Month: July 2022

Stones Too Good for Town

Maidstone United inflicted Enfield Town’s first defeat of pre-season with a comfortable 6-1 win on a sweltering afternoon at the Gallagher Stadium.

In truth this was a very useful test for our gradually-developing squad against National League opposition, and while the hosts demonstrated their quality throughout, Town did fashion a number of chances which on another day might have seen them leave with more than the single goal for their efforts.

Both sides attempted to build during the opening exchanges, though the hosts had the first real chance as James Alabi spun his marker well but was denied by the legs of the returning Nathan McDonald. The Town ‘keeper was powerless a couple of minutes later, as Sol Wanjau-Smith found room along the left-hand channel and squared to Sam Corne who had time and space to pick out the bottom corner.

Not that this appeared to dent the visitors’ confidence, as Jake Cass lined up an effort from 20 yards and was only denied an instant equaliser by the crossbar. Just as Town looked to grow into the game, however, Maidstone hit a second as Roarie Deacon was released down the right and pulled back for Henry Woods to steer home. Again Town broke beyond the halfway line and tried in vain to create – often lacking a clinical final pass – and again Stones were ruthless in their response by adding goals three and four within eight minutes. Summer addition Alabi skipped past two defenders to curl one in from the edge of the area, before he played a role in the fourth; drawing in a Town defender and allowing Wanjau-Smith freedom to latch onto a looping pass and finish across McDonald for four.

To their credit, Town recovered and began to work some clearer opportunities towards the end of the half; Jake Cass played in behind and narrowly denied while attempting to round goalie Yusuf Mersin, before Enfield did pull one back on 36 minutes. Cass was put through for a carbon-copy chance, this time opted to shoot, and while his effort was well repelled by Mersin’s feet, Marcus Wyllie was on hand to knock in the rebound for his first Enfield Town goal.

Ryan Kirwan, playing in a more advanced role down the left, met a header from a free-kick before two huge chances for each side on half-time as Alabi rattled the post with an audacious scissor kick; at the other end, Marcus Wyllie’s persistent pressing on the edge of the Stones box allowed him to dig out a low cross towards Cass, whose shot on the slide bobbled agonisingly wide of the mark from close-range.

HT: Maidstone United 4-1 Enfield Town

Town introduced Adam Cunnington for Wyllie, Wynford Marfo for Lewis Taaffe and academy product Lucas Jordan for Ryan Kirwan in the second period as McDonald was again pressed into action to deny a Maidstone trialist and then Regan Booty with two good stops. Cunnington miscued a header and Jordan showed some promising involvements, including an impressive solo run along the left flank; the resulting corner met by a combination of Nathan Smith and another academy graduate, Kian Wilkes. The two-step difference between the sides would eventually tell twice more in the final six minutes, as substitutes Dominic Odusanya and Perri Iandolo each produced terrific long-range efforts to put the gloss on the home side’s victory.

“I’m not keeping count; I never have done in a pre-season game”, said Andy Leese.

“Some real positives, one or two little negatives… some good lessons for us as well today.”

“We’re playing against a very good outfit today who have all the momentum having come out of the division below and then added some players. You can see the difference in the levels.”

Ben Frempah signs on

Quality centre halves are hard to come by so we are delighted to have signed Ben Frempah from Hayes & Yeading United.

Italian-born Ben, a 27-year-old ex-professional,  was virtually ever-present in the United side which finished runners up in the Southern South Premier last season before falling to defeat in the Play-Off Final against Farnborough, just failing to gain promotion to Step 2.

Early on in his career Ben jumped seven tiers to join Leicester City and made his professional debut with Ross County north of the border.

Other clubs he has played for include Hendon, Guiseley and Solihull Moors before getting another professional chance with Wycombe Wanderers. He has also turned out  briefly for Wingate & Finchley.

“He fits the profile of what I think we need,” said Towners manager Andy Leese. “I think we’re quite fortunate to get him to be honest. He had some other options but I managed to convince him this was the place to play his football.”

Welcome Ben

Great Night All Round

Enfield Town 3 Tottenham Hotspur under-21s 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

A fantastic crowd of 841 saw us overcome a strong Tottenham Hotspur development squad – supplemented by the surprise appearance of a former Spurs household name – with an excellent display that augers well for the upcoming weeks and months.

You only have to look at last season’s dire pre-season form, followed by a memorable campaign,  to know that nothing can be taken for granted one way or the other.

But there was a sense of optimism and positivity as we gave a tremendous account of ourselves despite still being without a string of players who are still unavailable through various commitments.

On a balmy evening, it was fitting that our player of the season Sam Youngs revelled in the occasion, opening the score after just three minutes by sweeping the ball into the bottom corner after excellent build-up play from Adam Cunnington and new signing Marcus Wyliie who might well have had a hattrick on the night.

Adi Connolly kept us in the lead with a superb stop from Max Robson following a left-wing cross from a certain Danny Rose — training again at Spurs after apparently seeking to leave Watford, and allowed to appear as an over-age player.

The sight of Rose lining up against Town certainly added extra interest and only served to galvanise us more even though right on the half-hour Spurs were back in the game, Roshaun Mathurin converting from the spot after being fouled by the returning Scott Shulton.

Halftime brought a wave of substitutions by both sides and just after the restart Wyllie almost put us back in front – not once but twice. First his snap shot was brilliantly saved by Aaron Maguire, then Mcguire somehow got a hand to Marcus’ goalbound looping header.

But it wasn’t much longer before we restored our lead. Youngs was fouled on the edge of the box and when his freekick was pushed away, Cunnington supplied the finish (pictured).

