Enfield Town 3 Felixstowe and Walton 0

Report by Andrew Warshaw

Every Town fan will be glued to Monday’s FA Cup draw after we reached  the third qualifying round at the expense of opponents who were hit with an early goal blitz before trying their best to make a fight of it.

On paper the tie was a potential banana skin but was effectively over within the first quarter as we destroyed the hopes of our lower-ranked Suffolk opponents and in the process ended their unbeaten start to the season.

As we roared out of the blocks, Sam Youngs settled any nerves by getting us on our way from the penalty spot on four minutes after Ollie Knight was impeded.

Ollie himself doubled our lead four minutes later with a fabulous finish (pictured, celebrating) following some neat interplay between Marcus Wyllie and Reece Beckles-Richards.

Before the Seasiders could gain any kind of foothold they fell further behind. Wyllie and Youngs had successive shots blocked but Joe Payne made no mistake at the third time of asking as he lashed the ball home.

Town, themselves unbeaten in all competitions, were too slick for their Step 4 visitors and could, maybe should, have had a couple more by halftime. Knight shot just wide while one of his trademark crosses was inches away from being converted by Wyllie.

Youngs suffered a nasty-looking leg gash and also picked up a yellow card but continued to stamp his mark on proceedings until being subbed with 20 minutes to go.

Sami Bessadi curled another fine Town effort just wide but just before the interval, F and W should have got back in the game when Callum Harrison somehow missed the target after being put through by Noel Aitkins’ clever back heel.

H-T 0-0

It was one step too far for our Step 4 opponents but we were indebted to our three-goal cushion in the second half as F and W gave it a go.

To their credit they looked a different team, partly because of us easing off, partly through tweaking their system, playing an extra man in midfield and bringing on tall target man Josh Mayhew.

Mayhew headed wide just after the restart and we suddenly had to turn to our defensive skills to preserve our three-goal lead, Josh Okotcha falling awkwardly and limping off after keeping out one of several raids.

Mayhew and Joshua Hitter missed further decent chances for Felixstowe who for once, having notched up 17 goals  in six previous outings, left their scoring touch at home.

In the last 15 minutes Town regained control as Payne rattled a 25-yard freekick against the post and Wyllie picked up a rebound and drove agonisingly wide.

“I was disappointed with the second half, there’s no doubt about that,” said Gavin Macpherson. “We saw it coming but I don’t think we dealt with it particular well. If they’d got an early goal then, we could have had a hell of a game on our hands.”

“But you have to take your hat off to the boys. It was no fluke. They took on board exactly what we wanted them to do inside the first 35 minutes. Often at 3-0 human nature dictates sometimes that you think the game is done. I never think like that but it’s understandable.

“In the end we put them to bed very comprehensively in the first half which was good enough to do the job.”

It may be too early to think that far ahead but another favourable draw and we could edge ever closer to the dream scenario of the first round proper.

Town:

Forster; Parcell, Okotcha (Coker, 58), Richmond, Payne; Knight, Youngs (Keeya, 70), Thomas, Bessadi (Birch, 83); Wyllie, Beckles-Richards

Congratulations to Town goalkeeper Rhys Forster on winning the Uhlsport Golden Gloves Award for August!

Voted man-of-the-match for a string of saves away at Haringey Borough at the end of August, Rhys and his defence conceded just twice and registered 3 clean sheets in 5 Isthmian League games as we ended the month with the league’s meanest defence.

Well in, Rhys – here’s to many more!

__

Photo: Zenonas Klusas

We are pleased to announce the signing of experienced striker Tyler Blackwood.

Tyler, 32, has played most of his football in America which meant we had to obtain International clearance.

Born in London, the former Northampton Town and Barnet trainee moved to the United States to play college football at an early age – and has lived across the pond virtually ever since bar a couple of years in 2015 and 2016 when he returned to play in the UK including a brief spell at QPR

At his first US club, Tampa Spartans, Tyler scored 24 goals in 33 appearances. He most recently played professionally with Oakland Roots in the second division  USL Championship

Welcome Tyler.

We are thrilled to announce that Marcus Wyllie has put pen to paper and signed a contract with us until the end of this season, with an option for one further campaign.

Marcus, 24, has scored seven goals in as many games in all competitions in his favoured forward position this season, fulfilling the promise he showed since joining us from Step 5 Risborough Rangers where he chalked up an astonishing 36 goals in 2021-22.

