We are pleased to announce the signing of defender Paul Appiah, who joins us on a month’s loan from Chelmsford City.
Adept at centre-back or right-back, the 23-year-old came through the academies of Chelsea and Leicester City, and has also gained experience with Maidstone United.
Welcome, Paul!
After the club’s record ever league defeat, Enfield Town have an opportunity to bounce straight back tomorrow as we enter a critical period against important rivals that could potentially define the season.
Every Town fan will rightly expect a reaction following the 8-0 humiliation at Maidstone but the fact is we have still only lost one in five and Gavin Macpherson is totally focussed on the task of trying to beat visitors Bath City before the subsequent showdowns against Hampton and Richmond and Chippenham,
“I went from feeling sick to angry to determined,” said Gavin as he reflected on Tuesday’s debacle. “I could use so many words but one thing I did not do was wallow in self-pity. I watched the game back twice but the next morning it was back to work and crack on.”
With the Bath game commemorating International Women’s Day with free entry for women and girls and all manner of eagerly awaited entertainment, Gavin revealed what he told his team when they met up on Thursday 48 hours after the massacre at Maidstone . “I had a very short conversation with the players before training which I admit was very one-sided. I reminded them in no uncertain terms what is expected of them and the standards they have to meet week-in, week-out. Then we moved on.”
Sadly, Adam Thompson – a rock for Town and sorely missed at Maidstone – will be out for up to three weeks with his calf tear and efforts are being made to try and augment the squad swiftly.
“Obviously it’s a blow to lose Tommo but it wasn’t just the defence who let the club down,” said Gavin. “It went from the sublime to the ridiculous, probably our best performance to our worst. It was a perfect storm but hopefully in isolation. We’ll find out after the Bath game.”
“I hear what people are saying about the next three matches but there’s a long way to go still. We certainly need to come out with a good return of points but I firmly believe the players have the proper motivation to come back stronger. If they don’t, questions will be asked of all of us.”
AW
Maidstone United 8 Enfield Town 0
Report by Andrew Warshaw
Embarrassing, humiliating, incomprehensible. What a difference three days make.
As a totally shellshocked Gavin Macpherson put it after the game, it’s hard to find the words to adequately sum up Enfield Town’s record ever defeat which brought their four-game unbeaten run to a shuddering halt.
In complete contrast to last Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Farnborough , when it looked for all the world like we had put a marker down to out relegation rivals, the massacre at Maidstone brought us crashing spectacularly down to earth, in the process wrecking our goal difference.
If there is any shred of consolation, it is that this was only one game, hopefully a freak one-off result, that most other results on the night went in our favour and that Saturday presents a quick opportunity to put things right when we entertain Bath City.
Yet that cannot deflect from the most abject of performances and the need for some frank and honest soul-searching.
Town may have been forced into two defensive changes with Adam Thompson and Mickey Parcell missing but their replacements, Xav Benjamin and Ruaridh Donaldson, have had little difficulty in the past stepping in to their respective roles.
This time, however, both were horribly exposed by Maidstone’s pace and craft in a back three that at times seemed as if they had never played on the same pitch together. But they weren’t the only culprits. Defensive cover was too often sorely lacking whilst up front Town created next to nothing, Lemar Reynolds a peripheral figure against his old club.
Town made two other changes to the starting line-up for purposes of rotation with T’Sharne Gallimore and Billy Leonard also coming in but the warning signs were evident right from the start when Riley Court’s effort clipped the outside of the post. Three minutes later, Donaldson mistimed his jump and Court drilled his shot past Joe Wright for the opener.
As Town tried to respond, Nino Adom-Malaki’s shot with his weaker foot was collected at the second attempt by the home keeper but by halftime it was game over as the mid-table full-time hosts, who went into the game bottom of the form table, were out of reach and made to look like Brazil.
On 18 minutes, Benjamin’s nudge on the irrepressible Jephte Tanga led to a spotkick which former Towner Mo Faal duly converted.
Town almost halved the deficit when Henry Hawkins’ header from a corner was cleared off the line but within a flash, Maidstone charged up the other end and Tanga fired home off the post
Town were paying for poor decision making at crucial moments – almost Farnborough in reverse – and on the stroke of halftime we were carved open again when Jamie Yila linked up with Court who finished with aplomb.
H-T 0-4
On came Bailey Brown for the out-of-sorts Yacou Traore — man of the match last Saturday – but within 90 seconds the floodgates opened even wider as Donaldson was beaten by the quick feet of Yila whose pass to Tanga was stroked home.
