goals galore. Free flowing football in abundance with exciting players like Raf Barbosa, Diogo Da Silva, Marcos Dos Santos and more. A squad to which the fans could really get behind. A better average attendance than the previous year, even at a lower level (three times over 300, which for the Combined Counties, is fantastic). There was a lot to praise. But now, the hard work truly begins.
Was the season a success? I’ll leave that to you to decide. Was it entertaining? Absolutely. Over three and a half goals per game on average. Last minute goals galore. Free flowing football in abundance with exciting players like Raf Barbosa, Diogo Da Silva, Marcos Dos Santos and more. A squad to which the fans could really get behind. A better average attendance than the previous year, even at a lower level (three times over 300, which for the Combined Counties, is fantastic). There was a lot to praise. But now, the hard work truly begins.
