It was Step Seven v Step Six in the London FA Senior Trophy at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium last weekend as New Salamis of the Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division took on Lopes Tavares of the Eastern Counties Senior League First Division South.
New Salamis have moved across to Saturday football in the summer after an ultra successful period as a Sunday league team and had only lost one of their league games so far which came in their last one played which was an amazing 6-5 loss against Belstone. They included a number of players who had played at a higher level in their starting line up such as Ahmet Rifat (formerly of Wingate and Finchley who has made a couple of appearances for SSMFL Premier Hadley this season), Leon Fisher (formerly of Harlow Town, VCD Athletic, Dunstable Town and Witham Town amongst other clubs), Deniz Mehmet (lists Ware, Welwyn GC, Enfield Town and Haringey Borough amongst his former clubs) and Dean Fenton (Harrow Borough, Staines Town and Cheshunt).
Lopes Tavares had moved from the Essex Alliance League Premier Division after a 8th place finish in 16/17 and 5th place finish in 17/18. The club were only formed in 2015 and did play at Memorial Park in the West Ham area before moving to The Terrance McMillan Stadium in Plaistow for this season.
They are struggling towards the bottom of their division with just one win in their league games which came back in August when they won 3-1 at Frenford - this was followed by an action packed 5-5 draw at Harwich & Parkeston.
Prior to this game they had drawn 4-4 with White Ensign with their scorers listed as Sado Djalo, Mario Embalo(2) and Raul Manuel Fernandes.
This game saw New Salamis run out comfortable 5-0 winners against a spirited Lopes side who had a number of skillful and technically gifted players with their number 7 in particular standing out for me. I don't know his name as I haven't got their team sheet but his forward runs and touch on the ball was very impressive.
The home side took the lead when Ahmet Rifat headed home a corner and went 2-0 up when Deniz Mehmet lifted the ball over the goalkeeper from close range after a nice pass by Leon Fisher. It was 3-0 before half time when Perry Price who was playing left back for Salamis whipped in a cross for Richard Georgiou who rounded the keeper to easily slot the ball into the net.
Georgiou netted again in the second half who was able to touch the ball home at the far post following a free kick from the left hand side. It was 5-0 when Dean Fenton touched the ball home following a mix up between an away defender and his goalkeeper allowed Price to pass the ball across the goal.
Despite being 3-0 at half time you couldn't fault the commitment of Lopes Tavares who continued to play some neat football throughout the game.
MINI-MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
EXTENDED MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
New Salamis travel to Chipperfield Corinthians in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division this weekend before two home games against Broadfields on 15th December and Weston on the 22nd December.
They now face Sporting Club Thamesmead in the Quarter-Final which is down to be played on Saturday 19th January but likely to be re-organised as their landlords Enfield Town are at home to Corinthian Casuals in a league fixture on that day. Sporting Club Thamesmead are currently in seventh place of the Southern Counties East Division One.
Lopes narrowly lost 2-1 at title chasing Hashtag United on Tuesday and welcome Halstead Town another side competing right at the top of the table this weekend.
London FA Senior Trophy
Quarter-Final Draw & Fixtures
due to played on Saturday 19th January
Bridon Ropes v Hackney Wick
Erith & Belvedere v Phoenix Sports
Tooting Bec v FC Elmstead
New Salamis v Sporting Club Thamesmead
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