Court completed his hat-trick in the absence of any semblance of defensive cover and six became seven through substitute Deon Moore.
All that was left was for Maidstone to round off Town’s night of misery when another substitute Hamzad Kargbo netted from close range. And for Joe Wright to pull off a worldie to prevent an even greater humiliation.
After one of those “I was there” nights but for all the wrong reasons, Gavin bravely fronted up though the hurt and pain was there for all to see in his glazed eyes.
“I feel quite emotional,” said Gavin who understandably took the ruthlessness of defeat badly and apologised to the travelling Town faithful. “I’m shellshocked and beyond words. Mistake after mistake after mistake and completely unacceptable. I can’t defend myself, my team, my players or anything that happened on that football pitch tonight. I have never in my career been involved in anything as bad as that.
“The buck stops with me. I can’t just walk away from it as one of those nights and we will analyse it in full and try to put things right. We’ve made big strides I won’t let one result define us.”
Town
Wright; Benjamin, Donaldson, Hawkins; Traore (Brown 45), Leonard, Youngs (Knight 66), Gallimore (Bullas 59), Adom-Malaki; Andrews (Bartlett-Antwi 53), Reynolds.
Three days after the euphoria of that 5-0 thrashing of Farnborough, Enfield Town are on the road again tomorrow with a visit to Maidstone United in what will almost certainly be a far harder task.
The Stones may be mid-table and bottom of the form table but are a dangerous proposition on paper with a full-time professional set-up the envy of many teams in the division.
Last time out they drew 1-1 with league leaders Dorking, their goal scored by none other than former Towner Mo Faal, his first since returning to the club for a second spell.
By all accounts the Stones could well have nabbed all three points but Town, who won the corresponding game 2-1 at the end of November, go into the return fixture full of confidence after collecting eight points of their own from their last four games – three of them away.
Town fans are bound to give Mo a warm welcome while hoping at the same time that he doesn’t ruin their night!
In another subplot, Lemar Reynolds faces his old club with whom he famously scored one of two goals that knocked Ipswich out of the FA Cup a couple of seasons ago in a nationally televised fixture.
You can’t win every game but a strong result in Kent would certainly stand us in good stead for the subsequent six-pointers against Bath, Hampton and Chippenham.
“Maidstone are a massive side, well supported with a great stadium, full-time manager and full-time team,” said Gavin Macpherson who faces having to use the squad to compensate for the likely absence of defenders Adam Thompson and Mickey Parcell, both of whom limped out of the Farnborough game and may not be ready in time to go again.
“The magnitude of the game is obvious, especially on an unfamiliar surface,” Gav added. “But equally, the pressure is all on them and my team will run through brick walls to try and get a result.”
AW
Farnborough 0 Enfield Town 5
Report by Andrew Warshaw
As away days go, they don’t come much more exhilarating.
To a man, Enfield Town were magnificent with a statement victory on the road – the first in the league since September — that not only yielded three crucial points but, crucially, enabled us to leapfrog Farnborough on goal difference.
If momentum is key as we head towards the business end of the season, four games unbeaten is not to be sneezed at in the quest to pull off a successive survival act.
One game at a time as the old cliché goes and not all fixtures will prove as comfortable. But you can’t ask for much more than to round off the week with back-to-back victories, lifting us three places up the table.
Gavin Macpherson has stressed the importance of togetherness and with an unchanged side, Town produced an exhibition in teamwork while Farnborough, for all their individual talent, looked shellshocked once they fell behind.
They had the better of the opening exchanges as Renny Smith fired into the side netting and Mickey Parcell was bundled into his own net in an effort to clear a dangerous inswinging corner. Yet they were guilty of blatant gamesmanship as Lamar Reynolds was tripped when presented with a clear sight of goal without even a yellow being shown to the culprit.
Soon enough, Town got their revenge. A great move started by Ollie Knight saw Lamar link up with Corie Andrews before Sam Youngs fired low and hard under the body of Tommy Reid who should have done better.
Six minutes later Town, remarkably, had tripled their lead. First Henry Hawkins, adjudged to have stayed onside, headed home at the far post. Then Youngs thrashed another shot into the net for his 99th goal in a Town shirt and the visiting faithful were in full voice.
Farnborough’s Louie Holzman had an effort cleared off the line but should arguably have seen red for a dangerously high challenge on Hayden Bullas that went unpunished.
