We are delighted to announce that versatile midfielder Mo Kamara has joined us from National League South Concord Rangers on a dual registration
“We are delighted to welcome Mo to the club, he’s a player we know well from his impressive performances against us and he’ll provide a fantastic boost to the squad as we approach the business end of the season,” said Andy Leese.
“Thanks to Rob Small and Concord Rangers for their help and professionalism in getting this over the line.”
Enfield Town 0 Margate 0
Report by Andrew Warshaw
(with contributions from Jake Coburn)
Frustration was the name of the game for Town as we were held by a battling Margate despite being in control for long periods.
The good news is that we are still fourth with plenty of games to go in our quest for another playoff place and even automatic promotion.
And the fact that we welcomed almost 650 spectators on our annual Women and Girls Day that created a real feelgood feeling.
The not so good news is that we have taken only one point from nine, have failed to score in open play in five outings and now face five away league games in March.
Conditions weren’t easy on a bumpy pitch in a biting wind, rendering chances few and far between though it was clear from the very outset that Margate came looking for a point.
Town were unlucky to lose Andre Coker to injury on 20 minutes after he went down for the third time and limped off holding his right leg.
His replacement, Lyle Della-Verde, almost gave us the lead seven minutes later, latching on to a neat pass from Sam Youngs before shifting the ball onto his favourite left foot and unleashing a venomous strike that was palmed round the post by Daniel Jinadu.
The only other notable incident in the first half were the theatrics of Margate’s Phillip Roberts, booked for simulation after tumbling in the penalty area on the stroke of half time.
H-T 0-0
For some reason – maybe as a result of those back to back 3-0 defeats — we just didn’t have enough confidence on the ball and were therefore short on spark and invention.
Our best chance came on 53 minutes as a Joe Payne long throw was flicked on by the tall presence of Adam Cunnington and fell to Lewis Taaffe, whose low shot was brilliantly saved by the feet of Jinadu. Cunnington also had a shot blocked by Nathan Wood (pictured).
Margate’s only real threats came either side of the hour mark. First Roberts flashed a left-footed cross beyond everyone in the area when all it needed was a touch goalwards. Then Roberts was teed up on the edge of the box by Harvey Smith but his fierce effort was bravely blocked by James Richmond.
That was all Margate delivered and as the clock ticked down, Town threw on top scorer Jake Cass in the hope of finding a late winner.
His first touch very nearly did so, a header from a Taaffe corner dropping agonisingly wide of Jinedu’s goal.
And in the 82nd minute Cass was denied again by a timely challenge from Sinn’ Kaye Christie as he was about the pull the trigger.
All that was left was for the referee to book four players, two from each team, following an ugly brawl in stoppage time.
One piece of encouragement for Town was the solid performance of Josh Okotcha who was given a rare start in the absence of Lewis Knight – not permitted to play against his parent club – and showed what a useful member of the squad he is.
“Very frustrating performance yesterday. We dominated possession but it counted for nothing in the end,” said Andy Leese.
“Only positives were that we didn’t concede and gained a point. We have this week to reset ahead of a crucial run of away games.”
Town: McDonald; Wilson-Braithwaite (Cass 67), Okotcha, Richmond, Payne; Thomas, Isaac (Wordsworth 73), Youngs, Taaffe; Cunnington, Coker (Della-Verde, 20)
Saturday’s home game against Margate is important in so many ways.
Firstly we need to bounce back after rare back to back defeats against Canvey Island and Folkestone.
Secondly it’s our last home league game until we meet Hornchurch at the end of March.
But perhaps most importantly of all, to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, we are opening our turnstiles free of charge to all women and girls to mark our Annual Ladies Day.
We would like as many female fans as possible to come and watch in a safe, fun and affordable environment and to join our club whether as players at adult/youth level, members, supporters or volunteers.
Margate will be without midfielder Sam Blackman, as he completes a two-game ban, as well as defender Emmanuel Oke who starts a three-match suspension while midfielder Cameron Brodie has been recalled by parent club Dartford.
But that will allow other players to step up to the plate and the club will have been buoyed by their midweek win over Cray Valley PM to reach the last four of the Kent Senior Cup.
In the league Margate are 16th and although they have taken two points out of a possible 15, they only narrow lost to Bishop’s Stortford in mid-February and have proved at times this season they can be formidable opposition on their day.
Kick-off on Saturday is 3pm and we are hoping for another bumper attendance to match our Public Services Day.
Folkestone Invicta 3 Enfield Town 0
Report by Andrew Warshaw
Despite being the better team for much of the second half, Enfield Town suffered a second successive 3-0 away defeat on Tuesday night with manager Andy Leese saying he was “bitterly disappointed”
Not since late August/early September had Town lost successive league games but a mixture of defensive mistakes, poor collective decision making and bad luck cost them dearly on the Kent coast.
