HIGHGATE ALBION REACH FA SUNDAY CUP FINAL
Highgate Albion continued their run in this season’s FA Sunday Cup on Sunday last, 23rd March, with a second successive semi-final appearance. Further, they improved on last season and overcame the disappointment of their unfortunate defeat, with a well-deserved victory. The match, against Mayfair FC from Liverpool, was played at Damson Park Stadium, the splendid home of Solihull Moors FC, and your Roving Team were fortunate to be there to witness it.
Highgate Albion, who reached the final in season 2021/22, will now play the winners of the other, as yet uncontested, semi-final between East London Ballers and North Solihull Athletic.
Mayfair play in the Merseyrail Business House Football League.
Their progress to the semi-final was as follows:
Round 1 v Black Bull (away) 0-0 (won penalty shoot-out 4-3).
Round 2 v Queens Park (home) won 9-0.
Round 3 v Woodchurch Hotel (away) won 2-1.
Round 4 v Home Bargains (home) won 1-0*.
Quarter Final v Marley Pots (away) won 4-2.
*Home Bargains beat Highgate Albion in last season’s semi-final.
Highgate Albion disposed of Cassiobury Rangers 8-0 (at home) in round 1. They had a walk-over in round 2, because North Watford were unable to raise a side on the day of the match. Albion then beat Tilehurst El Patrons 9-0 in round 3 and AFC Hammersmith Town 2-1 in round 4, both at home. In the Quarter-Final they registered an impressive 3-1 away victory over 3-time winners, St Joseph’s (Luton).
Highgate Albion produced a great performance, had the better of the chances and deservedly won an exciting and hard-fought game. Mayfair are a good side and proved very difficult to beat. They defend in depth, close you down quickly and are dangerous on the break. Albion eventually scored the only goal of the match in the 86th minute.
Highgate Albion immediately went onto the offensive. In the 4th minute, Tage Kennedy cut in and was blocked at the expense of a corner. Lewis Toomey met Lonit Talla’s kick and fired just wide.
Richard Ennin attacked through the middle and forced another corner.
Lonit Talla’s freekick, from the left of the Mayfair penalty box, flew over the bar.
A cross by Excellence Muhemba just evaded Richard Ennin, in front of goal.
Excellence progressed up the wing, cut in and brought a good save from Mayfair custodian, Patrick Wharton. Prince Kandola headed over from the resulting corner.
Lewis Toomey shot just wide from Tage’s pass.
Albion keeper, Alex Gavriloaia was brought into the action in the 24th minute, taking a high cross from wide on the left.
Mayfair now started to come into the match. Sam Burns cut in along the bye-line but his close-range effort was diverted for a corner by Hermes Gbio.
Harry McGee went past 2 Albion players and into the box but Alex saved his low shot. Then Alex saved Harry McGee’s high shot from 30 yards.
Alvin Kyeremeh shot narrowly wide under pressure, following Tage Kennedy’s corner.
Prince Kandola’s header from Lonit Talla’s corner was brilliantly saved by Patrick Wharton.
In a spell of Mayfair pressure as the interval approached, Alex saved from Harry McGee, who had been released by Marc Stephens.
Half-time score: Highgate Albion 0 Mayfair 0
Hermes Gbio gained possession following Lonit Talla’s corner but fired into the side netting.
A hectic sequence of events almost led to Albion taking the lead. A cross from Excellence produced a corner, which in turn led to another corner, from which Alvin Kyeremeh headed against the crossbar. Then Lewis Toomey’s close-range shot from the rebound was kicked off of the goal-line by a defender.
Theo Afori set up Excellence, whose shot was deflected for a corner by a defender.
N Loaness’ shot from 25 yards was safely pouched by Alex.
A dangerous break by Mayfair ended when the ball ran out over the bye-line as the forward in possession crossed it.
Excellence Muhemba scored the match winning goal in the 86th minute. Good work on the left by Danny Bassett led to the ball being played back to Teddy Stacey, who was positioned in the front right corner of the penalty area. Teddy hit the ball back across the box, where Excellence timed his run superbly to head home.
Alex saved a cross shot in the 88th minute and was hurt by a challenge from Bobby Walsh, who was also going for the ball. Fortunately, Alex recovered after attention.
The referee indicated a minimum of 6 minutes additional time. which was extended to just over 8 minutes by the treatment given to Alex.
Sam Burns’ shot from outside the penalty area curled narrowly wide.
A long ball into the Highgate box fell to Bobby Walsh, who scuffed his shot wide.
Final score: Highgate Albion 1 Mayfair 0
TEAM LINE-UPS
Highgate Albion: Alexandru Gavriloaia, Lonit Talla, Lewis Toomey (Teddy Stacey 71 mins), Alvin Kyeremeh, Prince Kandolo, Excellence Muhemba, Richard Ennin (Callum Ismail 90+4), Jardell Stirling, Hermes Gbio, Tage Kennedy (capt)(Pele Riley 90+1 – Lonit Talla took over the captaincy) and Theodopolus Afori (Danny Bassett 68).
Unused substitute: Solomon Ofori.
Manager: Adam Shahein.
Mayfair: Patrick Wharton, Jaques Welsh, Bobby Walsh, Jay Cooper, Max Allen, Conor Rankin (Kurt Sherlock 77), Sam Burns, Harry McGee (N Loaness 68), Luke Stephens, Marc Stephens (capt) and Liam Morris (Chris Bradshaw 81).
Unused substitutes: Paul Mooney, Kyle Scorer.
Managers: Dean Richards and Jonny Bullen.
Referee: Jamie O’Connor
Assistant Referees: Thomas Harty and Thomas Wall
Fourth Official: Lee Hible
Photography: Chris Benn