Month: September 2024

Squad Update: Folivi Departs

The club and Michael Folivi have mutually agreed to part company, with the striker seeking regular football elsewhere.

Michael made six appearances for the club, scoring once at Truro City. We thank him for his service and wish him well for the future.

Meanwhile, a number of the squad have dual-registered in order to gain match fitness. These are:

-Adi Connolly (Crawley Green)
-Lewis Taaffe (Welwyn Garden City)
-Herson Alves (Hayes & Yeading)
-Obi Onyeagwara (Biggleswade Town)
-Nana Owusu (Walton & Hersham)

We welcome winger Demaray Anyadike who has signed for the club, and has dual-registered with Isthmian North side Waltham Abbey.

Stones Pile On More Misery

Enfield Town 1 Maidstone United 4

Report by andrew warshaw

Keep the faith. That’s the key message despite another chastening afternoon which has left us one place off the bottom of the table.

It takes time, especially after getting promoted, for a new-look squad to gel. Plus the fact that having perhaps over-achieved last season, the challenge of Step 2 is even greater than most of us might have anticipated.

That’s not to underplay the disappointment of coming up short for the seventh time in eight outings, again largely due to defensive frailty.

But there were encouraging signs. At one point we were very much in the game and our three new signings gave glimpses of how they might improve us, Harry Ottaway’s heading ability and hold-up play particularly eye-catching when he came on.

Whilst Maidstone hadn’t exactly started the season with a flourish, it’s easy to lose sight of their pedigree and size as a football club.

It certainly wasn’t a 4-1 scoreline in terms of overall play but the main issue is that the opposition at this level is not giving us many openings to exploit, unlike vice versa.

So it was after 20 minutes when the Stones opened the score.  Having already fired narrowly wide and forced Rhys Forster into an excellent stop, it was third time lucky for Matt Bentley, flicking home a cross from the left in Stones’ first real spell of pressure.

Until then we hadn’t been overly troubled apart from an early goalmouth scramble while at the other end, Lennon Peake forced Alexis Andre Jn into a low stop as he raced on to Carl Mensah’s header out of defence.

While no-one would dispute that Carl was liable for one if not two of Maidstone’s goals, it’s harsh to judge him on one display and for the most part, he did the very job he was signed for – using his height to head balls away from goal.

Harley Mills, meanwhile, looked extremely promising until a needless late challenge which earned him a 90th minute second yellow that will keep him out of our cup tie next Saturday. It’s a sad irony that he was given permission to play in the cup by Peterborough United, only to be ruled out against Peterborough Sports.

Just before halftime, Billy Leonard’s well-drilled shot was bang on target until being intercepted by George Fowler and Town needed more of the same after the break.

H-T 0-1

Instead, six minutes after halftime, Mensah misjudged a spinning ball and Aaron Blair was through on goal.

Town needed a quick response and we were back in the game through Peake’s quick thinking as he darted into the box and smacked the ball home (pictured) after great work by Hisham Kasimu.

But just as we looked to move into the ascendancy, we were undone through two more Blair goals, the first finishing off some clever link-up play, the other capitalising on more defensive culpability as Mensah’s attempted back header sold Forster well short.

Little goes for you when you are near the bottom and earlier in the half Gavin Macpherson was booked after the referee ignored a clear shirt pull on Ottaway that could have earned us a spotkick.

And as the game moved into stoppage time our misery was complete as we were reduced to 10 men after Mills was dismissed for a late challenge on Bivesh Gurung.

Gavin, unusually, had some choice words about the referee but admitted it was not why we lost the game.

“I could regurgitate countless interviews but errors keep costing us,” he said. “Having said that, we were up against another full-time team while we were unable to train fully on Thursday to try and work on things.”

“With regards to Carl, for the most part he did exactly why we brought him in. Obviously he made a mistake but the other goal people might be referring to was a shanked clearance that spun up in their air and he couldn’t re-adjust.”

“Once again, there was hardly anything in the game but the result was the same. How do we address it? I have to go away and analyse things. Every one of us is accountable though I’m the one at the top of the tree. I’ve never shied away from anything in football and I’m not prepared to start now.”

Enfield 4-1-4-1

Forster; Parcell, Nembhard, Mensah, Mills; Thomas (Ottaway 55); Knight (Payne 67), Leshebela, Leonard, Peake; Kasimu

Stones Another Big Step

With no professional club football taking place in the top two divisions because of the international weekend, a bumper crowd is anticipated for tomorrow’s eagerly awaited fixture with Maidstone United, last season’s biggest FA Cup giantkillers.

Maidstone’s elimination of Ipswich Town made national headlines while they were also just a couple of games away from promotion, losing in the playoff semifinal to Worthing.

Few Town fans will ever forget that heartbreaking  FA Cup fourth qualifying encounter in 2017-18 when, then a Step One club, Maidstone saved their blushes on home soil with a last-gasp equaliser, only to knock us out in the replay.

Tomorrow’s game represents a very different scenario, of course, but one which takes on its own significance with Town in the bottom three and the Stones, despite pre-season expectations, only two places higher with one win in seven.

