We are delighted to inform Town fans that our regular home match commentator, Michael Lacquiere, will also be commentating at St. Albans on New Year’s Day.

His commentary can be found on the following link

https://mjl99.mixlr.com

What better way to start off 2025 than to pick up three points on New Year’s Day in our eagerly awaited derby at St. Albans (ko 3pm).

With both clubs marooned in the relegation places, the stakes could hardly be higher as we aim to kick off the New Year on a high.

But suggest to Gavin Macpherson  that this is the mother of all six pointers and you get a typically pragmatic response.

“It would be a help to win the game of course but it’s no more or less important than the last game or the next one,” said Gav. “People talk about six-pointers and of course I get that. But at the end of the day it’s worth three points. Regardless of who it’s against, we’re in a fight.”

Under new management, St Albans have also just reinforced their defence by re-signing towering defender Deon Woodman for a second spell on loan from Wealdstone.

“I’m massively surprised they are where they are in the table,” said Gavin. “They clearly have some very good players but our form has been good. We’ve just fallen the wrong side of a couple of results – against some of the top sides in the division.”

“Worthing went to Dorking and won. Boreham Wood could potentially win this league and we put them on the back foot for long periods.

“The problem is we’re not putting chances away. Maybe the players don’t have the belief but I need that to change and quickly. That was my message at training on Monday.”

On the injury front, Bayley Brown, who has shown considerable ability in midfield since joining us, is a doubt with a toe issue but Adam Thompson is hoping to be fit after missing the last three games.

AW

Enfield Town 0 Boreham Wood 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

An in-form Boreham Wood showed just why they are one of the promotion favourites but there were plenty of positives to take despite another frustrating defeat in front of a 1000-plus Boxing Day crowd.

No-one would deny that our full-time visitors, accomplished on the ball and technically superior, had an assured look about them, hitting us with a first-half brace through top scorer Kwesi Appiah , then stifling any chance we had of getting back in the game.

Yet despite being the part-time side, we came on strong in the last 20 minutes without creating enough moments of danger to get back in the game.

After an initial period of shadow boxing, Lennon Peake had Town’s first chance on 14 minutes, shooting down the throat of Nathan Ashmore before Boreham Wood began to stamp their mark on proceedings in terms of possession.

It took a last-ditch tackle form Henry Hawkins to deny them and the same player came to Town’s rescue again after fine work by Wood’s eye-catching No. 26, Jayden Richardson.

Wood’s pressure told on 24 minutes when Femi Ilesanmi picked out Appiah with a sublime pass but he wouldn’t have been in possession of the football at all but for a poor clearance upfield from Rhys Forster whose handling was otherwise solid throughout.

Tom Whelan stung the hands of Forster and while they were monopolising possession, Appiah, in a rich vein of form, doubled his and Wood’s lead by heading home John Benton’s cross just before the break.

With the last action of the half, Anointed Chukwu, making his home debut, fluffed a golden chance to reduce the deficit from three yards when the ball arrived at his feet too quickly.

H-T 0-2

A home goal then would have set up the second half nicely. Instead Wood almost grabbed a third when a looping ball was cleared off the line just as Appiah looked like he was about to complete his hat-trick.

Suddenly, however, Town got some momentum going as Wood appeared to take their foot off the gas.  Hawkins  directed a header into the arms of Ashmore and a dangerous Billy Leonard cross was swept across goal with no-one on hand to convert.

Off-balance substitute Reece Beckles-Richards ballooned over before two defensive blocks in the Boreham Wood area and an Alfie Tuck drive that flashed wide completed a vastly improved second-half display.

But sadly not enough to sufficiently trouble a Boreham Wood side that, in truth, hardly moved out of second gear and whose unhurried approach and excellent reading of the game proved too big a hurdle to overcome.

While we are now a  concerning nine points behind fifth-from-bottom Welling, Gavin Macpherson – in his only  post -match interview on the day – was typically defiant ahead of the mother of all six pointers at St. Albans on New Year’s Day.

“Both goals were avoidable and once again we got punished,” said Gav. “I’m sick of losing in the same way but I have to draw on the fact that again the players have been immense in respect of application and desire.”

