Three Bridges 3 Enfield Town 3

Report by Paul Manel

Photo: Paul Manel

Towners one hundred per cent away league record ended against a spirited and battling Three Bridges side in the Autumnal East Sussex sunshine. This always looked like it might well be a goal fest with Town coming into the game as the league’s top scorers and The Bridges having failed to score in only one of their previous matches this season despite their lowly league position. And so, it transpired with both sides providing thrills and spills aplenty in this six-goal humdinger!

With games coming thick and fast, Towners boss Billy Holland made five changes from the side that won at Carshalton Athletic on Monday night. Added time goalscoring substitute Tariq Al- Sadi came in for Tommy Avgoustidis, Skipper Mickey Parcell replacing Scott Tarima, Adam Thompson in for EJ Mensah and Sam Youngs replacing Jez Davies. We had a Spurs loanee between the sticks bit not Dylan Thompson. He had been recalled by Spurs as temporary cover and Dylan was replaced by another Tottenham loanee, Farren Doran.

The home side came quickly out of the blocks. They pressed high and won the majority of the second balls in the opening exchanges. It was difficult to work out which team was top and which was lying 20^th in the Isthmian Premier League. It was not a surprise, when after four minutes, the home side took the lead. Sonny Hart gave the ball away deep in his own half. Sam Bull released Bridges skipper Noel Leighton who applied an astute finish, giving the Towners stand in keeper no chance!

Sonny’s mistake was symptomatic of a sloppy, sluggish start by the league leaders. In contrast, the home side were sharp and hungry! On 15 minutes they doubled their lead. Town were pressed high and lost possession once again. Ade Adeyinka showed great composure to cut inside the Towners box and slip the ball past Doran.

Towners were looking ragged! Sam Youngs had picked up an early booking after he caught a Three Bridges player. The home fans were screaming for a harsher punishment! The referee was put under further pressure on 22minutes when Youngs brought down Dekari Deebari on the edge of the Towners box. Thankfully referee Anthony Cross was not vexed enough to flourish another yellow.

Minutes later, Billy Holland took the decision not to take any further risks by replacing Towners’ number eight with Jez Davies. Jez brought a much-needed energy, drive and composure to Towners midfield. We talk about games of two halves; this was a half of two halves! Jez played a great ball to release Tariq down the right. The Towners number four forced a fine save from Sam Roberts, but Amrit Bansal-McNulty was on hand, watching the ball carefully to apply a clinical finish.

Towners were now passing with precision and just a minute later Towners equalised! Amrit threaded the ball through for Billy Leonard to finish coolly. Cue delirium amongst the Towners faithful behind the goal. Towners went searching for a third before half time. On 42 minutes Amrit shot straight at the keeper but two minutes later the Towners number seven and Tariq conjured up another contender for goal of the season! Al-Sadi displayed twinkle toes worthy of Strictly Come Dancing before combining with Amrit. He threaded a lovely ball back to Tariq who finished wonderfully from a tight angle.

A crazy half of football!

H-T 2-3

The expectation amongst fans was that the game might settle down a bit after the break. Nobody told the two teams! The match became stretched and often resembled an end-to-end basketball match as neither side managed to exert much control.

Towners made a half-time change with new signing from Wingate and Finchley Mackye Townsend-West replacing Ayo Tanimowo at left back. It was Mackye who released Billy Leonard on 53 minutes but his cross fizzed across the box with nobody running in on the end of it. A minute later and it was the home side on the charge. A cross from the right found the ever-dangerous Bridges number nine Leighton but thankfully his header went over.

The sliding – doors moment of the second half came on 56 minutes. A quality Amrit corner found Tariq running in at the near post, but his bullet header went narrowly wide. If that had gone in it could well have been another three points on the road for the Town. Four minutes later, however, Three Bridges centre half Scott Malone popped up 25 yards from the Towners goal, and his curling effort flew into the top corner.

The end-to-end nature of the match continued. Town’s best chance came to Tariq following a fine marauding run down the right by Mickey Parcell. His excellent cross found Al-Sadi but his shot was blocked by a defender and deflected for a corner.

As the game entered its closing stages hope remained amongst the Towners travelling faithful for another late – late show like at Carshalton on Monday night, but it wasn’t to be.