Youngs almost completed his hattrick by converting a rebound, only for the linesman’s flag to deny him, but Town were now in full flow, Joe Wright having had to make only one save of note when he back-pedalled to claw away a Mason Bloomfield chip.
H-T 0-3
Farnborough’s response to being clinically dismantled was to make three halftime substitutions but within five minutes of the restart Town made the game safe.
Yacou Traore, who covered every blade of grass with a man-of-the-match display that had Town fans purring, broke up play before bursting forward and spotting Bullas who lashed the ball home.
Town were now in relaxed mood and looked threatening with every attack, three more chances falling to the evergreen Youngs, the third of which came back off the post.
“We want five” chanted the travelling Towners and substitute Billy Leonard duly obliged with arguably the goal of the game, a sensational angled strike after Andrews retrieved what seemed a lost cause.
Traore’s one lapse of concentration almost let in Farnborough for a consolation late on but that’s now twice in a season that Town have hit five past the same opponents and Gavin was understandably delighted.
“The boys deserve all the plaudits,” said Gav. “Our league position may suggest we’re not as good as other teams but they worked so hard for each other. The fans drove the team on and vice-versa. I’m pleased for the supporters and doubly for the players.
“Some might argue there are tougher games to come but let me tell you, Farnborough have players who can absolutely hurt you. I’ve managed some of their players and for Wrighty to have such a quiet day means we’ve done a really good job.”
The only downside of a memorable day were injuries to Adam Thompson, who only lasted half an hour before limping off with what looked like a worrying calf injury, and Mickey Parcell, who tweaked his groin. Both will be assessed before Tuesday’s trip to Maidstone.
“They are two big players,” said Gav. “Yes momentum is important but this is the other side when you are playing Saturday-Tuesday especially when we don’t have the biggest squad.”
Eastbourne and Hampton winning may also have slightly dampened celebrations but as the saying goes, you can only look after yourselves. “I understand why people might look at the other results but continuity is really important,” said Gavin. “We can only do our bit and try to achieve the required points tally.”
Town: Wright; Adom-Malaki, Hawkins, Thompson (Benjamin 30), Parcell (Donaldson 53); Traore; Bullas (Leonard 61), Knight (Brown 76), Youngs (Gallimore 70); Andrews, Reynolds
Today’s fixture away at Farnborough is ON following a pitch inspection.
COYT!
Our National League South fixture at home to Chesham United – originally scheduled for March 10 – has been moved to due to the Generals playing in a county cup game that night. It will now take place on Tuesday March 31
Enfield Town go into Saturday’s fixture at Farnborough on a mini unbeaten run and buoyed by three crucial points in midweek.
Gavin Macpherson traditionally rejects talk of six-pointers but the postponement of Farnborough’s game against Dagenham and Redbridge on Tuesday has only added to the sense of anticipation, with three points separating tomorrow’s teams who have played the same number of games.
Farnborough have scheduled a 10.30 am pitch inspection on Saturday with much depending on how much rain falls beforehand and we will update Town fans accordingly.
Town’s 5-1 win in the corresponding game at the end of November was a real high point of the season and although no-one is expecting a similar outcome, it’s all about keeping cool heads as the games come thick and fast, with two away fixtures before we entertain Bath tomorrow week.
With Xav Benjamin available again after his one-match ban against Horsham, Town have a relatively clean bill of health against a side who gave as good as they got before going down in an eight-goal thriller at league leaders Dorking last time out and have just brought in experienced winger Courtney Senior, formerly of Colchester United, AFC Wimbledon and Barnet.
“Three unbeaten is really good but the next two games are going to be crucial as far as momentum is concerned,” said Gavin. “Farnborough have some extremely good players and I think most people expected them to be at the other end of the table.”
“Do I expect to lose games between now and the end of the season? Yes but the important thing is some of the draws become wins. We know exactly what we have to do. I get fully that the other night worked in our favour with the other results but we’ve got to accumulate enough points to stay in this league regardless of what anyone else is doing. It’s not going to be a quick process.”
“Sure we can look at some games more than others depending how big those clubs are and where they are in the league, thinking that perhaps we won’t pick up points here or there. But football doesn’t work like that.”
Keeping the squad injury-free will be vital in the weeks ahead when every game is a cup final as the old cliché goes, starting with Farnborough who haven’t had a home league game for a month.
