Brentwood Town 1 Enfield Town 3
Report by Andrew Warshaw
When Billy Holland described Enfield Town’s first four games of the season as being “thrown in the deep end”, he wasn’t at all sure how his new-look side would fare.
Nobody in their right mind is getting carried away but the way Town have gone about their business in the opening couple of weeks, moving up to second in the process, certainly puts down a marker going forward.
This was arguably the most impressive of our three wins to date, not because we were at our best. We weren’t as Billy freely acknowledged afterwards in his post-match interview, highlighting the fact that at times we were “stuck in two modes” and not sure of the best play.
But the quality of opposition and the fact Brentwood reached the final of the playoffs last season, albeit with a totally different playing staff, spoke volumes about the spirit in the Town camp.
So did the fact that two of Town’s three changes were enforced because of suspension, illustrating the adaptability of the squad and their ability to move into unfamiliar positions, not least Billy Leonard at leftback for half of the second period.
Against a like-minded side who favour getting the ball down and playing, Town began cautiously on Brentwood’s artificial surface as Wylan Reid flashed a shot narrowly wide.
A rare distribution error by Dylan Thompson almost cost us, only for Mikey Berry to fire just over. And in the next home attack, his namesake Adam Thompson had to show all his defensive alertness by poking another effort wide.
But we also threatened early doors as Sam Youngs, playing in a deeper role with Luke May-Parrott fit enough to start up top, uncharacteristically headed wide after Tommy Avgoustidis’ cross was put on a plate for him.
Sam made no mistake, however, when presented with his next chance on 22 minutes from the penalty spot. After fine work by Mickey Parcell, who clearly enjoyed being back in the starting line-up, Avgoustidis was impeded by Reid who made no attempt to play the ball and Sam duly sent Aiden Prall the wrong way.
Chances at both ends ensued. The effervescent Avgoustidis cut inside and almost converted while Town’s net rippled after former Towner Manny Harvest let fly into the side netting.
Five minutes before the break, however, Town had daylight – if not for long. Parcell drove into the area and his chipped centre into a corridor of uncertainty was headed into his own net by Andy Freeman.
Cue Brentwood being awarded a spotkick of their own when Frankie Domi, have won the initial challenge, caught Malachi Linton at the second attempt and the in-form Bradley Sach did the rest.
H-T 1-2
The second half began in the same end-to-end vein, Dylan spreading himself like a starfish to thwart Sachs and May-Parrott pinching possession high up the pitch but not being able to beat Prall.
Then came the game-changer. Six minutes after the break, Reid received his second yellow for a crunching foul on Shiloh Remy and off he went.
To be fair to Brentwood, the 10 men battled for their lives and still posed a threat on the counter courtesy of the pacey Aaron Sterling.
But Town were now savouring their numerical advantage by exploiting the spaces, with substitute Amrit Bansul-McNulty in particular enjoying freedom to roam and Declan Rydings, who deserves a mention for an indefatigable box-to-box display, given more time on the ball.
And it was Amrit who delivered the killer blow with eight minutes remaining, a delicious strike into the roof of the net after gorgeous link-up play with Youngs.
Bank holiday fixtures against Whitehawk and Wingate will certainly be seen as winnable but steady as we go….
Town
Thompson D; Domi (Akubuine 65), Thompson A, Mensah, Parcell (Velasquez 82); Leonard, Rydings (Corrigan 82), Remy (Kyei, 75); Avgoustidis, May-Parrott (Bansul-McNulty 65), Youngs