Towners had to settle for a draw, but we are still top of the league, and we remain unbeaten on the road in the league this season. Billy Holland gave an honest post-match assessment. He felt that a number of the Towners players had not performed anywhere near their best. Avoiding defeat when you are not at your best and coming back from 2-0 down is a major  positive to take from the afternoon. There is also the great news that Tariq Al-Sadi will be with us for at least another month.

Town

Doran, Parcell, Hart, Thompson, Tanimowo ( Townshend-West 45), Al-Sadi Leonard ( May-Parrott 80) , Rydings, Bansal-McNulty, Youngs( Davies 28), Kyei( Avgoustidis 63)

We are delighted to welcome defender Mackye Townsend-West to the club, signing from Wingate & Finchley.

Capable across the back line, Mackye started his career with Stevenage before featuring at the likes of Ware, St Albans, and Royston Town. The 23-year-old Montserrat international is available for selection in this afternoon’s matchday squad away to Three Bridges.

Carshalton Athletic 1 Enfield Town 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

(photo: Michael Michalia)

Let’s not tempt fate after just a quarter of the season but if, come mid-April, Enfield Town have managed to claw their way back up to Step 2, this will surely be one of those results they will look back on as pivotal.

Because for long periods it looked for all the world like we would be securing our first draw of the campaign rather than celebrating maintaining our 100 percent away league record and going three points clear at the top against a Carshalton team who, until they ran out of gas, gave as good as they got – and sometimes more.

Having dealt with almost everything they had to offer in a wonderfully entertaining encounter, Town did what Town have been doing so well – spotting the opposition’s tiring legs and using their fitness, speed, teamwork and game management to take full advantage.

We all know we can’t win every game and that there will be bumps along the way. But the way Tariq Al-Sadi was mobbed by jubilant teammates after netting our 91^st-minute winner said everything about what this particularly victory meant after certainly not have everything our own way —  especially after the Robins equalised early in the second half.

Billy Holland, who made three changes from Saturday’s win over Dulwich with only 48 hours in between, admitted as much as he gave an honest appraisal of a Carshalton side whose strong press made it an even contest until the final stages.

The fact that Robins fans said it was their team’s best display of the season only served to illustrate what an impressive achievement it was for us to get over the line – ultimately courtesy of two pieces of magic.

Without the unavailable Sam Youngs, Town, for all their trademark approach play, at times lacked a presence up front and it was the hosts who enjoyed the early running.

Three times, Robins skipper and chief dangerman Nathan Young-Coombes had the chance to open the scoring, each time shooting straight at or close to Dylan Thompson.

But on 20 minutes, the hosts were made to pay when Amrit Bansal-McNulty’s precise pass was handled just outside the area. Up stepped Amrit to send a gorgeous dipping freekick over the wall and under the bar.

Carshalton’s form has deteriorated badly of late after winning their first five league games but their heads didn’t drop as they carved out a number of corners, most of which were well defended – especially by the rock solid Sonny Hart – although one saw Nico Jones head narrowly over.

A weak Carshalton penalty claim came and went and Town on balance shaded the first half, mainly due to their superior transition play and Carshalton’s tendency to lack power and direction in the final third.

Indeed we should have gone in 2-0, Billy Leonard firing over from close range in the final minute of the half after Aye Tanimowo played a cleverly disguised ball into Billy’s feet.

H-T 1-0

Instead, three minutes after the interval the hosts restored parity when that man Young-Coombes got the last touch to the latest Carshalton corner to stab home at the far post.

Town were having problems playing out from the back as the Robins cut off the spaces and forced the pace. Having said that, we were always dangerous on the counter and our lead should have been restored when Declan Rydings scooped over from substitute Luke May-Parrott’s layoff.

As a persistent drizzle eased on the artificial surface, Town were given a golden opportunity on 70 minutes to stop Carshalton in their tracks when Bansal-McNulty had his leg clipped as he was about to unload.

In the absence of Sam Youngs, Amrit took the penalty but saw his powerful effort down the middle superbly pushed over one-handed by Benjamin Dudzinski.

The miss didn’t faze Town who could see their opponents’ energy levels drop and now went for the jugular with Al-Sadi, like May-Parrott, making his presence felt from the bench as did the returning Micky Parcell at the other end.

