Highgate Albion, who reached the FA Sunday Cup final in 2022 and the semi-final last season, opened this season’s campaign in the competition on Sunday last, 6th October, with a home first round match against Cassiobury Rangers. The venue was Haringey Borough FC’s Coles Park Stadium in White Hart Lane.

Albion dominated the match. The first half was played almost entirely in the visitors’ half of the field and keeper, Charles Taylor had few touches of the ball and was not tested.   Highgate Albion played excellent football and created a lot of openings but good defending helped to limit the half-time score to 2-0. The second half was a different story as Albion turned their superiority into goals. They added a third goal in the 3rd minute of the half and then scored regularly, against the overworked and flagging visiting defence, to register a final score of 8-0.

In the 3rd minute, the Rangers’ keeper Zak Green, came to the edge of his box to kick clear from Chris Regis.

Richard Ennis was felled just outside the visitors’ penalty area. Tage Kennedy took the freekick, which was deflected for a corner by the defensive wall. The hectic passage of play, following the corner kick, included a long throw into the goal area by Lonit Talla and several blocked shots, before the ball was eventually cleared. 

Caoilan McGettigan put Albion ahead in the 21st minute by sweeping home a low ball from the left.

Caoilan set up Lonit, whose low shot was blocked.

Zak Green left his area to clear from Chris Regis, who was chasing Daniel Taylor’s long through ball.

Albion continued to create chances, through neat approach work. They forced a succession of corners and several shots were blocked by defenders or held by Zak Green. The nearest that Albion came to scoring during this passage of play was Tage Kennedy hitting the goalpost.

The visitors’ defence held out until the final minute before the interval, when Tage ran onto a pass inside his marker and netted to score Albion’s second goal.

Score at halftime: Highgate Albion 2 Cassiobury Rangers 0

Albion immediately resumed their onslaught on the Rangers’ goal. Hermes Gbio’s sortie up the wing released Caoilan McGettigan, who set up Richard Ennis, who fired wide.

In the 48th minute, Prince Kandolo headed home from a corner to make the score 3-0.

The introduction of Theophilus Ofori in the 52nd minute gave the Albion attack added impetus and together with Pele Riley (introduced 6 minutes later than Theophilus) and Tage Kennedy, he created havoc in the Rangers’ rearguard for the remainder of the match.

Tage’s movement put him clear of the Rangers’ defence in the 54th minute and he buried the ball from 18 yards for Albion’s 4th goal.

Two minutes later Rangers’ Aiden Lesslie tried a lob at the unattended Albion goal, with Charlie Taylor up-field. However, the shot passed way over the bar.

Albion’s 5th goal was driven home from 18 yards by Theophilus Ofori, in the 63rd minute.

Richard Ennis hit the Cassiobury post with a low drive.

Theophilus Ofori crossed for Richard Ennis to score Albion’s 6th goal, from close range, in the 67th minute.

Solomon Ofori’s pass put Theophilus clear but he was foiled by Zak Green’s dive at his feet.

In the 75th minute, Alvin Kyeremeh’s shot brought a good save from Zak but Hermes Gbio netted the rebound for Albion’s 7th goal.

Charlie Taylor was called into action in the 81st minute, saving a low shot from Alexi Andraes. 

Theophilus Ofori took the ball along the by-line from the right but he was thwarted at the near post by the keeper’s legs. 

In the 85th minute, Theophilus worked through the Rangers’ defence and placed the ball past the keeper for his side’s 8th goal.

A minute later, Theophilus’ shot was cleared off of the goal-line by a defender.

Mercifully, the referee Ricardo Reynolds, who handled the match well, did not find it necessary to play any stoppage time.

Final score: Highgate Albion 8 Cassiobury Rangers 0

TEAM LINE-UPS

Highgate Albion: Charles Taylor, Alvin Kyeremeh, Teddy Stacey (Theophilus Ofori 52 mins), Daniel Taylor, Prince Kandolo, Hermes Gbio, Caoilan McGettigan, Chris Regis (Pele Riley 58), Lonit Talla (Billy Hayes 78), Richard Ennis (Solomon Ofori 68) and Tage Kennedy (capt).

Unused substitute: Alexandru Gavriloaia (goalkeeper)

Manager: Adam Shahein Assistant Manager: Paul Leach Coaches: Akinola Fayoyin and Ian Maitland Physio: Dane Christie.

Cassiobury Rangers: Zak Green, Jamie McDougall (Joe Ainsworth 78), James Craggs, Jon Burch, Sam Mortimer, Nathan Page (Aiden Lesslie 29), Taylor Osunsedo (Rob Ladmore 60), Corey Botten (Alexi Andraes 71), Tom Chennery, Myles Shahidi (Kai Parker 68) and Harry Bradford.

Manager: Jake Mortimer.

63 matches were played in this round of the FA Sunday Cup. Other Middlesex clubs involved were Broadfields United (Sunday), who won 2-1 away to JAM and Heavy Hitters who lost 5-1 away to Balteze Squad.

The draw for round 2 on Sunday, 10th November has given Highgate Albion a home game against North Watford and Broadfields United (Sunday) an away tie at ECS Classic XI.

Report: Jim Taylor

Photography: Chris Benn

Picks

Full Set