We are delighted to announce the signing of striker Ruben Bartlett-Antwi from Slough Town.
Ruben, 21, is an Enfield boy, used to come and watch us play and is available for Saturday’s fixture at Maidenhead.
Among the goals he scored at Slough was their first equaliser when they knocked us out of the FA Cup in October.
Gavin Macpherson will address Ruben’s qualities in his Maidenhead match preview tomorrow.
Welcome Ruben!
Our fixture vs Hampton and Richmond has now been re-arranged for Tuesday 3rd February at 19:45
Enfield Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 1
Report by Andrew Warshaw
Enfield Town ended a three-match losing streak with a last-gasp leveller but might feel they should have had all three points to ease our plight even though the result pushed us up one place.
Our game was one of only four in the division to beat the weather thanks in part to all the pitch maintenance volunteers who deserve enormous credit and before kickoff, Sam Youngs was presented with a richly deserved player of the month award especially after all he has been through.
The management team would certainly have earmarked this fixture as a three-pointer given upcoming games that include the likes of Maidenhead, Torquay and Dorking but Town’s returning goalkeeper Joe Wright, starting his third spell, was picking the ball out of his net after just 11 minutes.
In familiar fashion after an encouraging start which included a Youngs effort not caught as cleanly as he would have liked, Town failed to clear a flick-on from a corner and in the ensuing melee, Tom Leahy got the last touch to send the visitors in front.
Town became tentative in possession, frequently dispossessed just when we were building attacks — against defensively solid and strong counter-attacking opponents.
Billy Leonard produced a goal-saving tackle when the flag stayed down after Joe Wright had rushed out of his area to thwart another Leahy moment of danger while at the other end a Henry Hawkins header almost pulled us level.
But in truth there was precious little further goalmouth action for either side in an unmemorable opening half.
H-T 0-1
The second half began with the Angels still slightly in the ascendancy as Ricky Korboa cleared the bar before Town gradually seized control with an extended period of pressure.
Gavin Macpherson has been criticised in some quarters for making questionable substitutions but the one he made just after the hour mark arguably changed the game.
Angels skipper Scott Wagstaff had been helped from the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder when Ollie Knight, a bit-part player for much of the season, replaced Tosh Gallimore.
Tosh had arguably been our most productive midfielder but it was an attack-minded move and coincided with a change of formation as we reverted to a familiar back three having started in a four with Ruiridh Donaldson at left-back and Nino Adom-Malaki wide left.
The changes immediately paid off in terms of momentum as a Knight cross was met by the head of Lemar Reynolds though unfortunately straight at Laurie Shala. Sam Youngs then saw his effort narrowly clear the bar on the stretch but in the third minute of 10 added on at the end, Town were finally rewarded.
So used to conceding ourselves late on, Adam Thompson, up from the back, brought down Xav Benjamin’s fine low ball and fired into the roof of the net (pictured celebrating) . Cue a flurry of Town corners and Eli Ackeson, off the bench late on, going agonisingly close to a winner.
“We needed to change something and stop conceding so many goals from crosses so that’s why we changed formation at the start,” said Gavin. “It was a tweak we felt we needed. Although we weren’t totally at it, at halftime I still thought we could win the game. Over the 90 minutes I think we deserved more and we’re absolutely gutted. The boys put in a great shift but ultimately it’s two points dropped.”
“As for Ollie Knight, he’s had a difficult time but has given me a massive reaction. We know what he can bring and getting him wide was key for us today.”
With Olly Davis having departed, Gavin revealed that Cian Dillon could be returning to the club which would of course be a massive boost.
“Hopefully he’ll be back with us in a couple of weeks but we’ll be guided by QPR in terms of his injury. With Olly Davis, some people may think we can just keep our players but Hemel ‘s approach was entirely within the rules. As I’ve said, we did everything we could to keep him and in the end it was to Olly.”
Town
4-1-4-1
Wright; Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins, Donaldson; Gallimore (Knight 62); Adom-Malaki, Bullas (Ackeson 88), Youngs, Leonard; Reynolds
Following a 10 am inspection, the pitch has been passed fit and today’s game against Tonbridge Angels is ON (3pm k-o)
COYT!
