Corinthian Casuals U12 hosted Woking Town U12 Gladiators at the Corinthian ground on 21 September 2025, with kick-off at 10:00am. In a thrilling league encounter played over 60 minutes plus added time, the home side emerged victorious with a commanding 7-3 scoreline in this nine-a-side contest.
Corinthian Casuals lined up in a 3-4-1 formation, deploying three defenders at the back: Lourenço Afonseca on the right, Freddy Horwood centrally, and Alfie Vine on the left. The midfield quartet consisted of Fraser Ross on the right, Thomas Albuquerque and Harvey O’Connor occupying the central midfield roles, and Cooper Lund on the left. Carter Matthews led the line as the lone striker, positioned just ahead of the midfield. This setup was designed to provide defensive solidity with three at the back, while the four midfielders were expected to supply width and creativity, supporting both defence and attack. The striker’s role was to spearhead the offensive efforts and convert chances created by the midfield. The substitutes named for the match were Leo Bradley and Archer Edwards.
The match burst into life early on as Cooper Lund opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a spectacular screamer, firing a left-footed shot into the net following a long pass from Carter Matthews. Just three minutes later, Harvey O’Connor doubled the lead with a close-range header, demonstrating his aerial prowess in the heart of midfield.
Woking Town Gladiators responded swiftly, pulling a goal back in the tenth minute from a frantic goalmouth scramble finished with a right-footed strike from close range. The visitors’ resilience was evident, but Corinthian Casuals maintained their attacking threat.
At the 17-minute mark, Corinthian Casuals made a double substitution: Leo Bradley replaced striker Carter Matthews, while Archer Edwards came on for right midfielder Fraser Ross. These changes injected fresh energy into the side.
Leo Bradley quickly justified his introduction, scoring a close-range solo goal in the 26th minute, showcasing his composure and finishing ability. Just two minutes later, he struck again with a long-range right-footed shot, expertly assisted by goalkeeper Albie Safarty’s long pass, doubling his tally and extending the lead.
However, the home side’s lead was briefly reduced when Woking Town Gladiators were gifted an own goal in the 29th minute, the ball deflecting off a Casuals player and into their own net. Corinthian Casuals responded immediately with further tactical substitutions at half-time: Carter Matthews returned to replace left defender Alfie Vine, and Cooper Lund came on for Fraser Ross.
The first half concluded with Corinthian Casuals firmly in control, leading 4-2.
Early in the second half, further tactical adjustments saw Alfie Vine replace right defender Lourenço Afonseca, and Cooper Lund come on for central midfielder Thomas Albuquerque. These moves aimed to maintain the team’s attacking impetus and defensive balance.
Corinthian Casuals resumed their dominance with Carter Matthews scoring in the 46th minute, finishing inside the box with a neat left-footed strike following a short pass from Fraser Ross. The Gladiators pulled another goal back in the 49th minute, converting a direct free-kick from outside the box with a right-footed shot, signalling their continued fightback.
Yet, Corinthian Casuals responded instantly as Freddy Horwood converted a penalty with a precise right-footed finish from close range, restoring a comfortable margin.
Just two minutes later, Harvey O’Connor scored a remarkable goal directly from a corner kick, expertly guided with his right foot after a cross from Fraser Ross, further extending the lead and showcasing the team’s set-piece threat.
In the closing stages, Corinthian Casuals made their final substitutions, with Lourenço Afonseca returning to the right defender role, replacing Freddy Horwood, and Thomas Albuquerque coming back on for Harvey O’Connor, both tactical changes to see out the game.
The match concluded with Corinthian Casuals securing a convincing 7-3 victory over Woking Town Gladiators. Leo Bradley’s impactful introduction, highlighted by his two goals, earned him the player of the match accolade. The referee Adam managed the game well, maintaining control throughout with a solid performance.
This result will boost Corinthian Casuals’ confidence as they continue their league campaign, demonstrating attacking flair and tactical flexibility in a high-scoring encounter.
