Enfield Town lost ground on the play-offs in the Bostik Premier Division as they went down 2-0 at home to Corinthian Casuals, who boosted their own play-off hopes with two late goals.

The first opportunity of the game went the way of the hosts, with Sam Youngs firing over with barely a minute on the clock, but Dan Bracken got up superbly well to tip it over.

Casuals responded with a chance of their own on seven minutes as Jack Strange got his head to Jordan Clarke’s free-kick, but his header took a deflection and went out for a corner.

Josh Davison then went close for the hosts, with the young striker turning his marker after picking the ball up on the edge of the box, but he dragged his left-footed effort wide.

Bracken kept the Towners out once again when he punched away Youngs’ effort and, 10 minutes before half-time, Ryan Blackman delivered a perfect free-kick, but Dan Rumens nodded just wide of the post.

Casuals did have chances though, as Clarke’s free-kick was well held by Joe Wright in the Enfield goal and Hamilton Antonio crashed the post from just outside the box, with the visitors also having a penalty appeal turned away in the ensuing scramble by referee Jeffrey Aldous.

The visitors had the first clear chance of the of the second half as Clarke’s cross caused problems in the Town defence but, fortunately for Enfield, Warren Mfula could not connect.

Town were doing as much as they could going forward but were constantly being thwarted by Bracken, who held onto Aaron Greene’s effort after a corner had been cleared to him on the edge of the box.

The closest chance came in the 77th minute. Shortly after Billy Bricknell had fired wide, Mickey Parcell’s cross found Greene at the back post, who headed it back for Youngs, but he struck the woodwork.

There was plenty of additional time in the game after referee Aldous had to be replaced through injury with only five minutes remaining, and Casuals made full use of the short break in play and the resulting time remaining.

A corner was swung in from the left and Gabriel Odunaike got clear from his marker to tuck away what looked to be the winning goal.

Town made one last effort to salvage something as Wright punted the ball downfield towards Bricknell. He nodded the ball towards Josh Davison, but Bracken was not to be beaten and he easily collected the attempt.

With seconds remaining, Casuals wrapped up the game as Mfula finished off a fine flowing move to condemn Town to ninth position in the league.

The Towners will be looking for a much-improved tonight when they welcome second-place Dorking Wanderers to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium.