Enfield Town 5 Slough Town 2
Report By Andrew Warshaw
Amid highly emotional scenes in their final home game after two seasons at Step 2, Enfield Town gave outgoing manager Gavin Macpherson a rousing sendoff as they crushed Slough Town with a five-goal second half blitz.
As we all know now, Gavin, who took Town into National League South for the first time in their history, is stepping aside after three years at the helm but could not have wished for a better farewell on and off the pitch.
After Xav Benjamin had won player of the month for April, bogey side Slough, who came into the game with almost equally poor form as Town, edged the opening period and had two or three decent chances before going in front on 35 minutes through fullback Erion Zabeli.
Dan Roth had already issued a warning shot by striking the outside of the post after a surging run through the middle of the pitch but Zabeli’s goal was a microcosm of our season as he wasnt’s picked up after a routine delivery.
The goal came just as Sam Youngs’ season came to a sad end as he picked up a nasty-looking ankle injury which swelled up instantly. Sam had to be helped down the tunnel and was replaced by Bailey Brown.
H-T 0-1
Town had huffed and puffed and without Sam, whose 14 league goals again left him as our top scorer, it was hard to see how we would get back into the game especially without the still sidelined Lamar Reynolds.
But whatever was said at halftime, the second half of Gavin’s final home will always be remembered as fondly as the manager himself as we ruthlessly dispatched the Rebels, defying our long season of frustration in the final third.
The comeback started on 53 minutes as Nino Adom-Malaki’s long throw fell loose at the back post for Billy Leonard, who excelled on the day in an unfamiliar role alongside Corie Andrews up top, to shoot home.
Now the momentum shifted – dramatically so. Hayden Bullas finished off a superb move by firing narrowly wide but with 12 minutes remaining, Town grabbed the lead. Nino was again involved as a magnificent reverse ball found substitute Kaobi Efobi and the young academy forward couldn’t believe his luck as he tapped home.
Town had the bit between their teeth but were suddenly pegged back. Jaiden Drakes-Thomas went down theatrically in the box after the softest of touches by Benjamin and when a spotkick was awarded, Johnny Goddard confidently slammed it home.
Cue a sensational finale, described by the Slough manager as his players letting the whole club down but for Town a deserved send-off for Gavin and his management team.
With the clock ticking towards 90 minutes and a draw seemingly looming, Adom-Malaki used his body strength to leave his marker on the floor – much to the fury of the Slough bench – and Bullas made no mistake with the finish.
Town were still not done. Three minutes into six added on, Benjamin surged down the right and his cross was thrashed into the roof of the net by Brown, prompting wild celebrations by Xav.
And with virtually the last kick of the game, Henry Hawkins’ header came back off the woodwork and fellow defender Adam Thompson reacted quickest to complete a rapturous turnaround.
Afterwards, the extent to which Gavin has endeared himself to the Town faithful were there for all to see as Mickey Parcell, who had to miss out through injury, pushed a reluctant gaffer (pictured) towards the fans behind the goal to milk the jubilant applause.
It was a poignant moment that summed up Gav’s popularity. All that was left, despite our relegation, was for Gavin and his players to be given the warmest of ovations before later being loudly and enthusiastically greeted in the bar.
“Managers always talk about their supporters being the best and while I don’t want to get over-soppy, they’ve been unbelievable,” said Gavin whose final game as Town boss is at Hampton next Saturday when the season winds up. “It’s way beyond what I imagined given the struggles this season. Unfortunately we havn’t achieved our ultimate aim but hopefully today sent them home with a smile on their faces.”
Gavin, who has never been relegated before, revealed that his backroom team are also leaving. “It’s been one hell of testing season and I can’t thank my management team enough for their tireless efforts and we all very sorry we were unable to achieve what we set out to. I just feel I’ve taken us as far as I can. I’m going to miss everyone terribly but so many factors came together and I believe things need a fresh pair of eyes.”
Town
Wright; Appiah (Benjamin 72), Thompson, Hawkins, Adom-Malaki; Donaldson; Knight (Lambert 71), Youngs (Brown 36), Bullas; Leonard (Cann 95), Andrews (Efobi 71)