Enfield Town go into their first home game of 2026, weather permitting, buoyed by Joe Wright re-signing between the sticks but at the same time no longer being able to call on the exciting talents of Olly Davis.
After three straight defeats, halting the losing run is paramount as we attempt to start moving away from the danger zone by hopefully securing a much-needed double over Tonbridge Angels following the second successive postponement of our match against Hampton and Richmond.
Last Saturday’s last-gasp defeat at Totton was hard to take for everyone who was there especially given the display was much improved from the two previous losses.
Gavin admitted that losing both Cian Dillon and Joe Kizzi in a matter of days had taken its toll on recent performances.
“I’m not making excuses but they were both catalysts in terms of what we were hoping going forward. Both were so crucial in their own right,” said Gav. “It may be hard for some people to imagine that two players could have that much of an effect. Finding clones of those two, even on loan, is near impossible.”
But with virtually half the campaign still to go there is plenty of optimism in the camp that last season’s survival act can be repeated.
“We went through something similar last season but at no point did I ever think we were down as others may have thought,” said a defiant Gavin. “It’s just not in my nature. But I want to get this out there: at this club, which we all love, to bring in the right players at this level can be desperately difficult for well established reasons.”
It is very much hoped that Joe, in his third spell at the club between the sticks after no fewer than five other keepers have had a go this season, can help push us up the table. “Joe knows the club inside out and is a big influence in the dressing room.”
Having opted for Rhys Forster at the start of the season, Gavin opened up further on the rationale behind bringing Joe back after a stint at Step 3 Aveley.
“In the summer, I felt that since they both played their part last season it was important to recognise that. I understand why Joe made the decision he did after I couldn’t guarantee anything at the time. When Rhys left, we had a long-term option with Tom Norcott but him getting injured was an unexpected blow.”
“Then we had George, who also got injured, and Hubert which was something of a quick fix. We simply couldn’t go on like that. Joe and I have talked about what happened in the summer and I’m confident he will be one of the players who drives us on to where we need to be.”
As for Olly Davis, who had just broken into the starting eleven – much to many supporters’ delight – there is some surprise that he has opted to switch to Hemel Hempstead in the same division.
“Quite simply, Hemel made in an official approach and Olly weighed everything up and agreed to go,” Gavin disclosed. “I’m disappointed to lose Olly but not IN Olly. I understand how football works.”
Explaining the detailed thinking behind how Olly, who started a number of games on the bench until recently, was employed, Gavin added: “He’s a maverick type of player. To find that sort of player given our position, you need time to find a way to fit him into the right place in the team in terms of strengths and weaknesses. He had made that transition and I want to tell the fans we did absolutely everything we could to try and keep him.”
Andrew Warshaw
Important footnote:
FREE ENTRY TO ENFIELD TOWN FC FOR ALL PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS
We are inviting all home and away supporters who work in Public Services with free entry on Saturday.
Just bring your work ID with you to the side gate by the turnstiles for complimentary access to the game. The event is an opportunity for the club to say “thank you” to those who work in essential services.
Eligibility for Free Entry Free admission is available to all those employed in public services, including: ▪️NHS and Care sector, ▪️Ambulance Service, ▪️Postal Service, ▪️Police Service, ▪️Prison and Probation Services, ▪️Fire Brigade Service, ▪️Councils, ▪️Schools, ▪️Nurseries and Colleges Transport Services, ▪️HM Forces, ▪️Voluntary Sector Organisations
On the Day: Entry can also be gained on production of appropriate Work ID at the gate on match day.
We are delighted to announce that goalkeeper Joe Wright has re-joined the club for a third spell.
A hugely popular figure with the fans, Joe goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s game against Tonbridge having agreed to leave Aveley.
“Joe knows this club inside out and is a big influence in the dressing room,” said Gavin Macpherson.
“Joe and I have talked about what happened in the summer, which is well chronicled, and I’m confident he will be one of the players who drives us on to where we need to be.”
More in the Tonbridge match preview later today.
Welcome Back, Joe!
We can confirm the departure of Olly Davis who has agreed to join Hemel Hempstead Town.
Olly made 12 appearances for the club, scoring three goals.
We wish Olly all the best for the future. Gavin Macpherson will address his departure in the Tonbridge match preview later today.