“Both teams had a couple of key moments but they put the ball in the net. That’s why the respective teams are where they are. I’m not going down the road of them being full-time team but they certainly didn’t have it all their own way.”

Gavin still fervently believes we have it in us to make up the ground.

“Of course it’s difficult but it’s certainly do-able. If I didn’t think I could get us out of this, I’d walk away because I’d think I was doing a disservice to this magnificent football club.”

Town: Forster, Parcell, Benjamin, Hawkins, Cox, Peake, Tuck, Leonard, Brown (Hutchinson 62), Youngs (Smith 72), Chukwu (Beckles-Richards 72).

No sooner are the Christmas festivities over than football returns to the Dave Bryant stadium with the mouthwatering Boxing Day derby against Boreham Wood

Following three successive away league games that yielded four points, we are finally back on home soil for a 3pm kickoff that promises to be another huge test for our improving squad.

Our illustrious  big-name visitors havn’t lost in the league since Nov 9 since when they have been on a remarkable run of form with six wins and two draws that have taken them to third in the league, only behind Torquay and Truro

Only three seasons ago, Wood were playing Everton in the fifth round of the FA Cup and are one of major challengers for promotion back to Step One.

“This is arguably the toughest game we’ve had so far,” said Gavin Macpherson. “They’re a club playing beneath the level they should be and the two of us are streets apart in one way. But morale is good, training on Monday went well and we will  have a real go.”

Adam Thompson is likely to miss out for a third time while John Oyenuga  is still not fit but otherwise the rest of the first-team squad look set to be available.

With a large Bank Holiday crowd expected, you are advised to arrive as early as possible as we cheer the boys on to hopefully a strong result ahead of the New Year’s Day six-pointer at St. Albans   

AW

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone associated with Enfield Town Football Cub very happy Christmas.

2024 has been a historic year for the club, but it wouldn’t have been possible without you – the supporters – and the people that work tirelessly for our football club. The past year has certainly highlighted the euphoria and challenges associated with football, I especially wanted to thank everyone that has supported me through what has been a difficult year personally.

Once again on behalf of the staff and players, Merry Christmas and let’s look forward to a challenging but successful 2025.

Gav

Worthing 1 Enfield Town 0

Report By Andrew warshaw

It wasn’t the Christmas present any of us wanted but in a game of tight margins, we didn’t quite manage to do enough in front of a bumper 1,500-plus crowd.

Despite keeping Worthing largely at bay and showing commendable application, we paid the penalty for not creating enough in the final third, invariably straying offside when we went forward or overhitting passes on the plastic pitch.

While it was a pleasure to renew acquintances with a smiling Mo Faal, the fact that Mo was hauled off on the hour said much about how our defence coped with Worthing’s front three  for most of the afternoon.

In fact that goal that won the game, frustratingly in first-half stoppage time, was the only shot on target from either team in an uneventful opening 45 minutes.

Having had a penalty appeal waved away by the referee, who was right in line with Bayley Brown’s bruising challenge on Joel Colbran, the Worthing skipper was to soon break the deadlock.

The best cross of the half was supplied by Nicky Wheeler and we didn’t track the run of Colbran who fired home.

H-T 0-1

Anointed Chukwu, making his first Towners start, certainly provided the physical presence up front we have been lacking, chasing down balls and imposing himself on the home defence who at times had to whack the ball to safety.

Sam Youngs played just behind him but there wasn’t enough midfield fluidity to carve out enough clearcut opportunities.

To be fair Worthing, for all their possession, didn’t create much either on their familiar surface though they perhaps should have doubled their lead when Jack Spong brought a one-handed save from Rhys Forster, only for Temilolu Babalola to somehow blast the rebound over.

As the wind receded, Town looked to repeat the previous Saturday’s late, late show at Weston-super-Mare, making a couple of subs by introducing Jake Hutchinson against his old club and Joe Payne, with Lennon Peake moved into a central position.

Brown went close as he forced Chris Haigh into an awkward stop from a tight angle but in truth we didn’t test the home keeper enough and this time we couldn’t fashion an equaliser or turn half-chances into genuine opportunities as the game reached its denouement.

Having taken four points from three away games, now come the holiday fixtures at home to Boreham Wood on Boxing Day and away at St. Albans on New Year’s Day, the latter the mother of all six-pointers.