“It’s hugely demanding on the lads and we have to try and keep people fresh,” said Gavin. “Hopefully we’ve had our injury crisis back around the Harborough time but sometimes there’s a huge element of luck involved.”
Whilst part-time team in the division on paper have more difficulty in dealing with such a squeezed schedule, togetherness is all-important.
“It breeds a team environment especially when you’re a smaller club than others at this level,” said Gavin. “We understand what we can and can’t do but what we can do is build a team mentality.”
AW
Enfield Town 2 Horsham 1
Report by Andrew Warshaw
A lightning start with two Sam Youngs goals inside four minutes was enough to see Enfield Town over the line and crucially narrow the gap on our rivals with our first win in 10.
Horsham’s recent league form may have been inconsistent but they came into this rescheduled fixture as the best away team in the division only to be hit with a Youngs brace before rallying in a game of two halves to set up a nerve-shredding finale.
With Xav Benjamin suspended, there was a welcome recall for club captain Mickey Parcell, reverting to his familar position at fullback following a lengthy injury layoff that had restricted his participation to a couple of substitute appearances.
Mickey’s experience and leadership skills were on show for all to see as he brought a calmness and stability to a side that pressed impressively, showed commendable movement on and off the ball, then defended stoically when the Hornets were stung into a reaction after the break.
Yet by that time, Town really should have been out of sight. Supporters were still coming into the ground when we took the lead inside the first minute. Mickey Parcell’s very first contribution was to float a freekick to the edge of the box for Henry Hawkins – Town’s latest player of the month – to head across goal and Youngs to supply the finish (pictured, celebrating).
Three minutes later and from a short throw, Nino Adom-Malaki and Corie Andrews linked up superbly and from the latter’s cross, Sam beat his marker inside the far post to lash home Town’s second.
It was a dream start and it should have got even better. Lemar Reynolds’ header somehow missed the target from four yards in the centre of the goal, Lewis Carey saved superbly from Adom-Malaki’s low piledriver before Youngs brought another save from Carey’s outstretched hand, only for Andrews’ goal-bound follow-up to be blocked by a defender.
H-T 2-0
It was as dominant a first half as they come but 2-0, as they say, is a dangerous scoreline and Horsham responded accordingly.
Only a magnificent double save from Joe Wright preserved Town’s two-goal cushion but on 56 minutes, the Hornets halved the deficit through James Hammond’s opportunist looping header across Wright and into the far corner.
Town immediately so nearly restored their two-goal when a freekick was cleared off the line but now the ball was mainly on the other foot, literally, as the Hornets pushed forward.
As Town were forced to defend deeper and deeper, Wright saved brilliantly again, this time from Jack Strange. And as we held on in a tense, nervy finale, the visitors saw teenage debutant Ronnie Gorman almost ruin the celebrations by blasting a 20-yard effort narrowly over the top.
Thankfully, for all their possession, the injury-hit Hornets, with only 14 fit players and having lost Lucas Rodrigues to a 10th-minute injury, couldn’t break through again, largely as a result of a backline marshalled superbly by Hawkins and Adam Thompson and some canny substitutions by Gavin who was understandably delighted following our first league win since Nov 25.
“We wanted a quick start at home and obviously had an extra training session on Saturday,” said Gavin. “The game would have been dead and buried if we had taken a decent ratio of our chances. At 2-0 it’s precarious if you concede and it all becomes a bit nervy which is how it turned out.”
“We had to do some hard running second half and introduce some fresh legs to bring extra energy but overall really pleased to have put away a decent side.”
“With Xav suspended we had a good replacement and also our captain back. Mickey has had a really chequered season but I thought he was excellent. We had to remain focussed in those last few minutes and make informed decisions because conceding another late goal would have been harsh.”
With other results going our way on the night, Town moved two places off the bottom and attention now turns to another massive game at Farnborough on Saturday in a relentless schedule.
“I’m hopeful we’ve got a little bit of momentum after two away draws and a home win,” said Gav. “What’s now got to happen is we use the amount of games coming up to our advantage.”
Town:
Wright; Adom-Malaki, Hawkins, Thompson, Parcell; Bullas (Brown 81), Traore, Youngs, Knight; Reynolds (Leonard 70), Andrews (Barlett-Antwi 75)
Following a 2pm pitch inspection, we are delighted to report that tonight’s rescheduled National League South fixture at home to Horsham is on, kickoff 7.45.
Get behind the boys and cheer us to three crucial points….