Fortunately Town didn’t lose ground in the leading positions and remain in fourth but we have now played as many games as everyone else – and one more than Hornchurch – making the need for three points at home to Margate on Saturday even more paramount.
The management team made a couple of changes to the side beaten 3-0 at Canvey Island with Marcus Wyllie and Lewis Taaffe both given starts and Adam Cunnington unavailable.
But within 12 minutes we were beaten for pace down our right-hand side and Ira Jackson’s cross was turned in by new signing Louis Collins who looked threatening all evening.
Although we tried to respond, we invariably chose the wrong options in attack or were quickly closed down and were perhaps fortunate to go in at the break only one down. A teasing low cross eluded three Folkestone forwards in the box while Jackson got between Lewis Knight and the advancing Nathan McDonald to lob the ball inches over the bar.
H-T 0-1
Whatever Andy said to the players at halftime, we came out with loads more energy and urgency and almost levelled straight away as Patrick Ohman in the Folkestone goal scrambled ball clear.
Jake Cass then flicked a Taaffe freekick over the bar and Wyllie sent in an excellent low cross that flashed across the six-yard box with no Enfield Town player to meet it.
Lewis Knight was booked for simulation when we had a decent shout for a penalty but just as we began to look the more likely of the two sides to score, we fell further behind on 70 minutes.
Scott Thomas lost crucial possession on the halfway line and the ball was fed into the path of Jackson who cut inside and unleashed a curling effort beyond McDonald.
Unlike at Canvey on Saturday, we continued to probe but had no luck at all when Wyllie hit the post with an angled drive (pictured).
The introduction of Andre Coker had an immediate impact but once again we were made to pay for hesitancy at the back. McDonald managed to parry Jackson’s shot following a poor back-header and Ibrahim Olutade reacted quicker than two Town players by sliding in to convert.
As we continued to go forward, a Wyllie volley was well saved but it was too little, too late in what was generally another below-par display.
“Bitterly disappointed with the performance,” said Andy afterwards. “More of what we saw last Saturday unfortunately. We are still in a great position but we have to respond this week in training and the next game.”
Town:
McDonald, Wilson-Braithwaite (Okotcha, 86), Payne, Thomas (Lyle Della-Verde, 78), Knight, Richmond, Isaac, Youngs, Cass, Taaffe (Coker, 68), Marcus Wyllie
Following our disappointing defeat last Saturday, we have an ideal opportunity to immediately bounce back tomorrow, Tuesday, when we visit Folkestone Invicta on the Kent coast
Folkestone are currently mid-table following their 3-2 win over Corinthian Casuals on Saturday but have taken seven points from their last three games and are perhaps one of those sides who are under-performing in the division.
In the reverse fixture, our very first game of the season, we drew 1-1 at home and will be looking to hopefully improve on that at the The Buildkent Stadium, kickoff 7.45
COYT
Canvey Island 3 Enfield Town 0
Report by Andrew Warshaw
Canvey Island was the birthplace of Dr. Feelgood, one of Britain’s best-loved rhythm and blues bands.
But there was precious little of the feelgood factor to take away from Town’s visit to that particular corner of Essex on Saturday.
With skipper Scott Thomas’ three-match ban overturned two days previously, there was every reason to be optimistic of a positive result at The Movie Starr Stadium.
Instead we came away well beaten after one of our most disappointing displays of the season.
Make no mistake, this is one of the toughest grounds to get a result – as both Hornchurch and Bishop’s Stortford have discovered this season.
But after an even first half of few clearcut chances in windy conditions, there was little indication we would come unstuck so badly.
Chez Isaac had arguably the best chance of the opening 45 minutes with a speculative 25-yard drive that was brilliantly tipped over by Bobby Mason while at the other end, Conor Hubble flashed a shot inches over our bar.
H-T 0-0
The first goal was all important and unfortunately it went to the Gulls on 56 minutes.
Straight from a set-piece of our own, Evans Kouassi – who troubled us all afternoon just as he done in our 5-1 FA Cup defeat on the same ground earlier in the season – got the better of Wilson-Braithwaite and slid the ball into the area for the on-rushing Joe Paxman to fire home.
Canvey’s lead was doubled four minutes later, again following a move down our right. Somehow we didn’t deal with Kouassi’s driving run and when he cut the ball inside, Bradley Sach swept it home.
Had we pulled a goal back, who knows what might have happened and we so nearly did, Mason pulling off a world-class save to keep out a Sam Youngs header (pictured)
Sadly with seven minutes remaining, it went from bad to worse for Town as we lost concentration at a Hubble freekick and allowed Rob Girdlestone to convert at the near post.
There was still time for the referee to brandish a red card to Lewis Knight for two bookable offences, only to realise his mistake and change his mind.