We wish Marcus, a huge favourite with Town fans, all the best for the remainder of the season.

Our Isthmian League Premier Division match away at Kingstonian – moved due to our participation in the FA Cup – has now been rescheduled for Wednesday October 11th, 19:45 kickoff.

As with last season, the Ks are ground-sharing with Tooting & Mitcham at their Imperial Fields home.

Enfield Town 2-2 Bognor Regis Town
Report by Ken Brazier

In stifling 30-degrees-plus conditions, reminiscent of last year’s sweltering home game v Folkestone, both sides put on an entertaining show for the 560 who turned out to search for a shaded viewpoint.

The Rocks looked far from a team that had recently bowed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Burgess Hill as they set about recording a first win at the QEII since January 2013.

Enfield endured a tough first half as they sought to get to grips with the pace of Bognor’s breaks – particularly down the flanks – with Lucas Pattenden, returning from injury, and Isaac Olaniyan prominent. After Scott Thomas had blazed wide and Reece Beckles-Richards had just failed to get onto the end of a Marcus Wyllie cross they had a let-off after nine minutes when Harvey Whyte played in Pattenden, who saw his shot hit the inside of the far post and rebound into Rhys Foster’s hands.

The Rocks got just reward for their strong start around the quarter of an hour mark when a good lay-off from Dan Gifford saw Jasper Mather lash the ball home past Forster’s left hand. But Enfield took advantage of a careless foul in a dangerous position after 22 minutes, and a sublime free-kick delivery from man-of-the-match Ollie Knight found Sam Youngs at the back post and the long-serving midfielder found the back of the net with a downward header.

The woodwork came to Enfield’s rescue again in the 29^th minute. After James Richmond had had a goal ruled out for offside, Mather curled an effort against the same upright.  A minute later, Forster did well to keep out a long distance lob. But he breathed a sigh of relief a minute later when he attempted to shepherd the ball out of play and was caught in possession way out on the wing, but the subsequent ball into the danger area came to nothing.

HT: 1-1

Enfield’s ball retention and creation of chances improved after the break. But, a few minutes after he had been booked for handling outside the penalty area, Forster found himself picking the ball out of his net after an incisive run down the left and low shot by Joe Rabbetts had enabled the Rocks to retake the lead, much to the delight of the travelling support.

After a couple of home chances had come and gone, another set piece drew Enfield level. Again Knight was the provider, and his accurate corner kick was headed home powerfully by Richmond (pictured). It was a testament to both sides that, despite the awful conditions for football, there was no hint of either holding on for a point with half an hour to go.

The visitors’ keeper Ryan Hall denied Beckles-Richards twice, once following a slick move involving substitute debutant Josh Keeya and Knight, and then with a brave smothering block at the striker’s feet. Wyllie, who was well-marshalled all afternoon, saw his 71^st minute effort sail high and wide and Mickey Parcell’s heat-defying run ended with a cross that drifted behind.  Mather fired over for the Rocks and, after appeals for a penalty at the other end when Wyllie went down were waved away, Pattenden and Gifford missed chances towards the end when their headers flew off target. 

Town: Forster; Parcell, Richmond, Okotcha, Payne; Adjei-Hersey (Keeya 57), Youngs, Thomas, Knight; Wyllie, Beckles-Richards (Bessadi 89).

We are delighted to announce the signing of Irish midfielder Josh Keeya.

Josh was in the stands during our FA Cup win over Potters Bar and said he cannot wait to be re-united with Gavin Macpherson, under whom he played at Met Police.

A number of pro clubs including Millwall are reported to have been looking at Josh and Gavin said he was equally excited to have the 19-year-old in the squad.

“I have nothing but good things to say about Josh,” said Gavin. “He is a model professional and a very good footballer. His application and work rate are first class and that’s why pro clubs have been looking at him. He fits all the criteria to be a professional footballer.”

“Of course he’ll have to work himself into the team like anyone else but is a welcome addition to the squad and can only make us stronger.”

Welcome, Josh

Andrew Warshaw

We are delighted to bring teenage defender Jorden Adeoye, a late substitute in our FA cup tie against Potters Bar on Saturday (pictured), into the first-team squad

Jorden, just 16, moves up from the academy and has impressed the management team.

“I’m committed to this club looking forward in respect of a pathway,” said Gavin Macpherson.

“Jorden played in the FA Youth Cup two weeks ago. I want to try to build something here and I thought it was good time to give the boy a taste of first-team action.”

