Hampton & Richmond 4-0 Enfield Town
Report by Martin Bentley

It was a case of one step forward, two steps back for Enfield Town, as they were comprehensively beaten at the Beveree by a lively Hampton & Richmond side. Town’s performance was in dramatic contrast to the previous week’s narrow victory at Bath, with Town never really in the game at all.

Gavin Macpherson opted for an unchanged starting eleven, with new signings Alfie Tuck and Jake Hutchinson named as substitutes, together with the returning Harry Ottaway.

Town’s afternoon got off to a disastrous start after just three minutes, when Hampton were awarded a penalty following Carl Mensah’s ill-judged challenge on the leggy Bunmi Babajide. Captain James Roberts sent Rhys Forster the wrong way from the spot, and Town’s proverbial mountain to climb got a little bit steeper.

The half then developed along familiar lines, with the home side enjoying the lion’s share of possession, with Town successfully snuffing out the majority of their attacks. Babajide somehow missed on 27 minutes when clean through on goal, while Town only succeeded in carving out a couple of half-chances. Three minutes before half time, Town were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Harley Mills curled the ball against keeper Ted Curd’s right hand post, with the ball then rolling across the goal to hit the left hand post before being cleared. Truly, if it wasn’t for bad luck, we’d have no luck at all.

The second half opened in similar vein, although the only chance of note was a Mauro Vilhete effort that flashed wide. The home side doubled their lead on 59 minutes though, Jake Gray netting a rebound from a Forster parry. At this point Gavin decided to reshuffle the back with a triple substitution, giving debuts to Tuck and Hutchinson, as well as introducing Ottaway to make a twin-pronged forward line. The increased physical presence up from did at least give Hampton a bit to think about, and Tuck hit a shot wide after Lennon Peake’s cross was only half cleared.

The chances were still coming at the other end however, with the outstanding Mickey Parcell having to react quickly to clear a loose ball after Roberts’ low shot was parried by Forster. The inevitable happened as Town chased the game, and Roberts added a third after 77 minutes, and completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to complete a thoroughly miserable afternoon for the travelling Towners.

At least the rain stayed away.

Team: Forster; Parcell, Mensah, Tanner; Adjei-Hersey, Leshabela, Youngs, Leonard, Mills; Beckles-Richards, Peake

Subs: Tuck (for Youngs 65), Ottaway (for Tanner 65), Hutchinson (for Beckles-Richards 65), Benjamin (for Mensah 78), Payne (for Peake 83)

We are delighted to confirm the signing of centre-forward Jake Hutchinson from Worthing.

A dynamic, physical number nine, 22-year-old Jake came through the academy at Colchester United before embarking on loan spells with Tonbridge Angels and Eastbourne Borough, where 14 goals in 29 appearances earned a U’s recall before netting a further four goals in the National League with Aldershot. He spent the second half of last term north of the border with Scottish side Scottish side Queen of the South, from whom he moved to Worthing at the beginning of this campaign.

“I’ve made no secret of wanting to add in the forward area, especially after recent departures”, said manager Gavin Macpherson. “Jake will give us a different option, he’s a goal scorer and that is something we certainly need; he’s really excited about playing for Enfield Town. I’d like to thank Worthing FC and Chris Agutter for making this as seamless as possible. We welcome Jake to the club.”

“Thank you for the welcome,” added Jake upon signing for the club. “I’m really excited to be here; after speaking to Gav and him telling me about the club and the way he works I was set on signing! I’m a striker who will put in 100% every game and wants to score goals, so as long as I work hard for the team I’m sure the goals will follow.”

Welcome, Jake!

Enfield Town head to Hampton and Richmond Borough on Saturday buoyed by last weekend’s gutsy win at Bath that ended a lean streak of results and pushed us a couple of places up the table.

Although the Beavers are in the bottom half of the table, every team in the division are proving stiff opposition but another favourable result can only build confidence and momentum.

“We were positive even before the win at Bath but we weren’t getting the results some of our performances perhaps deserved,” said  Gavin .

With a back three now very much our likely formation going forward, Gavin is looking for another solid display to round of the month and then hopefully a rewarding October points haul including against some of the sides in and around us.

“We always believed we could win games but what Bath showed us maybe were the levels we have to maintain to do just that, particularly defensively,” added Gav.

Tomorrow’s fixture has been brought forward from February with both teams now having a free Saturday after being eliminated from the FA Cup.

“We know winning one game doesn’t guarantee you points in future weeks but everyone is working extremely hard to drill into the boys what we need to do,” Gavin explained. “Hampton will be fully of energy and we will have to be on our mettle once again.”

AW

We are pleased to announce the addition of central midfielder Alfie Tuck on a short-term loan from Queens Park Rangers.

Alfie, 18, is eligible for this weekend’s trip to Hampton & Richmond, and joins us until January 2025. A Wales youth international, he has been with QPR since the age of nine and signed his first professional deal with the club in July, participating in the senior team’s pre-season tour.