Because of technical issues at Thursday’s training session, Town’s preparations had to be cut short but the addition of three new players will have provided a timely boost, including the return of one-time fans’ favourite Harry Ottaway.

“It signifies a bit of intent to push on. We needed some players who can defend our box better and also be a threat in the opponents’ area,” said Gavin Macpherson following the signings of Harry, 28-year-old Carl Mensah from Bedford Town and Harley Mills, 19, from Peterborough, the latter two both defenders and Harley, who can also play in midfield, initially on a one-month loan.

 “Harry and Carl are big characters in the dressing room as well as what they can give us on the pitch while Harley, although only 19, has league experience.”

“I’m particular indebted to (Peterborough director of football) Barry Fry for allowing Harley to be available for next week’s FA Cup tie.”

Gavin is anticipating another momentous challenge against our Kent visitors, not so long ago a league club who are arguably in a false position and are still smarting from a  5-1 home defeat to Chelmsford on Tuesday. A sizeable away following is anticipated for the 3pm kickoff.

“We’re playing another full-time side with every day of the week to prepare so most of the pressure is on them from the point of view of being the bigger club,” said Gavin. “I expect them to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

“But the pitfalls are plain. We are also under pressure. The stats on possession and shots tell us there’s been an improvement in terms of some of  the teams we have played more recently but we keep falling the wrong side of the one that matters – which is picking up points. I’ve always said our supporters are the best in the league and we need as many as possible to get behind the team tomorrow.”

AW

Town Bring In Trio

We are delighted to welcome three signings to boost the squad ahead of this weekend’s game with Maidstone.

Harley Mills

Defender Harley Mills has joined us on an initial one-month loan from Peterborough United. A former youth-teamer with Aston Villa, Harley has been with the Posh since the summer of 2021, making four senior appearances in that time. Primarily a left-back, the 20-year-old is also adept in midfield and is described by his parent club as “extremely energetic and competitive”.

Carl Mensah

Another defensive reinforcement, Carl joins us from Bedford Town, where he had spent last season as club captain, guiding them to step 3 after victory – and a goal – in the Southern League Division One playoffs. The 28-year-old brings a much-needed physical presence and know-how to our defensive line.

Harry Ottaway

Someone that needs little introduction to many Enfield Town fans, experienced striker Harry re-joins the club for a second spell following a first stint which yielded 26 goals, several assists, and a reputation as a fans’ favourite. The veteran centre-forward has spent the last couple of seasons at step 1 with Dorking Wanderers, and also counts Carshalton Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet and Sutton United among his former sides.

Welcome, lads!

No Reward Again For Town

Eastbourne Borough 1 Enfield Town 0

Report by Andrew Warshaw

The tide surely has to turn soon following our sixth defeat in seven games yet one that deserved at least a point after arguably our most cohesive performance of the season to date.

Despite being throttled for 25 minutes by the speed and physicality of our full-time opponmets, we managed to restrict them to a single goal and controlled the second half without any reward.

Whilst there is a valid argument to suggest we need more quality in the final third, this was an altogether far more accomplished display than of late and one from which the team can heart with a mouth-watering home fixture on Saturday against Maidstone United.

Town were without the unavailable Sam Youngs while fit-again Mickey Parcell came into the back four in place of Bernie Tanner.

The Sports, without three or four regulars but with a squad of full-time players, swept out of the blocks with dazzling pace that ran us ragged.

 Jaydon Davis and Siya Ligendza both went close  in a lightning start before the breakthrough came on 16 minutes as a peach of a cross was swept into the net by Alfie Pavey.

It looked ominous for Town who were indebted to Alex Solomon for blocking Isaac Pitblado’s powerful header on the line.

But after showing the resilience not to fall further behind, Town started to grow into the game and a couple of half chances just before the break, notably Billy Leonard linking up with Hisham Kasimu, augured well for the second half.

H-T 0-1

Whatever was said at the interval, we were a very different proposition. On 56 minutes Fin Holter made a crucial save to deny Kasimu, then made an even better stop to keep out Ollie Knight’s low drive before Dan Quick’s last-ditch tackle prevented a certain equaliser.

With the crowd getting restless and nervous, venting their frustration at some of the refereeing (in truth it was the same for both sides), we looked more and more like gaining a point rather than conceding again as we had done in previous outings.

Yet despite another trademark flurry of subs and ending the game with three up front, it was not to be as the home defence, marshalled by Moussa Diarra, held firm, a classic example of an established Step 2 side’s ability to manage a game.

Despite us falling into the bottom three, Gavin was as upbeat as he could be after yet another opposition manager offered kind words about our performance, this time Eastbourne’s Adam Murray.

“The boys are absolutely gutted and crestfallen in the dressing room,” said Gavin afterwards. “I don’t think anyone could argue that the best team lost. Yes they ran us around at first but the last 15 minutes of the first half we matched them and  the second half was complete domination.”

“I’m not used to losing football matches but we were playing against a well-drilled full-time team. When you have players at your disposal every day, you are bound to be fitter and stronger but I can’t ask any more from our boys apart from taking their chances. These boys are running their guts out. Slough was perhaps the only exception. We’re a small fish in a big pond now but we have to reverse this very quickly. The fans were there applauding us off again but we owe them one or two.”