It was a far cry from last season’s 4-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture. Although Spurs understandably had plenty of the ball, they didn’t manage to hurt us too often and on the hour we extended our lead.

Wyllie was alleged to have been barged over by Kallum Cesay inside the box and Youngs sent the keeper the wrong way with the penalty.

As we tired, it was inevitable that our fully professional under-21 opponents, a couple of whom had represented the senior Tottenham side, would finish the stronger.

After a number of the more experienced members of Wayne Burnett’s squad came off the bench, a 20-yard  thunderbolt from Nile John reduced the arrears and set up a close finale.

But we did superbly to hold out and next up Maidstone on Saturday followed by St Albans City at home on Tuesday.

Town starting line-up: Connolly, Muleba, Bray, Trialist, Marko, Dayton, Shulton, Youngs (c), Kirwan, Cunnington, Wyllie.

Two more retained, one rejoins

We’re very pleased to announce two retained players and a new (if somewhat familiar) addition to the squad for the 2022-23 campaign.

Goalie Nathan McDonald (pictured) and full-back Ryan Kirwan – two key members of last season’s playoff side – have committed to the club for next season. Welcome back, lads!

We’re also delighted to welcome back midfielder Scott Shulton, who rejoins Enfield Town having most recently been with Hayes & Yeading United.

Scott chipped in with 34 appearances and six goals during our playoff run in 2016-17, and brings with him a wealth of experience having represented St Albans City, Braintree, Wingate & Finchley, and Hemel Hempstead Town among others. He was part of the squad for yesterday’s  pre-season win over Cockfosters and came on in the 2nd half.

Up and Running

Cockfosters 0 Enfield Town 1

Lyle Della-Verde’s sweet first-half strike (pictured) earned us a 1-0 win over neighbours Cockfosters on Saturday in the first of our pre-season fixtures, writes Andrew Warshaw.

On a glorious afternoon, we fielded a mixture of familiar names, new signings and young triallists as the squad begins to take shape ahead of the new season.

We have only had a couple of training sessions and a number of players were unavailable through either work or social commitments – not unusual at this time of the summer.

But it was a highly useful workout just the same and there were several eye-catching performances, not least from our new rightback Juevan Spencer  who, like many of those selected, played one half as manager Andy Leese rung the changes at halftime to have a look at as many players as he could.

It may have been a narrow victory against our Step 5 opponents on a tricky, sun-scorched pitch but it was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests with plenty of positives to take away ahead of Tuesday’s high-profile home game against a Tottenham Hotspur development squad which is likely to represent a far tougher but eagerly anticipated challenge.

Juevan Joins

We are extremely pleased to welcome Juevan Spencer to Enfield Town FC.

Right-back Juevan joins Town having spent time last season with fellow Isthmian Premier sides Kingstonian and – most recently – Lewes. He started his footballing career in the ranks at AFC Wimbledon; going on to represent Salisbury City, Whyteleafe, Corinthian-Casuals – where he notched up almost 300 appearances – and Chipstead.

Town boss Andy Leese said: “We are pleased to get Juevan on board. He’s a player who has always done well against us, especially last season. He’s another winner who will strengthen us defensively and he also brings an attacking threat, which we will need if we are to be stronger and have more options this year. Welcome Juevan.”

Three More Sign On

As the squad for 22-23 begins to take shape, we are happy to report that three more players have signed on the dotted line for the season ahead: Nathan Smith, Jon Muleba, and Lewis Taaffe have all agreed terms to stay at Donkey Lane for another season. Welcome back, lads!

Pre-Season Fixtures Update

We’re pleased to confirm two more additions to our pre-season calendar for the 2022-23 season.

  • We’ll visit old friends Maidstone United at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday 16th July [k.o 15:00]
  • We’ll welcome Berkhamsted FC to the QEII Stadium on Saturday 6th August [k.o 15:00]

Two more retained

We are pleased to announce that two more of last season’s squad, skipper Scott Thomas and defender Rian Bray, have been retained.

As the squad continues to take shape, Scott (pictured) and Rian have both committed themselves to the club for the forthcoming campaign.

COYT!

James Raring To Go

 When James Dayton, our newly-signed winger, was offered the chance to come and play for Enfield Town, he didn’t think twice, writes Andrew Warshaw.

Born in the borough, James lived much of his early life in Ladysmith Road not far from the QEII and, as a four-year-old, would go and watch the old Enfield.

Not just watch. He also played for them even though he hadn’t reached the requisite age of five.

“My step grandad took me over to the club and told them they had to take me even though I was still only four,” James explained. “I ended up playing a year above my age, if you like.”

The rest, as they say, is history. James joined Crystal Palace as a 10-year-old and, when the time arrived, went on to enjoy a long professional career that embraced clubs in both England and Scotland.

Now 33, after a season at national league south Dulwich Hamlet, he is coming back to his roots even though he had several other offers.

“I’m getting on a bit now and whilst it might sound cliched, the chance to come back and go full circle, if you like,  is a wonderful feeling,” said James. “The gaffer didn’t really need to sell me the club. I knew last year they just fell short so I’m here to try and help them go one better.”

“The first two training sessions have been great. The lads have really welcomed me. I could tell straight away why they’ve been up there for the last couple of campaigns. I can already see the togetherness in the group. That counts for a lot when you want to push for promotion.”

James is too modest to say what qualities he will bring to the club but 17 years of experience is certainly one of them.

“I may have lost a little bit of pace but I want to help in any way I can. I’ve won two promotions and what I will say is that I will give 100 percent in every game.”