‘”Alfie is a quality player who is very well thought of at QPR”, added manager Gavin Macpherson. “I’m sure our supporters will give him a very warm welcome; it’s important his loan spell proves beneficial for Enfield Town, Alfie and QPR. I’m excited he’s at the club.”

Welcome, Alfie!

Bath City 0-1 Enfield Town
Report by Martin Bentley

A Billy Leonard goal early in the second half was sufficient to give Enfield Town their second victory of the season against a well-organised Bath City side. The win has taken Town up two places to 21^st in the Vanarama National League South, which, although irrelevant at this stage of the season, has at least made it possible to peep at the League table without wincing!

Gavin Macpherson changed both formation and personnel for this one, with a recall for Bernie Tanner into a back three, and Carl Mensah and Harley Mills both returning to the starting line-up. Reece Beckles-Richards also made the starting line-up in place of the injured Harry Ottaway.

There was almost a nasty shock for the 100-odd travelling fans when the home side’s Scott Wilson had an effort disallowed for offside in the 3^rd minute, but chances for Bath were very much at a premium. At the other end, Town managed a Lennon Peake header that flew wide and a Sam Youngs shot from distance that was parried by home keeper Jose Casa-Grande. The home side’s dangerous winger Elliott Frear managed two late efforts, the first bulging the side-netting, the second parried by Rhys Forster.

The second half almost saw Bath break the deadlock after 53 minutes when Ewan Clark cut into the box from the right, but Forster rocketed off his line to parry Clark’s effort. Four minutes later, Town hit the jackpot. Dylan Adjei-Hersey curled in a cross from the right onto the head of Billy Leonard, whose precise header beat Casa-Grande to his right. Bath almost conjured up an immediate reply when the industrious Latrell Humphrey-Ewers had a powerful effort tipped over by the heroic Forster, who played despite dislocating a finger in training the previous week.

Still chances were coming Town’s way; Mills shot wide on 63 minutes and Peake over the bar seven minutes later. Although Bath continued to dominate possession, no more clear chances came their way in the last half hour. The game concluded with Town displaying a slightly surreal formation, with four centre-backs on the field, and defensive midfielder Jack Smith playing as a lone striker. Town dug deep to secure the points late in the game, with stellar performances from Forster, Carl Mensah and Micky Parcell in particular. All in all, a wonderful day out, and a highly satisfying three points.

Team: Forster, Parcell, Mensah, Tanner, Adjei-Hersey, Leshabela, Youngs, Mills, Peake, Beckles-Richards, Leonard

Subs: Smith (for Beckles-Richards 74), Thomas (for Peake 88), Payne (for Mills 88), Nembhard (for Leshabela 90+2)

Unused sub: Benjamin

Enfield Town go into tomorrow’s game at Bath City in good spirits despite another week of frustration for the management team in terms of recruitment.

With both Harry Ottaway and Rhys Forster doubtful for the visit to Somerset and an experienced midfielder who was on the verge of signing suddenly injuring his meniscus in training, Lady Luck has hardly been shining on us.

Gavin continues to work tirelessly to improve the squad across the pitch, only for potential signings to slip through his fingers, coupled with unexpected setbacks.

“If it doesn’t rain, it pours,” said Gavin. “You couldn’t make it up. I’ve said this before but I’m working as hard as I can on and off the pitch.”

One win, of course, could completely kickstart our season against a team well fancied this season.

“Bath are very strong at home but we’ve had a great week in training and two excellent sessions working on their strengths and weaknesses,” said Gavin. “Everyone is very positive in the circumstances.”

AW

Our away league game at Hampton and Richmond Borough, originally scheduled for Tuesday, Nov 5, has been brought forward to Saturday week, Sept 28, now that both teams are no longer in the FA Cup. Kickoff is 3pm

Enfield Town 0 Peterborough Sports 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

There will be no FA Cup run this season after we were knocked by Peterborough Sports courtesy of a lone first-half penalty.

For the second time in four seasons, we were eliminated by the Turbines but we certainly did enough in the second half to warrant a replay after entering the competition in the 2^nd qualifying round.

It was not to be as we couldn’t quite force an equaliser but there was no lack of effort from a  patched-up side hit by unavailability, suspension and players suddenly deciding to go elsewhere after being signed.

To put it all into perspective, because of lack of forward options Lennon Peake was  forced to play up front in a totally unfamiliar position.

Consistency comes with having a settled side but  there have been a number of circumstances beyond the control of the management team. Players need time to gel and once we have settled into a rhythm, there is no reason why we can’t improve our fortunes.

Despite the huge disappointment of being knocked out of the cup so early, we looked more solid at the back than of late, perhaps as a result of the 3-5-2 formation that looks like being the blueprint going forward.

