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