Six minutes of stoppage time were signalled and just as  it looked as though both sides might have to settle for a draw, Tariq used all his skill to drift infield and kiss the post with a dramatic winner to send the visiting Town faithful, as well as the players, into raptures (pictured). And there was still time for May-Parrott to loop an opportunist effort over Dudzinski and on to the top of the bar.

A ninth league win then, arguably our toughest so far, and now off to Three Bridges on Saturday to try and make it 10 from 12 games.

Town

Thompson; Tarima (Parcell 77), Hart, Mensah, Tanimowo (Velasquez); Kyei, Davies (56 May-Parrott), Rydings, Avgoustidis (Al-Sadi 63); Bansal-McNulty, Leonard

Congratulations to midfielder Jez Davies, who was selected as Vanderpump & Sykes Player of the Month for September.

Jez joined us early in the month, making his debut in our home win over Cray Wanderers, and has slotted into the side seamlessly with a number of excellent performances at the heart of midfield. He was presented with his award by commercial director Adam Pollington prior to Saturday’s win over Dulwich Hamlet, in which he continued his fine form by scoring the pick of our three goals.

Enfield Town 3 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Report by Andrew Warshaw

(photo: Tom Scott)

Enfield Town swept back to the top of the table on goal difference as they downed a Dulwich side who had their moments but were ultimately well beaten.

Whilst Billy Holland admitted in his post-match interview that we were not at our fluent best, we still did easily enough to take the points – the sign of a confident team.

And crucially, we have a game in hand on our rivals and the chance on Monday at Carshalton to stretch our lead at the top.

With their first and second choice keepers injured, Dulwich had to draft in Ronnie Sandford on a short-term loan from Millwall and he made his mark with a couple of smart saves in what was generally a stop-start opening as our visitors battled to close us down.

On 12 minutes, Sandford got down well to palm away Amrit Bansal McNulty’s low effort across goal, then produced a superb reaction stop to keep out Amrit’s toe-poke after he robbed Samir Carruthers and went for goal.

Despite being the more threatening side, Town had to wait until the 34^th minute to break through. Sonny Hart’s header from Tommy Avgoustidis’ delivery came came back off the woodwork and Adam Thompson was first on hand to lash home the rebound (pictured)

Rather than galvanise Town, the goal if anything woke up Dulwich who suddenly grabbed the initiative for the remainder of the half.

Dangerman Ogo Obi saw his close-range effort chalked off for offside as he slid in to convert a freekick. It looked marginal, only for Obi to thump the ball against the upright in Dulwich’s next foray forward.

They were two big let-offs for Town though Avgoustidis, who to be fair did not have one of his most productive days on his 21^st birthday, might have extended our lead just before the break but opted to shoot instead of square to a teammate and saw his weak effort charged down.

H-T 1-0

When Town re-emerged, they found Dulwich ominously continuing to win most of the midfield duels.  

Cue a couple of inspired substitutions by Billy which effectively changed the game.  Who’d have thought taking off arguably our two star players would improve our fortunes but so it proved as Nana Kyei and Billy Leonard replaced Amrit and Tommy.

Before the subs could influence proceedings, Obi was denied again, this  time by a superb tackle from Sean Tarima who, it should be mentioned, is showing commendable composure with every game in the fullback position.

But as they re-established control, so Town regained the lead with 20 minutes left. In what was a nightmare moment for a hesitant Dulwich No. 4, Jordan Wynter, Kyei picked his pocket and ran on to fire home.

It completely took the wind out of Hamlet’s sails and six minutes later it was game over with what was surely an early contender for goal of the season.

Jez Davies, who before kickoff collected the latest Vanderpump and Sykes player of the month award, picked up the ball in central midfield, dribbled past three players, exchanged passes with Leonard, and finished magnificently from an acute angle.

Cue another trademark Jez double somersault similar to the one after scoring the winner at Stanway in midweek.

Six minutes of stoppage time were played  out comfortably and Sam Youngs might have added to Town’s tally with a late curler that didn’t quite have enough legs.

The only worry for Town with so many games in such a short space of time was seeing Luke May-Parrott hobble off after a late and completely unnecessary challenge.

It remains to be seen how long Luke, who has had little luck with injuries, will be out for. But with players returning over the coming weeks, the treatment table does not look unduly overloaded as the fixtures come thick and fast.