Sadly, however, another defensive error did for us as  Joash Nembhard’s clumsy 35^th-minute challenge on Michael Gyasi led to a penalty which Dan Lawlor duly dispatched though Joash was by no means the only player at fault at what proved to be the winner.

It was no more than the visitors, quicker to the ball and playing to feet, deserved at the time. Indeed, they should have extended their lead when the unmarked Michael Gash planted a free header over from the corner of the six-yard box.

H-T 0-1

The fact that we had made only three first-half forays into the opposition box said everything about the difficulty we were having in breaking down the Turbines.

On 55 minutes, Gavin had seen enough and threw on Billy Leonard whose introduction immediately improved us.

Peake so nearly levelled as he brought a flying stop from Peter Crook. Then, right on the hour, a bursting 80-yard run and cross from Leonard again found Peake but his first-time shot was driven straight at the Sports keeper.

With time running out, the ever-willing Harry Ottaway, who ended up playing the full 90 minutes even though that wasn’t the original plan, flung himself at another cross, only for his effort to be scrambled clear.

 In stoppage time and with Town pushing forward, Gyasi should have put the game to bed, only for Rhys Forster, not for the first time in the game, to pull off a terrific save.

Sadly it mattered little, a bitterly disappointing end to Sam Youngs’ 300^th game for the club – a remarkable statistic for one of Town’s great servants – and a potential opportunity to kickstart our season lost.

“I thought we definitely deserved a draw,” said Gavin Macpherson afterwards. “They were in control first half but they were hanging on at the end. Yes they headed balls out when they needed to but we stretched them and the only reason we are not still in the competition is that we made another mistake for the penalty.”

“It wasn’t easy to fit a side together today but that’s no excuse, we should be having a replay. The boys never ever fault me for effort, it’s just sometimes the quality especially in respect of our defending.  Then at the other end you are asking to Lennon to play up front. I have to go away and think about what’s going and how we change things because it’s got to the stage when we have to.”

Forster; Parcell (Knight, 90), Nembhard, Solomon (Tanner 87); Payne; Thomas, Leshabela (Smith), Youngs, Adjei-Hersey (Onyeagwara, 78); Peake, Ottaway.

Rocked by yet more disruption beyond our control, Enfield Town go into tomorrow’s FA Cup tie at home to Peterborough Sports determined to get our season back on track.

No sooner had the management team brought in Harry Ottaway to play alongside Hisham Kasimu than they had the rug pulled from under their feet by Kasimu accepting an offer from his former club Farnborough.

It was the latest in a series of comings and goings in what is becoming somewhat of a revolving door, preventing us from establishing a settled team.

With Reece Beckles-Richards unavailable tomorrow it leaves us with precious few options up front but that could give the boys extra motivation to advance as we enter the competition at the 2nd qualifying round stage.

Drawn against Step 2 opposition (the Turbines play in National League North) wasn’t ideal and with two of our three recent signings also unavailable — one suspended, the other cup-tied —  the task has hardly been made any easier.

“Suffice to say we’ve done our analysis on the opposition as always do,” said Gavin. “Some might say it’s a pig of a draw but in some respects, a Step 3 opponent might have quite fancied playing us at this moment in time.”

“Having said that, there is no room for manoevre compared with maybe a lesser draw. Peterborough Sports are very strong at set pieces and will probably be no different to some of the sides we’ve met this season. I don’t consider this a respite from the league. It’s a competition I love, the best cup competition in the world.”

All of us will remember how close we got last season to the first round proper, only for Cray Valley PM to gain that plum draw against Charlton at our expense.

“It can be a game-change for clubs at our level,” said Gavin. “It runs a lot deeper than the players maybe getting a chance to draw a league club later on. It’s about exposure if we can get that far.  Not just the badge. The volunteers, fans, everyone who make the club tick and who are the foundation  and soul of this club.”

Gavin acknowledged that losing Kasimu was the latest unexpected blow but refuses to use it as an excuse against a side that knocked us out on penalties four years ago.

“I don’t expect any sympathy from anyone because the support I’ve received during this tough run has been unbelievable,” he said.

“Football throws up adversity and I’ve had it from a week before the season started with the important players we lost. This is another chapter. Yes we have had to change plans yet again right at the last minute given the personnel at our disposal and of course it’s far from ideal. But it’s not insurmountable. What’s happened this week may have dented our chances on paper but I’m not thinking like that. We re-programme, we reset and we go again.”

Link to commentary for Saturday’s game: https://mjl99.mixlr.com/events/3689049. Broadcast will start at 2.50pm, comments will be enabled on the site and I’ll be joined by new pundit Paul Manel (host on Royal Free Hospital Radio and long-term ETFC fan).

AW

Hisham Kasimu has departed the club, with the striker returning to former club Farnborough following an approach last week.

The 27-year-old joined us prior to our opening league game with Torquay United, scoring once and providing one assist in six appearances for the Towners.

We wish him well for the future.