Town: Forster; Payne, Nembhard, Solomon, Parcell; Leshabela (Folivi, 77), Thomas (Krasniqi 64); Knight (Adjei-Hersey, 79), Leonard, Peake; Kasimu (Beckles-Richards, 64)

Peterborough Sports in FA Cup

Despite a plethora of lower-league teams still in the competition, we will have to face Step 2 opposition when we enter this season’s FA Cup in the second qualifying round.

Our opponents on Saturday, Sept 14, are Peterborough Sports from National League north but at least we are at home which gives us more than a fighting chance in what could be an extremely tight game.

The Turbines have won two, drawn one and lost three of their first six games of the season and are currently in 18th place.

The fixture sets us up to try and gain revenge for that dramatic defeat in the competition four years ago when we drew 2-2 at Sports in the first qualifying round, only to agonisingly lose on penalties.

Improved Performance, Same Outcome

Chippenham 3 Enfield Town 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

 For 25 minutes in the first half yesterday and a good chunk of the second, Enfield Town played perhaps our best football of the season to date.

No wonder, at the final whistle, Gavin Macpherson once again cut a frustrated figure.

For the third time in six games, we led a lead slip – in this case not once but twice – after going in front. And for the second match in a row, we were beaten with virtually the last kick of the game.

Did we deserve more? Without a doubt but that will be of scant consolation  players, management and fans after our fifth loss in six games.

All in yellow, it all started so brightly for Town on a grey, humid Wiltshire day, backed by a noisy thong of away fans who outsung the home supporters all afternoon.

After Chippenham’s Tom Owen-Evans was correctly denied a first minute penalty following minimal contact, we took the game to the Bluebirds.

Hisham Kasimu, back from injury and enjoying his best game so far in an Enfield shirt, rattled the crossbar after intercepting a terrible backpass, then Billy Leonard hit the side netting from a tight angle.

And on 17 minutes our early promise yielded dividends. Hisham, a physical presence all game, won the ball in a dangerous position and picked out Ollie Knight who raced down the wing before delivering a sublime cross for Billy Leonard to slide in at the far post (pictured).

It was just what we deserved at the time but as so often in this campaign, we couldn’t hold on to the advantage. Just before the half hour, Matt McClure found a pocket of space just outside the area and rifled a fierce drive into the top corner despite Rhys Forster getting a hand to the ball.

It was Chippenham’s first moment of real danger but they immediatly built on it and started to stretch us. Owen-Evans had another penalty appeal turned down, this one more plausible, while Forster held on to a Joe Andrews low drive and Dawes had another effort blocked on the line.

H-T 1-1

Chippenham started the second half as they had finished the first with Dawes pulling the strings and shooting over after some fine interplay.

But we, too, looked a threat going forward and Kasimu had the ball in the net again after a wonderful move through the middle of the pitch, only to be ruled offside.

Now it was end to end stuff. McClure scuffed his shot in front of goal after Dawes had skimmed past three Town players, then Owen-Evans drew  an excellent save from Forster.

But on 70 minutes we were back in front  with Kasimu’s first goal for the club, pouncing on  a defensive howler to shoot past Will Henry.

Hisham so nearly extended our lead as could only find the side netting from Ollie Knight’s pass but then came the denouement we had all hoped to avoid.

With 11 minutes to go, Bernie Tanner’s attempted clearance went straight to the opposition and after the ball was recycled, Owen-Evans fired home an angled shot.

Now it was all about trying to see the game out for a point but it was not to be as we struggled to keep possession. Two Chippenham chances came and went before, in the third minute of stoppage time, substitute Aaron Amadi-Holloway took advantage of another defensive slip and crashed home the winner through the hands of Forster who didn’t even see it.

“To be honest I’ve never been more angry after a game,” declared Gavin. “When you see so much effort, both from management and players, and when you see a strategy that is largely working and then you chuck away a game with two very basic errors, these are things that you will get exploited for at this level.”

Falling too deep in the pitch after scoring is becoming a pattern. “Maybe it’s because getting in amongst the opposition is unsustainable if we don’t have enough legs in the side,” said Gavin. “But if you can’t secure the ball, you can’t get up if you smash the ball up the pitch and it comes straight back. When you’re playing against better teams you can’t avoid to do that. Unlike, perhaps, last season.”

“Whether it’s a mindset thing, it has to be addressed. For 20 minutes or so we got strung out between the units. We were much better in the second half but we have fallen short again and it’s for me to decide whether we coach our way out of this or make changes.”

Gavin rejected the idea that our subs may have been made too late. “If there was a valid argument  that the lack of subs contributed to the defeat, I would accept it. But that’s not what happened. It’s absolutely not why we lost the game.”

Next up another away trip, to Eastbourne on Tuesday, an even tougher game on paper. But no-one can fault us — as Gavin pointed out — for effort and intention.

Town: Forster, Soloman (Parcell 86), Payne, Joash Nembhard, Tanner, Adjei-Hersey, Youngs (Leshabela 83), Leonard,  Thomas, Knight, Kasimu (Beckles-Richards 86)