Great start in the Isthmian League

Gorleston 2 New Salamis 3
Saturday 13th August 2022

We made our Isthmian league debut away to Gorleston FC who play at Lowestoft Town FC

A beautiful day with sea breeze cooling in the blistering summer sun.

It was a nervy start from the Greens, and the visitors had a shout for a penalty inside the opening five minutes when the ball struck Luke Goreham's arm as he tried to clear but the referee wasn't interested.

Gorleston played their way into the game with Christy Finch seeing a shot blocked and it was slightly against the run of play when New Salamis took the lead in the 19th minute.

Derek Asamoah used his strength to win the ball back on the left and dink a cross in. The first effort from his team mate was saved but Jake Jessup only managed to parry the ball out to the feet of the incoming George Lutaaya who couldn't miss.

Gorleston responded well and, after Jamie North was felled on the edge of the box, Connor Deeks hit a low free kick a yard wide.

Six minutes before the break, Gorleston gained their first corner of the game which North took. Deeks met it with a thumping header to put his side level.

The visitors maybe should have gone back in front five minutes into the second half when Asamoah was played in behind. He poked the ball past the onrushing Jessup but wide of the far post.

New Salamis did go back in front in the 58th minute. A poor touch at the back was pounced on by Asamoah who, this time, made no mistake with his finish.

The Greens high line should have been punished four minutes later when Harrison Georgiou ran from deep but his finish was into the side netting.

Shortly after we saw the unusual sight of referee, Louis Lofts, going down injured. He had already required some treatment to his calf from Gorleston physio Zara Bunce but couldn't continue so there was a five minute pause whilst Cameron Saunders prepared himself to take over.

The visitors extended their lead in the 70th minute when a cross from the right was misjudged in the air by Angus Mackie allowing Asamoah to control, then round the advancing Jessup and fire the ball home.

Gorleston could have narrowed the deficit four minutes later when Deeks threaded a ball through to Connor Ingram running into the box but his normal accuracy in front of goal went missing and the ball went wide of the post.

As the game entered the 90th minute, Ingram won the ball back in midfield and played a one-two with Robbie Sweeney. Ingram's cross was too far in front of Sweeney but a poor attempt at a clearance presented the ball back to Sweeney who blasted it into the roof of the net.

The seven minutes of stoppage time saw a spirited finish from Gorleston winning a series of corners. Liam Jackson went down just inside the box and was very unfortunate to receive a yellow card for diving when it clearly wasn't. But, despite the late pressure, the equaliser didn't come.

The man of the match was awarded to Derek Asamoah

Gorleston: 1 Jake Jessup, 2 Angus Mackie (Samuel Ellis 90'), 3 Luke Goreham, 4 Mitchel McKay, 6 Samuel Knock, 5 George Keys , 18 Jamie North (Liam Jackson 77'), 8 Connor Deeks (Declan Allan 84'), 9 Christy Finch, 10 Connor Ingram, 11 Robbie Lee Sweeney
Booked: Keys 56; Jackson 90+4
Goals: Deeks 39; Sweeney 90

New Salamis: 1 Emmanuel Olajide, 2 Junior Luke, 3 Luke Foster, 4 Ryan Hervel, 5 Freddy Tandon, 6 Jandir Jose Goncalves Da Cruz, 7 Harrison Georgiou (Albert Adu 88'), 8 Pap Jawara, 9 Derek Asamoah, 10 Richard Ennin (Taufee Skandari 76'), 11 George Lutaaya (Deniz Mehmet 90')
Booked: Asamoah 90+5

Goals: Lutaaya 19; Asamoah 58,70