As part of the newly announced National League partnership, Enfield Town are delighted to be working with TIC Health, helping our players and supporters with rapid diagnostic scanning and healthcare services.
TIC Health has been supporting the NHS for many years and recognises the very real challenge of long waiting times. They also understand that private healthcare comes at a high price. They have created a membership that allows everybody access to the benefits of private diagnostics and healthcare, at an extremely low and affordable price.
Enfield Town Supporters can join the TIC Health membership programme from as little as £25 per month HERE and benefit from the same rapid scanning that the players get and free doctor’s appointments
These amazing memberships include:
When you join, add in promo code THENFD1 on checkout and you will also receive a bundle of gifts including a Club branded mug and t-shirt as well as a TIC Health pen, autograph book and stress football.
TIC Health will be running a fantastic New Year promotion with further details to follow.
As many of you might have read elsewhere, tonight’s game against Hampton and Richmond Borough has been postponed following a pitch inspection – the second time this particular fixture has had to be called off.
A rescheduled date will be announced as soon as both clubs can agree.
AFC Totton 3-2 Enfield Town
Report by Martin Bentley
The phrase “conceded an injury time winner” has appeared with depressing regularity in match reports this season. Sad to report that it appears once again in this report, as a Tony Lee header in the third minute of stoppage time saw mid-table AFC Totton take all three points from an absorbing game at the Snows Stadium. The defeat was particularly hard for Town to take, as their performance was a huge improvement on recent showings, only for old failings to cost them a point at the death.
With Lamar Reynolds recalled to the starting line-up and Avan Jones replacing Billy Leonard on the right flank, Town just about edged the opening 15 minutes, and got their noses in front when Tosh Gallimore was fouled some 25 yards from goal. Olly Davis stepped up to curl a delicious free kick over the wall and giving home keeper Jacob Knightbridge no chance.
The home side countered with a series of swift attacks down Town’s left, with Nino Adom-Malaki and Henry Hawkins struggling to cope with some incisive passing and dangerous crosses. The equaliser arrived on 23 minutes when winger Ashley Clarke danced past an exposed Adam Thompson and floated a cross onto the head of the dangerous Lee. Totton’s leading scorer also had a free kick opportunity in an almost identical position to Davis’ earlier effort, but his low drive was well saved by Hubert Graczyk in the Town goal. The home side then took the lead in first half stoppage time from yet another right-wing corner; this time Ralph Vigrass was left with a free header at the far post, and Town found themselves frustratingly trailing at the interval.
Town certainly came out firing in the second half through, with Davis apparently on a one-man mission to level the scores with efforts on 47 minutes (well saved by Knightbridge), 51 minutes (deflected for a corner) and 53 minutes (saved again). A gold-plated chance was wasted after 63 minutes however when Jones sliced the ball wide from 5 yards following a goalmouth scramble. It was beginning to feel like one of those days (it turned out, it was indeed one of those days, but more about that later), but, just as the home side were beginning to re-establish some control in midfield, Town came up with an equaliser. Gallimore’s 68th minute long ball could be best described as ‘optimistic’, but Reynolds took the ball down, sprinted clear of his marker and buried the ball emphatically beyond Knightbridge.
No further significant chances came Town’s way in the following 20 minutes however, yet the allocated 4 minutes of added time unfolded with hair-tearing predictability. With Town pinned deep in their own half, they were forced to deal with a series of corners and free kicks.. Home captain Tyler Cordner had already hit the foot of Graczyk’s post with a snap shot before, annoyingly, depressingly, frustratingly – I have now run out of adverbs – they got one right; a left wing corner was powered home by the outstanding Lee, and the three points remained in Hampshire. The game concluded in chaos with a yellow card for Gallimore and a red one for Town coach Carl Garstang, apparently for protesting about a foul committed by Lee as the cross came over.
Worryingly, the winner was greeted by the majority of travelling fans with a resigned shrug. It’s been said before, but if games automatically ended at 90 minutes, Town would now be in lower mid-table instead of 23rd. Not sure where we go from here.
Team: Graczyk, Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins, Jones (Leonard 69), Bullas (Ackason 90+4), Youngs, Gallimore, Odom-Malaki, Davis, Reynolds
Unused subs: Connolly, Knight, Brown, Donaldson
