Match Day 17 Result : New Salamis 3 - 2 Rayners Lane

Match Day 17 Result :

Saturday 26th October 2019

New Salamis 3 - 2 Rayners Lane

Well if the driving rain was trying to dampen everyones spirits on Saturday this game certainly warmed them. This was a classic football match which had everything. Firstly the game kicked off 15 minutes late as Rayners Lane brought the wrong shirts, which were Ok but the ref thought differently.

Then the game 2nd vs 3rd New Salamis vs Rayners Lane on a wet and miserable day. Both teams started very brightly, Rayners Lane playing a high line with catching the Salamina forward offside so many times you would have thought this was George Graham's Arsenal side of the 90's.

Salamina should have scored first when Deniz Mehmet squared for George Lutaaya to miss from close range. Rayners Lane impressive forward Rob Hastings was put clean through and he missed also. The Reds however went 1-0 up through Deniz Mehmet, who beat 5 players with his mazy run before chipping the diving keeper 1-0 just before half time.

The second half then became a classic. Jamal Rose cleared the ball from outside the area, and Conor Maher of Rayners Lane hit a first time shot from the half way line which curled over everyone's heads and squeezed inside the post. 1-1. This pushed Rayners Lane on and they scored again, a clearance high in the air, swirled around and landed in the middle of the Salamina area, a shot was blocked only for the rebound to be slammed home. 2-1 to the visitors. Minutes later the referee sent of Sulollari for persistent fouls and the Reds were down to 10 men.

Salamina then took control wave after wave of attack led by Deniz Mehmet, his cross avoided both Austin and Lutaaya. Deniz carried on driving the team forward, pushed on by skipper Ryan Hervel. Deniz made another great run with 7 minutes remaining this cross found George Lutaaya who squeezed his left foot shot home. 2-2. What a game, end to end, crunching tackles, and both teams going for a win. With seconds remaining George Lutaaya burst towards the Rayners Lane penalty box and was clipped just on the edge, The referee awarded a free kick.

The clock said 96 minutes. Skipper Ryan Hervel placed the kick, a cry came out hit it hard and low. Ryan ignored this and hit a curling shot toward the corner, divine intervention came along, the ball hit a Rayners Lane back in the wall, and the ball sailed into the top corner. 3-2 a massive raw went around the ground from the 75 strong crowd. The referee allowed the game to restart, and blew the final whistle. 3-2 to the reds with 10 men and another great comeback, which now moves them into 2nd place in the Spartan South Midlands Division One. A monumental effort from the team.

Goalscorers : D.Mehmet 1, G.Lutaaya 1, R.Hervel 1.

Team : Rose, Becka, Foster, Hervel, Sulollari, Durnin, Grantham, Rapai, Georgiou, Mehmet, Lutaaya. Subs : Michael, Plowright, Xiouri, Austin