Last year’s KOPA League Champions New Salamis did us proud in Cyprus last week. They played two games last week one on the Wednesday versus in form first division New Salamis (Cyprus) and the following day versus second division team Anayennisis Derynia.
The first game was against New Salamis (Cyprus) where they really put loads of effort and upped their standard of football and gave the Cyprus team a battle.
They were presented and wore the shirt colours that were first worn by the Cyprus club when they were founded in 1948.
New Salamis (Cyprus) took the lead in the 11th minute when their no 9 pushed the ball into the box and shot into the top near corner of the net. The home team increased their lead in the 33rd minute when from a left hand side corner the New Salamis (Cyprus) no 21 headed the ball home giving them a 2-0 lead and just before the half time break New Salamis (London) had a corner which Steve Velandia took ending with an overhead effort from Dean Fenton clipping the bar.
The second half the away team New Salamis (London) scored in the 55th minute when Richard Georgiou slotted the ball into the opposing team net after Chris Benjamin had a shot parried by the home team keeper.
The London team missed a couple of good chances towards the end of the game but a great performance from London’s New Salamis against New Salamis (Cyprus) team that four days later beat Ermis Aradippou 4-1 in the League.
After the game there was a reception for New Salamis (London) where the Chairman of New Salamis Cyprus presented each player of New Salamis (London) with club souvenirs and to the club a framed original New Salamis shirt that were first worn by the club in 1948.
The following day New Salamis (London) went on to play second division Anayennisis Derynia where they really went to town and won 8-2 with Richard Georgiou scoring five goals, Shaun Mullings , Lawrence Constanti and Joe Benjamin adding the others giving New Salamis(London) a fruitful successful trip to Cyprus.