Non-League and Academy football writer

I returned to Coles Park on Monday evening, to watch Isthmian League North Division side New Salamis take on a team two tiers above them in the non-League system, in National League South side Welling United, in a first round tie of the London Senior Cup. However, it was a very competitive game, despite the fact that the visitors had a lot more of the ball, than New Salamis, who defended well throughout, and who despite losing the tie, they didn’t actually concede a goal from open play. Starting the game well and passing the ball around the pitch with pace, it was Welling United who started the game the better of the two sides, on a cold night in North London. After Micah Jackson’s corner-kick delivery into the Welling penalty area was headed wide by the New Salamis number six (I was unable to find a list of the New Salamis starting line-up, on Monday), Welling came close to taking the lead. David Kamara hit the woodwork of New Salamis goalkeeper Reuben Rabstein’s goal, following a low cross, which allowed Kamara to get an effort on goal, at the second time of asking. After New Salamis defender Panny Boxer had tripped Enoch Muwonge inside the New Salamis penalty area, following a long Welling ball into their penalty area, the referee had no other choice than to point to the penalty spot.

Reuben Rabstein made a good save to deny David Kamara from giving Welling the lead, from the penalty spot, as he dived the right way, with the New Salamis players now looking to respond, following their goalkeeper’s heroics. Reuben Rabstein then saved Enoch Muwonge’s effort from distance, with New Salamis doing well to frustrate Welling. Welling United’s Will Wood saw his good effort from distance go wide of the New Salamis goal, before the impressive Reuben Rabstein made another good save before half-time. The home side started the second half really well, as they took the lead through a great effort from Micah Jackson. The New Salamis forward curling a great effort beyond Javarn Pitterson in the Welling goal, after he had received a pass close to the edge of the Welling United penalty area, to give New Salamis the lead in the tie. New Salamis continued to defend well, but it was a trip from their number 23, which again saw the referee point to the penalty spot for the second time in the match. This time former Watford Academy player Enoch Muwonge stepped up to find the back of the net for Welling, to make it 1-1.

Welling captain Taylor Curran hit an effort wide of the New Salamis goal, with Welling United continuing to have the vast majority of possession. Taylor Curran nodded wide an effort from a corner-kick, before Enoch Muwonge had a penalty shout waived away by the referee, following a great run from him, into the New Salamis penalty area, from which New Salamis managed to go on a promising counter attack, up the pitch. A couple of minutes later Enoch Muwonge once again had a penalty shout waived away by the referee, before he was awarded one shortly after, at the third time of asking. This time it was a trip/missed clearance from a New Salamis defender which gave the well positioned referee little choice than to award Welling their third penalty of the game. The best and most creative player on the pitch, Enoch Muwonge stepped up again for Welling, to calmly slot the ball past Reuben Rabstein, to make it 2-1 to Welling, very late on in the game. This was to be the final score, as Welling United progressed into round two of the London Senior Cup. New Salamis worked tirelessly and gave it their all, and on another day they could well have won the game, such was their good defending throughout. New Salamis definitely missed the presence of their legendary former forward Derek Asamoah, who has joined Brightlingsea Regent. However, the New Salamis players all gave a good account of themselves on Monday evening.