Even then, it wasn’t clear whether he had booked James Richmond instead or had in fact yellow-carded Canvey’s number six Elliott Johnson though in the end it hardly mattered.
All teams lose games though the manner of the defeat was clearly not what we wanted.
On the plus side we are still in fourth spot and handily placed. The challenge now is to pick ourselves up for Tuesday’s long trip to Folkestone.
Town: McDonald, Wilson-Braithwaite, Knight, Richmond, Payne; Youngs, Thomas, Isaac; Della-Verde (Taaffe, 76), Cass, Coker (Cunnington 68)
The games come thick and fast and tomorrow we are away at Canvey Island who have surprised some pundits by consistently being in and around the playoff places after being promoted from Step 4.
The Gulls are currently in sixth place on goal difference from Cray in fifth, four points behind Town having played a game more.
They are certainly in decent form having won four of five in 2023 including an upset 3-1 win at Hornchurch.
In the reverse fixture earlier in the season we drew 0-0 having previously been trounced 5-1 at their place in in the FA Cup when Evans Kouassi notched a hat-trick.
Frustrating though our cup exit was, it is now a distant memory and after grinding out a win over Brightlingsea on Tuesday, we are arguably the form side of the division.
It certainly promises to be a mouth-watering encounter at the Moviestarr Stadium, kickoff 3pm.
Admission Prices
Adults – £12
Concession – £7
U16s – £2
Address: The Movie Star Stadium, Park Lane, Essex, SS8 7PX
We have been drawn at home to Harrow Borough in the semifinal of the Middlesex Senior Trophy on Tuesday March 14, kickoff 7.45
Like us Harrow Borough are a Step 3 side and play in the Southern League Premier Division South where they currently lie in 18th place. Earlier this season they beat Hayes & Yeading and Step 2 Concord Rangers en route to the FA Trophy Fourth Round, where they were only beaten on penalties by Halifax Town of the National League.
On behalf of the whole club, we would like to wish our manager Andy Leese a very happy 60th birthday today, Thursday.
Here’s to Andy having a fabulous day, followed hopefully by a strong result at Canvey on Saturday.
Many congratulations, Andy!
Enfield Town 2 Brightlingsea Regent 1
Report by Andrew Warshaw
A brace of penalties, one in each half, pushed us up to third with three valuable points on a night when the opposition at times made life awkward.
Just like the previous home game, it wasn’t always easy against another of those sides scrapping for everything near the foot of the table.
Our first half performance alone, during which we totally controlled proceedings, justified the win as Brightlingsea hardly laid a glove on us.
After the break, it was a more even contest as Brightlingsea, who had to wear Town’s green kit after their own kit man got caught up in heavy traffic, fought desperately to get something from the game.
The management team made two changes to Saturday’s starting lineup with Jake Cass and Lyle Della-Verde coming into the side — and both more than played their part.
Kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes because of Regent’s travel issues but once the action got under way, we immediately imposed our superiority.
Sam Youngs almost converted an early Lyle freekick while Jake, onside, saw his powerful shot cannon off a defender for a corner.
Town were the team very much in the ascendancy and went ahead on 20 minutes.
Cass stole an underhit backpass away from Regent’s new keeper Lewis Ridd who proceeded to bring him down. The teenager then had no chance with Jake’s confidently struck penalty.
Sam Youngs looked to have doubled our lead as he slotted home beautifully to finish off a glorious team move but was ruled offside.
Regent’s only threat came when dangerman Jesse Olukolu almost took advantage of us losing possession in midfield, only for Nathan McDonald to pull off a smart save.
H-T 1-0
A Cass turn and shot was pushed away as we started the second half in the same vein.
Scott Thomas, in his last game before a three-match suspension pending appeal, then twice let fly from 25 yards, the second time bringing a superb tip-over save.
Suddenly, however, Brightlingsea got a foothold in the game as they started to pass to feet.
Nathan made a super stop from Andrew George before Zack Littlejohn headed home an excellent left-wing delivery just before the hour.
Town needed to regain the momentum and got the perfect break on 69 minutes with a second spotkick. Andre Coker was blatantly tripped as he weaved his way into the box and was given the penalty honours this time, going for placement rather than power (pictured).
Thereafter it was a case of hanging on to what we had as Regent pushed us back without capitalising on their second-half possession.
“It was a really important three points. Brightlingsea made it really difficult,” said Mario Noto. “Maybe the 10 men for 60 minutes on Saturday didn’t do us any favours.”
“We started really brightly and Jake led the line really well. The performance may not have been the best but we ground out a win. That’s sometimes what you have to do against teams who are fighting for their lives.”
Town: McDonald; Dequane-Wilson, Knight, Richmond, Payne; Isaac (Taaffe, 76), Youngs, Thomas, Della-Verde; Cass, Coker (Wyllie,73)
