Enfield Town 0 Hornchurch 1
Report by Andrew Warshaw
Enfield Town fell victim to another Hornchurch late, late show on Tuesday as we suffered our second defeat in three games, hardly the ideal scenario for the Bank Holiday programme.
After a lacklustre first half in which we got bogged down and couldn’t find any kind of rhythm or creative outlet, we gave as good as we got after the break following an attack-minded tweak and arguably deserved more from a spirited response, only to lose all three points at the death.
The Urchins have made a habit of scoring late goals — not just against us – and did it again to maintain their 100 percent start to the season.
Gavin Macpherson made two changes from the Maidenhead draw, bringing Nino Adom-Malaki into the starting lineup along with Tosh Gallimore
We started brightly when a freekick was cleared off the Urchins line but somehow couldn’t maintain the momentum and spent the rest of the half on the back foot.
Hornchurch skipper Tom Wraight fired just wide and Charlie Ruff had an even better chance as he missed the target with the goal at his mercy
It was a wake-up call for Town but we couldn’t make the ball stick in our opponents’ half and continued to give up possession with Arthur Nesta a virtual spectator in the Hornchurch goal.
As halftime approached, we at last put together a brief flurry of activity in the final third but six corners to none told its own story.
H-T 0-0
With the game still level, we had a chance to start over again. After some stern words in the dressing room, Billy Leonard was pushed further forward and it almost paid dividends straight away as a delicious cross was cut out just as it was about to reach Lamar Reynolds.
Suddenly, more adventure and more urgency from Town and a far more open game although Rhys Forster was lucky not to be punished after getting himself in a pickle by trying to take a touch instead of clearing his lines.
To be fair to Rhys, however, without two or three fine stops and generally safe hands, we may well have been playing catch-up by then. One point-blank save from Henry Hearn immediately sticks in the mind.
At the other end, Nasta failed to deal with a long throw and almost paid the price. Cue a flurry of subs by both sides, Bailey Brown adding strength to Town and Matt MacArthur pace.
When Harry Lodovica, another sub, was almost wrenched to the ground as he tried to burst forward, inexplicably nothing was given. Even the usually mild mannered Jon Underwood showed his displeasure with the decision but with 10 minutes left, Town got a massive let-off as the bar twice came to their rescue.
The game was won on 88 minutes when Tom Wraight was adjudged to have got the last touch in a goalmouth scramble. Yet there was still time, in the final minute of seven added on, for Town to carve out their best effort of the game when Mickey Parcell found space in the box but couldn’t get enough purchase on Leonard’s cross to beat Nesta.
“It was the poorest first half from us I’ve seen in a long time,” admitted Gavin Macpherson despite having called for more quality after the Maidenhead game. “It was unacceptable and I can only apologise to the supporters. We lacked running power and they were sharper to everything.”
“I gave them a kick up the backside at halftime and we looked much better after a tweak as well. We deserved to be behind at halftime if I’m honest but we then saw a different Enfield.”
Explaining why he took both Wood and Reynolds off midway through the second period, Gav said: “I felt there were some tired legs and Matty gives us something different. I thought we were unlucky to lose the game in the second half but Hornchurch keep finding a way and that’s no fluke.”
Forster; Benjamin, Thompson, Donaldson (Hawkins, 90); Adom-Malaki, Gallimore (Bullas 75), Youngs, Parcell, Leonard; Wood (Brown, 67), Reynolds (MacArthur, 67)