“We had the better of the second half but didn’t carry enough of a threat,” said Gavin Macpherson. “They’re a side that keeps the football but didn’t trouble us at all apart from taking the one chance when it came.”

“We’re bitterly disappointed because we’re coming to places like this and we’re in the game throughout which maybe wasn’t the case three or four weeks ago. Today was not easy to stomach. We’re moving in the right direction but we need points on the board. We all understand that.”

Town:

Forster; Cox, Benjamin, Hawkins; Parcell, Tuck, Youngs, Brown (payne, 75), Leonard; Youngs; Chukwu (Hutchinson 70)

After superb back-to-back away games that yielded four points, Enfield Town are on the road again tomorrow hoping for another successful away day against formidable opponents – and a likely re-union with a certain Mo Faal.

Beaten only once at home in the league all season, the Rebels are likely to be backed by a four-figure crowd which should make for a fabulous atmosphere on the West Sussex coast.

Chris Agutter’s team, just four points off league leaders Torquay United, were pegged back after 96 minutes by lowly  St Albans City last time out and will be keen to make sure they don’t suffer the same fate against us.

Former Rebel Jake Hutchinson will doubtless be hoping for the opposite as we attempt to build on the last two fixtures against Weston Super Mare and Tonbridge Angels.

Defensive lynchpin Adam Thompson, whose wife has just given birth to their third child, misses out again, his hamstring not having fully recovered but Gavin and his management team have no more injury worries in what is our final game before Christmas and the Boxing Day home derby with Boreham Wood.

“When we take everything into consideration it was best for Tommo not to travel,” explained Gav.  “I know everyone will be talking about Mo and understandably so but I haven’t given it a second thought. Other than the fact that he’s part of a very good team.”

“The last two away results have been very pleasing but to be honest our morale was never down. Never has belief gone out of this group, notwithstanding a tough task ever single game.”

Footnote for travelling Town fans

–You are encouraged to buy tickets in advance as Worthing reserve the right to segregate up to 24 hours before the game. They are available on the Worthing website and must be bought using the away fans option. 

–Turnstiles open at noon

 –There are 2 outside bars and 1 indoor bar to purchase alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There are also food outlets that serve hot food before, during and after the game.

 –Bag searches will be in place for entrance into the ground to prevent any alcohol, flares, and other prohibited items from being brought into the stadium. Please allow extra time for this process upon arrival. Tickets will be scanned at the turnstile.

 AW

Following his recovery from a leg injury, defender Alex Solomon has re-joined Isthmian Premier Division side Wingate & Finchley on a dual-registration basis to gain match fitness.

Alex made 25 appearances for the Blues last season and returns to Wingate as they again chase the play-offs this term. We wish him the best for his spell across North London.

Weston-super-Mare 1-1 Enfield Town

A spirited second half performance and a dramatic late equaliser earned Enfield Town a share of the spoils in Somerset with a 1-1 draw at promotion chasers Weston-super-Mare.

Gavin Macpherson was again forced to shuffle the pack, with central defenders Dan Cox (illness) and Adam Thompson (hamstring) unavailable, as Joe Payne came in at left centre-back in an otherwise unchanged eleven from Tuesday’s win at Tonbridge Angels, while new recruit Anointed Chukwu started on the bench.

Unlike that midweek win, the Towners were sluggish starters here and Weston set upon them in the opening exchanges; the lively Sam Pearson cutting in from the right flank but seeing his long-range effort blocked. Pearson was at it again mere minutes later, however, to craft the opening goal after 13 minutes. After breezing down the right wing, his lofted cross was met by veteran Reuben Reid, who outjumped Xavier Benjamin to power an emphatic header into the left-hand corner.  

The Seagulls were playing football befitting their lofty league position, stringing accurate diagonals and neat short passes together at will. It very nearly paid dividends before the half-hour mark as Reid rifled towards goal from the edge of the area, with Rhys Forster grateful to gather at the second attempt after spilling the initial effort. James Dodd would be the next to force the Enfield ‘keeper into action, with a fierce long-ranger well parried by Forster with white shirts aplenty poised to snap up the rebound. Yet having weathered the hosts’ pressure, Town grew into the game as the half wore on. They almost drew level in unlikely circumstances when Billy Leonard found a pocket of space and his deep cross clipped the crossbar, before a more conventional effort from Leonard just shy of half time needed a good low stop from goalie Max Harris to turn wide.

