Hemel Hempstead Town 3 Enfield Town 0
Report by Andrew Warshaw
What is it about teams who supposedly can’t score goals taking it out on Enfield Town?
Three days after letting in four without reply against Chelmsford, who had netted only three times in six previous outings, Hemel Hempstead Town – who hadn’t scored in five in all competitions — secured a convincing 3-0 victory on Tuesday as we ended 2025 on a hugely disappointing note.
A bitterly cold evening that began auspiciously with the kickoff delayed by 45 minutes because of floodlight failure caused by a local power outage ended with the travelling Towners fans wishing the lights had gone out for good to prevent such a poor result.
Everyone, not least Gavin Macpherson, expected a reaction from the Boxing Day debacle against Chelmsford. Instead it was more of the same as Town never got going on a frosty artificial pitch and only really upped their game when already 3-0 down and playing catch-up.
Ending the year in the bottom two was certainly not what the doctor ordered, the only positive being that there is half a season to go to put things right.
Gavin made three changes from Boxing Day, bringing in Henry Hawkins, Olly Davis for his first league start and Bailey Brown. But after a decent first 10 minutes, there was a notable lack of creativity or the ability to keep the ball for more than a few seconds.
It didn’t help, of course, that Town were hit by yet another stroke of bad luck with the news that Cian Dillon will be out for the remainder of his loan spell with a hamstring injury. It remains to be seen how that situation is addressed going forward.
Cian’s hold-up play was certainly missed as Town struggled to gain any momentum against a team who moved the ball far better.
Most of Hemel’s best work was down their right where Samuel Adenola was a constant threat and two quick goals within six first-half minutes proved decisive.
After 24 minutes, a route one ball over the top saw Hubert Graczyk keep out Joe White’s effort but when the ball fell to Hemel top scorer Millar Matthews-Lewis, he tapped home.
Six minutes later, the Tudors’ advantage was doubled as an unmarked Mauro Vilhete rifled the ball into the far top corner before any Town player could close him down.
H-T 0-2
Town needed to regroup and for a few minutes looked like they might get back into it.
But with Davis struggling to impose himself against physical defenders and both he and Sam Youngs receiving minimal support from midfield, there was little overall change to the pattern of play.
Adinola fired narrowly wide via a deflection and after 62 minutes, the Tudors made the game safe – ironically moments after Lemar Reynolds was introduced to try to reduce the deficit.
Town gave away a freekick and when George Williams’ delicious delivery found the feet of Matthews-Lewis, Graczyk could only push his shot back into the danger zone where Charlie Rowan delivered the killer blow.
That, effectively, was that. Although Reynolds and Hawkins both went close late on, it was too little too late and now collective socks have to be pulled up for the visit to Totton on Saturday, followed by two home games.
Gavin was left distraught and frustrated in equal measure, especially given that we started with the same back three who have at times looked a formidable unit this season.
“I desperately wanted a reaction but the goals we are conceding, we’re not giving ourselves a chance of staying in football matches,” said Gav. “All of a sudden these things are creeping back and something has to change, whether it’s on the training pitch or personnel.”
“It runs a bit deeper than the defence, though, if truth be told. I asked all the players afterwards if they were hurting because we have a magnificent set of fans and this was unacceptable.
“The players have proved time and again that they will run through brick walls for the club but we were really poor in possession of the ball. Obviously the delay disrupted preparations but it wouldn’t have mattered if we kicked off at 6am or midnight. The fact is we are miles better than what we are showing at the moment and we need to man up as a group.”
Town
Graczyk; Benjamin, Hawkins, Thompson; Adom-Malaki, Bullas, Gallimore (Donaldson 88), Brown (Reynolds 61), Leonard; Davis, Youngs