Town:

Thompson; Tarima (Velasquez 80), Hart, Thompson, Tanimowo; Al Sadi (May-Parrott 74), Rydings, Davies, Avgoustidis (Leonard 60); Bansal-McNulty (Kyei 60), Youngs

Stanway Rovers 1 Enfield Town 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

(photo by Michael Michalia)

Enfield Town put their FA Cup horror show behind them as they maintained their 100 percent away league record at 10-man Stanway Rovers to move back up to second in the table.

But for Stanway’s on-loan keeper Khiani Sombe, signed the same morning from Hull, and some heroic last-ditch defending, Town would have won by a landslide but in the end had to be content with a Sam Youngs penalty and Jez Davies’ winner which provided considerable relief after at one point looking like it might never come.

Until they lost Sam Carter to two yellow cards, Stanway certainly didn’t give the appearance of the league’s bottom club though it’s fair to say the playing surface – packed with pockets of sand, the odd hole and surely the worst Town will encounter this season – was a significant leveller. Having said, Town arguably made life far harder for themselves than they should have.

With so many matches squeezed into such a short period of time, Billy Holland shuffled the pack and made five changes leaving the likes of Tommy Avgoustidis and Amrit Bansal-McNulty on bench and giving Sean Tarima his first start at leftback.

Both sides had a point to prove, Town aiming to shake off Saturday’s debacle and Stanway, who have won back to back promotions to reach Step 3, hoping to show they could compete at this level.

It made for an end-to-end first half with Stanway’s dreadlocked danger man, Stephan Toussaint, who was prominent throughout, pulling most of their strings.

Indeed it was Toussaint who thought he had given Stanway the lead, only for the linesman to take an eternity before ruling that he had stabbed the ball home from an offside position.

It was a significant let-off for Town who took a while to find their feet with the pitch cutting up early. Indeed we had to wait until the 20-minute mark for our first corner from which Tariq Al-Sadi saw his shot pushed away by Sombe, the rebound deemed offside.

As Town upped the tempo, Luke May-Parrott somehow missed the target from four yards when it seemed easier to score – a classic example perhaps of the bobbly pitch playing its part.

But on 34 minutes, the pressure told as Sam Youngs played a delicious ball between centrehalf and fullback and Al-Sadi was brought down as he raced through the gap. Up stepped Sam from the spot, slamming the ball down the middle.

The lead didn’t last long, however. Four minutes later, EJ Mensah uncharacteristically upended the afore-mentioned Toussaint and from a central position, Tyrese Osbourne produced the most sublime of freekicks to get the ball over the wall and under the bar.

Who knows what might have happened but for the next pivotal incident. Right on halftime, having earlier been booked for blocking a freekick, Carter received a second yellow for kicking the ball away and off he went.

H-T 1-1

A disaster for the hosts but more incentive for Town who swarmed all over the bee-coloured hosts.  Davies and Al-Sadi stabbed wide, a Youngs turn and shot  was magnificently saved and then it was the visitors’ turn to have a goal disallowed for offside as Sam’s flick with his instep was ruled out.

As Town continued to lay siege to the Stanway goal, the management’s response was to make an attack-minded double change but still chances went begging, at one stage six shots raining in within 90 seconds but either blocked or somehow kept out by the inspired Sombe.

Until, finally, Stanway’s resistance was broken. On 75 minutes, Al-Sadi, Enfield’s man of the match, drilled in a low centre and Davies’ finish was hard and true, the Town midfielder celebrating with a double cartwheel (pictured).

A third seemed on the cards, especially when Avgoustidis bore down on goal but took the wrong option by trying to square. And as Town failed to extend their lead, it made for a nervy finish with a flurry of Stanway set-pieces at the other end which thankfully came to nought.

Relief all round, then, and now for an eagerly awaited home clash with Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday and a chance to cement our position with a game in hand – and even leapfrog Welling to the top should they slip up at Eastbourne.

Town:

  Thompson D; Tarima (Velasquez 90), Hart, Mensah, Tanimowo; Al-Sadi, Rydings (Leonard 76), Davies, Kyei (Avgoustidis; Luke-Parrott (Bansal-McNulty, Youngs

Following Rayners Lane’s withdrawal from the Middlesex Senior Cup, we will host QPR’s Development Squad in the Second Round of the competition. This fixture will take place on the evening of Tuesday 20th October 2026 at the Dave Bryant Stadium.