Half Time: Weston-super-Mare 1-0 Enfield Town

After the restart, there was a renewed vigour about Enfield’s play, and the visitors began building an array of promising attacks. An early series of passes found their way to Alfie Tuck, who tried his luck in vain from distance. Anointed Chukwu was brought on for his Town debut just before the hour, and the striker’s introduction almost had an immediate effect as he chested down a Lennon Peake cross for the incoming Bayley Brown, whose half-volley was well blocked. Sam Youngs saw a looping header repelled off the line from the resulting corner, as the Towners enjoyed their most threatening spell of the game but continued to search for a breakthrough in vain.

Despite Town having had the majority of the play until the closing stages, Weston continued to pose a threat on the counter, and almost caught Enfield cold when a long punt released Yeovil loanee Harvey Greenslade, who rounded Rhys Forster but found the angle to goal too tight. Another fleet-footed break from their own penalty area ended in Greenslade thumping an effort against the outside of the post. Yet, with the game heading into the final of four additional minutes, and with Weston having made sure to wind the proverbial clock down, Town’s persistence paid off. Substitute Dylan Adjei-Hersey was cynically tripped on the right touchline and from Lennon Peake’s inswinging free kick, Henry Hawkins headed goalwards; the bounce squirming underneath Seagulls ‘keeper Harris and over the line.

---

Town: Forster; Benjamin, Hawkins, Payne; Leonard (Adjei-Hersey 89’), Parcell (Smith 76’), Brown (Beckles-Richards 79’), Tuck, Peake; Youngs, Hutchinson (Chukwu 57’)

Attendance: 864

One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Or even a winter. So despite arguably Town’s best performance of the season on Tuesday, there will be no room for complacency when we travel to high-flying Weston Super Mare tomorrow.

It’s been a good few days with the 3-1 win at Tonbridge and a new striker added to the squad in Anointed Chukwu. But with another injury blow (more of which later), the management team have impressed upon the players the need to keep the momentum going.

Second in the league, the Seagulls, who this week brought in forward Harvey Greenslade on loan from Yeovil Town, will be out of revenge after we triumphed 1-0 in our very first home game at Step 2 back in the corresponding fixture back in August.

“No-one is getting ahead of themselves and the last thing I said to the players at training on Thursday was that I would not allow them to feel like they’ve arrived,” said Gavin Macpherson.

“They need to realise that what’s ahead of them is a long slog, to Weston on Saturday, then to Worthing. It’s going to need hard work and application. If  any of them feel they don’t need reminding, tomorrow will remind them.”

But our midweek win showed what we can achieve on our day and bringing in 24-year-old Anointed from Welling until the end of the season has given everyone a lift.

  “He trained on Thursday will give us a strong physical presence up top,” said Gavin. “It’s equally important that he’s a very good character, very humble and wants to learn. The truth is I tried to get him on two or three occasions.”

With Jake Hutchinson starting to score goals, we now at last have options but it’s the other end of pitch where things have suddenly taken a downward turn with defensive lynchpin Adam Thompson – our current player of the month – extremely doubtful for Saturday because of a hamstring problem.

Combine that with Dan Cox still being sidelined and a change of formation is being considered by the management team with no decision until late on.

“With Dan not having been released back to us by Derby because of his current illness and Adam suffering a slight hamstring tweak, unless there’s a remarkable recovery it may be foolish to throw him in and may necessitate a change of system,” said Gav.

“It’s certainly a consideration whether we go for a change or keep the continuity. It’s far from ideal but on the plus side, Henry Hawkins showed exactly what he could do at Tonbridge.”

“I know the management team at Weston very well. They are really switched on and will ask questions of any side in this league. The pitch is always good down there but if we don’t hit the levels at Tonbridge we will fall short.”

AW

Travel to Weston-super-mare is available by minibus leaving the Dave Bryant stadium at 9am

Tickets on the following link:

https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/event/etfc2425trav12/travel-to-weston-super-mare