New Salamis gave everything in their big Emirates FA Cup match versus Brentwood they really were up for it I could not fault any one reds player they were all outstanding and they look the part of a top team destined for a future in a higher level of football. It took a late goal from Sam Bantick to give Brentwood a 2-1 win over New Salamis in front of a massive crowd.

The game started at  fast pace and positive football and both sets of keepers were kept busy New Salamis were busy setting up quick breaks for the forwards to latch on. Brentwood were more laid back and creating chances with a slower build up and more players involved.

Brentwood are two levels above New Salamis in the League structure and play in the Isthmian League and were surely surprised by the high standard that New Salamis was playing against them.

In the 15th minute a Freddy Tandon  shot was brilliantly saved by the Brentwood keeper but five minutes later the away team opened the scoring when a lovely ball over from Hogan that was fired home on the volley by Kudos Oyenuga. This lifted New Salamis who went full out for the equaliser and hit the post from a set piece. Also a great save from the New Salamis keeper Austin Byfield kept the reds in the game. And with a minute to go into the half time break Salamina went in search of a goal and it came from the legendary figure of Deniz Mehmet. He won the ball off the full back, cut inside the edge of the box and curled a delightful goal past the Brentwood keeper on the stroke of Half time. 1-1

A lively start in the second half Brentwood came close with a shot just wide then New Salamis had a Penalty claim when Charlie Georgiou was pulled down but was waved away by the referee and then a goal disallowed when Freddy Tandon headed home, only for the referee to rule out the goal for a foul, which still no one knows who from.

Now the game was building up with a pulsating finish and it was now anyones game. Harrison Georgiou shot hit the post ,Salamina went in search of an equaliser, Richard Georgiou missing with a diving header, then a scramble seeing the ball bounce off the inside of the post and back into the Brentwood keepers arms.

The winning goal came in the 80th minute when Brentwood player Rees whipped in a cross finding its way into the New Salamis goalmouth through a deflection  which was touched home by Sam Bantick who was also sent off in the 90th minute for a second yellow card.The final 4 minutes was played out with three red cards. Two Brentwood players sent off, and New Salamis Luke Foster after he was fouled

New Salamis will look at themselves and be positive they may have lost this game  but from their humble beginnings in Sunday football with the KOPA League and to winning two rounds of FA Cup football and reaching the qualifying stage of the Emirates FA Cup is a massive achievement and the UK Cypriot community was behind them for this game with a massive support for this memorable game.

It was also great that BT Sport TV were there to cover the game and are preparing a documentary on New Salamis to be shown in the next few weeks.

The UK Cypriot community are proud to see that New Salamis who started in the KOPA League in 1975 then went to the Herts Senior League and now the Spartan South Midlands League and now of course to be able to qualify to be able to play in the the biggest league cup competition
in the world the prestigious Emirates FA Cup whose final is played at Wembley Stadium that this year was won by Arsenal beating Chelsea in the final.
New Salamis who play in the Spartan South Midlands League are no strangers to FA Cups as they won the all England FA Sunday Cup beating Barnes FC at Selhurst Park the home of Crystal Palace four years ago.

New Salamis committee and players would like to thank the UK Cypriot community for their support during this historical FA Cup campaign and also send their condolences to the family of Mario Stylianou a New Salamis supporter who sadly passed away this week. A one minute silence was observed in his memory at the FA Cup match between New Salamis and Brentwood FC.

New Salamis  got off to a good start to their league season by winning their first league game in the South Midlands Spartan League by beating Shefford Town and Campton 5-1 their goals coming from Harrison Georgiou 2 Jordan Sanderson, Deniz Mehmet and Michael Ademluyi.

New Salamis Team : Byfield, Chambi, Foster, Hervel (C), Tandon, Becka, Portou, Sanderson, C.Georgiou, D.Mehmet, H.Georgiou. Subs ; Antonio Michael, R.Georgiou, Durnin, Hynam, Ademiluyi, Lowen

 

 

 

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