As County Cup fixtures take scheduling priority over league games, and having consulted the clubs involved, our visit to St Albans City in the Isthmian Premier has now been moved, and we will travel to Clarence Park on the evening of Tuesday 17th November (19:45).

Oxford City 6 Enfield Town 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

 (photo: Gabriel Meytanis)

Enfield Town’s bid for a second successive Step 2 scalp came to a shuddering halt as their quest for more FA Cup glory was shattered in devastating fashion.

Hit for six by fitter, more skilfull and wily full-time opponents, Town were at times run ragged as they saw their ultimate dream of reaching the Holy Grail of the first round proper dashed for another year.

Town have little time to lick their wounds before returning to league action at Stanway Rovers on Tuesday and are still in the FA Trophy. But this was a rude awakening in the early autumn sunshine and a hammering to forget.

 Despite the toughest possible 3^rd qualifying round assignment, such was the anticipation given our fine form so far this season that a second supporters’ coach was laid on for the trip to the city of spires and scholars.

But any hopes of following up the win at Billericay were quickly extinguished as we twice conceded in a nightmare start and thereafter never got to grips with the occasion or the physicality of the opposition who moved the ball with frightening effect.

Billy Holland, who made three changes from the Trophy win at Hanwell, will have been hugely disappointed with the manner of the opening goal on 10 minutes, however. No-one tracked Scott Pollock who drifted unchallenged into the box to head home.

It was the worst possible start and Oxford’s invention and imagination continued to give us little time to breath, the deficit doubled when Pollock’s dummy caught us out and skipper Josh Ashby slotted home beyond Dylan Thompson’s reach.

Flying high in National League north, the hosts’ domination continued, Frankie Domi producing a  spectacular clearance off the line and Zac McEachran blazing over the bar from close range.

Town needed a lifeline to ease the onslaught and they suddenly got two in a row. Moments after Tariq Al-Sadi had stung the outstretched hands of Jonny Maxted with our first real threat on goal, Sam Youngs pulled us back into the game, beating Maxted with a superb glancing header off the post from Tommy Avgoustidis’ fine delivery.

Almost immediately, Adam Thompson dangled a leg at the other end to bring down Max Smith, only for Dylan to save Tyrone Marsh’s spotkick by guessing correctly and briefly keep us in the cup.

H-T 1-2

Any hopes Town fans might have had that we would somehow pull off the mother of all comebacks were dashed within three minutes of the restart.

When the opposition have much taller, stronger players, it’s not easy to match their height in your own box but we were far too lax in picking up Ludwig Francillete at the far post as he headed home a corner, unmarked, for 3-1. Hugely frustrating given that Dylan had just pulled off a stupendous world-class save.

Five minutes later, the improbable became impossible, Pollock netting his second of the afternoon to finish off another well-worked move.

To their credit, Town never stopped trying to probe but even after a flurry of substitutions, nothing worked against savvy, technically superior opponents who looked a different class to the Ricay side we eliminated a couple of weeks ago. Too many misplaced passes were picked off by quality players whose quick feet and intelligent movement had us chasing shadows.

In a rare Town attack, Al-Sadi drove a freekick over the bar from a dangerous position but Town simply couldn’t stem the flow at the other end. Seconds after coming on as a sub, Briar Batemen outpaced his marker to score City’s fifth and worse was still to come as Ellie Brown converted a pull-back to complete a sobering afternoon.

Who knows who we might have got in the fourth and final qualifying round had we progressed but there’s no point dwelling on that. The real barometer of where we are is arguably after 10 league games which will be completed after Tuesday’s visit to Stanway Rovers and then Dulwich Hamlet at home on Saturday. A decent return from those two outings to keep us at or near the summit and Saturday’s rout will fade into the distance.

 And don’t forget we are still in the FA trophy with Wembley in our sights!

Town:

Thompson (D); Domi (Tarima 61), Hart, Thompson(A), Tanimowo; Al-Said (Kyei 67), Davies, Leonard (Ridings, 61), Bansal-McNulty (May-Parrott 61), Avgoustidis; Youngs (Velasquez 81).

Ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup tie away at Oxford City, please take a moment to read the following:

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