Enfield Town 1 Hampton and Richmond Borough 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

Henry Hawkins salvaged a point for Enfield Town as another home game slipped by in the quest for a second successive survival act.

Despite another frustrating night with too little invention,  Town’s performance was much improved from Saturday’s same result and we have still only lost one in seven games.

But that all-important win once again eluded us and with 12 games to go, the need to turn draws into victories is becoming all the more pressing.

With T’Sharne Gallimore on his way out of the club (Ruben Antwi-Bartlett has also left), Town had Eli Ackeson, fresh from his trial at Coventry, back on the bench in an unchanged side

Dangerous opponents despite their league position, Hampton have lost only two away games since the turn of the year as well as bringing in several experienced performers and they started in the ascendancy , particularly down their left flank.

Town, conversely, were at times so keen to get the ball away from their own third that they knocked it long without much conviction.

And on 18 minutes, they failed to communicate inside their own box and after several efforts to clear allowed Nana Boeteng to fire high into the net.

It was something of a body blow and for a while muted an otherwise enthusiastic crowd especially when Hawkins had to clear off the line to prevent a second and Luis Fernandez missed a sitter by blazing over from four yards.

As Town grew into the game, a spate of corners and freekicks ensued without any end product. The final ball just wouldnt stick though a huge penalty shout was waved away.

H-T 0-1

With Jacou Traore suffering from a tight hamstring, Gavin Macpherson took no chances and replaced him with Bailey Brown for the second half.

But it was Eduino Vaz, the best player on the pitch, who came closest early doors, skipping past Mickey Parcell before shooting wide.

Town’s lack of cohesion threatened to put us in greater jeopardy but the introduction of Billy Leonard, combined with the urgency of the occasion, suddenly led to our best period of the game.

Leonard crossed for Sam Youngs to plant a header goalwards before being deflected. And on 77 minutes we were deservedly level as a rebound from a long throw fell into the path of Hawkins who produced an exquisite finish — just as he did against Eastbourne — worthy of any striker.

With the wind in their sails, Town could have won it. Youngs nodded the ball down to Ackeson, who had injected verve and alacrity off the bench but when it mattered most knocked his effort over with the goal begging.

“The boys have given absolutely everything and we just fell short,” said Gavin for whom the on-loan Paul Appiah demonstrated an unflappable assurance at the back alongside Hawkins.

“The fans really drove us on and we are still in with a fighting chance. As regards Tosh leaving, it all happened very quickly and he decided his future lay with Bedford. We’ll have to see how Yac is in training on Thursday but we’re a bit short now in that area. As for Ruben, he wasn’t getting the game time he would have wanted and we had an honest conversation.”

Whose to know how we might have fared had this game taken place on its original date in December instead of being postponed three times. But now on to Chippenham on Saturday where the pressure on both sides will again be huge.

 Chippenham have ben ekeing out results, even against the leading teams, and Gavin is in little doubt about their threat. “Trust me they can hurt you. This season is not like the last one. But we will keep plugging away. The belief is still there.”

Town

Wright; Parcell (Benjamin 80), Appiah, Hawkins, Adom-Malaki; Bullas, Traore (Brown, 46), Youngs, Knight; Andrews (Leonard 68), Reynolds  (Ackeson 83)

The club can today confirm the departure of midfielder T’Sharne Gallimore, following a seven-day approach from a National League North side.

Tosh joined us in August and clocked up 30 appearances so far this season, scoring two spectacular goals against Quorn and Ebbsfleet, and earning two man-of-the-match awards.

We thank him for his efforts and wish him well for the future.

So here we go…After being held by Bath City on Saturday, Enfield Town attempt once again to make home advantage count when our thrice-postponed fixture against Hampton and Richmond Borough finally takes place on Tuesday night (7.45 k-o).

No-one needs reminding what’s at stake for both struggling teams as the energy-sapping battle for survival intensifies. Now, more perhaps than ever, Town fans need to make as much noise as possible to try and help us over the line in the mother of all six-pointers before another pivotal encounter at Chippenham on Saturday.

Our visitors tomorrow may have lost their last two but have proved dangerous and formidable opponents on the road, having been beaten only twice away in 2026 in Alan Dowsen’s second spell in charge.

The fact that in February alone they chalked up impressive 3-0 and 4-0 wins at Hemel Hempstead and Bath respectively speaks volumes about the threat they pose. Plus they have  seriously bolstered their squad, a fact not lost of Gavin Macpherson.

 “We know a very challenging game awaits,” said Gavin. “Hampton have strengthened considerably since Alan came in and have players of National League experience.”

“Our players absolutely understand what they need to do, not only tomorrow but pushing forward. We need wins and the majority of our games are at home, so there are some very crucial days ahead.”

You can say that again.

AW

Enfield Town 1 Bath City 1

Report By Andrew Warshaw

Plenty of perspiration, not much inspiration. That just about sums up a safety first encounter that was ultimately lacking in quality, both struggling sides cancelling each other out.

The result left Enfield Town one place off the foot of the table but was at least an improvement on our humiliating record 8-0 defeat at Maidstone in midweek.

In front of a bumper crowd celebrating International Women’s Day, Town gave on-loan Chelmsford defender Paul Appiah his debut  in the absence of the injured Adam Thompson. Paul put in a solid performance but with the very first action of the game, Jordan Alves almost caught out Joe Wright with an opportunist 30-yard free-kick.  

Town responded by Sam Youngs, chasing his 100^th goal in an Enfield shirt, not quite being able to direct his shot goalwards but thereafter there was precious little goalmouth action amid a palpable atmosphere of nervous apprehension.

That is, until the 32^nd minute when Nino Adam-Malaki gave Town the lead with an outrageous 30-yard piledriver that appeared to take Charlie Binns in the Romans goal by surprise.

Bouyed by breaking the deadlock, Town’s best team move of the game presented Youngs with a chance to double the lead but he couldn’t quite control his header and within eight minutes the visitors were level.

One of several Joe Raynes long throws was diverted goalwards by Alex Fisher and the ball looped over a flailing Wright who was slightly off his line.

H-T 1-1

The second half followed a similar low-quality  pattern. Wright was called into action once again to tip another Fisher effort over the bar from another  Raynes’ long throw, then flew to his left to keep out  Kieran Parselle’s header.

 At the other end, Town forced four successive corners in as many minutes but frustratingly  couldn’t make any of them count, making Hampton on Tuesday and Chippenham next Saturday even bigger games than they were already.

“It was a poor game of football and  obviously not the result we wanted as we’d have been chalking this one up for three points,” said Gavin Macpherson. “We were a bit toothless but it was important not to concede much today. We need wins, that’s the truth. We have to find the recipe to get us back to scoring enough goals. I understand the significance of Hampton but it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we have to chalk up enough wins overall.”

Enfield Town (4-1-3-2)

Wright; Parcell, Appiah, Hawkins, Adom-Malaki; Traore; Bullas (Leonard 80), Knight, Youngs, Andrews (Bartlett-Antwi 91), Reynolds (Brown 64).