Goalkeeper Joe Wright was the hero for New Salamis as they came from behind to lift the FA Sunday Cup on penalties after 120 gruelling minutes at Selhurst Park.
Their opponents, Barnes, went in ahead at half-time through Mark Gallagher, but saw substitute Harrison Georgiou equalise for New Salamis before Barnes' Jordan Willis saw red with 15 minutes to play.
Barnes AFC 1-1 New Salamis
(AET; New Salamis won 4-3 on pens)
The FA Sunday Cup Final
Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace FC
Sunday 17 April 2016
Wright saved twice, latterly from Rob Sheridan, during the shootout to help New Salamis win 4-3 on penalties.
Despite a sharp start from New Salamis, who knocked out 2015 runners-up OJM in their semi-final, Barnes found themselves in the lead after just seven minutes.
Alex McGregor’s dipping long-range shot was acrobatically palmed over the bar by Joe Wright, but New Salamis were unable to clear Steven Loveridge’s resulting corner.
The ball fell first to Rob Sheridan, whose shot was blocked, but then sat up for Gallagher, who got enough on his shot to beat the two defenders on the line and briefly silence the several hundred New Salamis fans in the stands.
The Cypriot-rooted club should have been level after 17 minutes, when Nico Muir played in Richard Georgiou, but his attempt to curl the ball into the bottom corner with the outside of his foot went several metres wide of the far post.
Both sides threatened from set pieces, but it took until the second half for the next real chance to fall to New Salamis.
On 56 minutes, Muir let one fly from 25 yards, with only a fingertip save from Balvinder Khaira deflecting the ball onto the post.
Following up, with an open goal at his mercy, substitute Alex Addai couldn’t control the bouncing ball and Barnes somehow managed to clear.
But New Salamis did level the game on 69 minutes, thanks to substitute Georgiou.
After good work at the byline from Ryan Hervel, the ball fell to Georgiou who managed to squeeze it over the line to equalise.
Then, with 15 minutes to play, Willis was shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul on Deniz Mehmet to shift the momentum towards New Salamis.
Barnes hung on for extra time and seemed content to try their luck on penalties.
In the 102nd minute New Salamis' Leon Latite lofted a teasing ball to Dean Fenton at the back post, but he was unable to make contact with the goal begging.
Barnes almost snatched the game in the 112th minute, but were denied by a fantastic tackle from Alaa Oujdi just as Jesse Atiase looked certain to score, forcing the tie to penalties.
Joe Wright denied Barnes’ second penalty taker, Ben Dyett, with a brilliant save and, after every other player scored, it was left to Muir to secure the trophy at 4-3.
His poor penalty was saved by Khaira, but Sheridan’s was little better offering Wright a simple stop to win the Sunday Cup for New Salamis.
Barnes: Balvinder Khaira, Jordan Willis, Ben Dyett, Mark Gallagher, Jermaine Queensborough, Steven Loveridge, Rob Sheridan, Jack Buckle, Alex McGregor, Anthony Oaks, Daniel Buckle.
Subs: Stefan Joseph for Oaks 65; Jesse Atiase for Queensborough 73.
Subs not used: Sean Preddie, Luke Silavwa, Luke Muldowney
New Salamis: Joe Wright, Jake Hutchings, Lee White, Ahmet Rifat, Alaa Oujdi, Richard Georgiou, Leon Latite, Ryan Hervel, Kiri Portou, Nico Muir, Deniz Mehmet.
Subs: Alex Addai for R Georigiou 53, Harrison Georgiou for Portou 63.
Subs not used: Andy Chambi, Chris Xouri, Dean Fenton.