Welcome Jorden

We have been drawn to play Felixstowe and Walton United at home in the 2^nd qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Felixstowe play at Step 4 level in Isthmian League North, one below us, but won both their FA Cup ties to date 4-1 away, beating Woodford Town in the last round.

In the league they have won one and drawn two of their three games and, like us, remain unbeaten in all competitions.

The tie is scheduled for the weekend of 16-17 September with the mouth-watering prospect of further progression.

“Of course I’m pleased to be at home. Being in front of our fantastic home support is a massive plus,” said Gavin Macpherson who nevertheless issued a word of caution.

“Teams at this stage have earned the right to be in the draw and I think it’s a very difficult game. I believe they are unbeaten and we will of course give them the respect they deserve. Forming the opinion we have an advantage because we play in the higher league will not be part of our approach. Felixstowe and Walton have good management and players so I think a difficult game awaits us.

“Currently we are in a good place so we must have confidence in our ability without being complacent. That is a something we can’t allow to creep in no matter the competition. We’ll plan and prepare as we always do and look forward to the game.”

Enfield Town 3 Potters Bar Town 0

Report by Andrew Warshaw

In control virtually from first minute to last, Town cruised into the 2^nd qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday with a display even more emphatic than the scoreline suggests.

Perhaps the only downside of a whirlwind performance was the fact that we missed a hatful of other chances which thankfully didn’t cost us.

Potters Bar had a distinctly different look about them in terms of personnel compared with the side we beat in the league last month.

Former Towners Sam Chaney and Brandon Adams both started but the visitors hardly laid a glove on us apart from a brief spell either side of halftime.

Town welcomed back from injury both Joe Payne and Josh Okotcha while Sami Bessadi was given a start in midfield.

And we were on the scoresheet after just eight minutes through Marcus Wyllie’s seventh goal in six games in all competitions as he took up the inside right position before running through to produce yet another outstanding finish.

Just before Marcus’ goal, Rhys Forster came charging out of his area, waited for a Town player to pass to but didn’t spot Bar skipper Adelberto Pinto rise to his feet with the goal at his mercy.

Luckily Pinto’s shot flew over and it was the last time the visitors threatened us for the entire first half.

On 14 minutes, our lead was doubled when Sam Youngs ghosted in Martin Peters-style to head home Ollie Knight’s corner and thereafter it was a case of chance after chance.

James Richmond headed an Ollie Knight freekick against the bar, Preston Edwards stuck out a leg to save when Reece Beckles-Richards was one on one with the Bar keeper and Marcus got his legs in a tangle when through on goal.

Just before halftime Edwards came to the rescue again to keep out an Ollie Knight effort and the only disappointment at the interval was that we weren’t leading by more.

H-T 2-0

Potters Bar couldn’t play much worse but 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline and while they didn’t really threaten Forster’s goal, they changed system and briefly looked a threat.

Town’s third, therefore, was perfectly timed. Knight’s delivery caused problems all afternoon and it was from his ball up the line that Joe Payne made the game safe with a cross-shot that deceived Edwards and nestled in the far corner (pictured).

As we toyed with the opposition, the chances kept coming, Edwards preventing an even more resounding victory by saving from Beckles-Richards and Payne while a Scott Thomas drive hit the side netting.

Town reverted to a period of keep ball which almost resulted in the goal of the game when Marcus ran on to Thomas’ through-ball, only for Edwards to be called into action for the umpteenth time.

Some of our football was sublime and although the visitors did get the ball in the net late on, Max Jessop’s effort was ruled offside.

“How the game panned out we should have won by a country mile,” said Gavin afterwards. “We were disappointed at halftime not to have made it a non-contest. Whilst it was 2-0 they had a chance and we were perhaps missing a ruthless streak.

“You could argue were not great in front of goal yet we scored three. That’s what this team is capable of. Once you get to 3-0, it’s easier to express yourself.”

“I have to say Ollie Knight thoroughly deserved his man of the match award. His supply from wide areas is a defender’s nightmare and he works tirelessly.”

“The FA Cup is so important, not just for me but also the club and the supporters. Everyone is now looking at the draw on Monday.”

Town

Forster; Parcell, Richmond, Okotcha (Adeoya, 88), Payne; Knight, Thomas, Youngs, Bessadi (Adjei-Hersey, 78) ; Beckles-Richards (Soulya-Osekango, 75) , Wyllie