Three Bridges 3 Enfield Town 3
Report by Paul Manel
Photo: Paul Manel
Towners one hundred per cent away league record ended against a spirited and battling Three Bridges side in the Autumnal East Sussex sunshine. This always looked like it might well be a goal fest with Town coming into the game as the league’s top scorers and The Bridges having failed to score in only one of their previous matches this season despite their lowly league position. And so, it transpired with both sides providing thrills and spills aplenty in this six-goal humdinger!
With games coming thick and fast, Towners boss Billy Holland made five changes from the side that won at Carshalton Athletic on Monday night. Added time goalscoring substitute Tariq Al- Sadi came in for Tommy Avgoustidis, Skipper Mickey Parcell replacing Scott Tarima, Adam Thompson in for EJ Mensah and Sam Youngs replacing Jez Davies. We had a Spurs loanee between the sticks bit not Dylan Thompson. He had been recalled by Spurs as temporary cover and Dylan was replaced by another Tottenham loanee, Farren Doran.
The home side came quickly out of the blocks. They pressed high and won the majority of the second balls in the opening exchanges. It was difficult to work out which team was top and which was lying 20th in the Isthmian Premier League. It was not a surprise, when after four minutes, the home side took the lead. Sonny Hart gave the ball away deep in his own half. Sam Bull released Bridges skipper Noel Leighton who applied an astute finish, giving the Towners stand in keeper no chance!
Sonny’s mistake was symptomatic of a sloppy, sluggish start by the league leaders. In contrast, the home side were sharp and hungry! On 15 minutes they doubled their lead. Town were pressed high and lost possession once again. Ade Adeyinka showed great composure to cut inside the Towners box and slip the ball past Doran.
Towners were looking ragged! Sam Youngs had picked up an early booking after he caught a Three Bridges player. The home fans were screaming for a harsher punishment! The referee was put under further pressure on 22minutes when Youngs brought down Dekari Deebari on the edge of the Towners box. Thankfully referee Anthony Cross was not vexed enough to flourish another yellow.
Minutes later, Billy Holland took the decision not to take any further risks by replacing Towners’ number eight with Jez Davies. Jez brought a much-needed energy, drive and composure to Towners midfield. We talk about games of two halves; this was a half of two halves! Jez played a great ball to release Tariq down the right. The Towners number four forced a fine save from Sam Roberts, but Amrit Bansal-McNulty was on hand, watching the ball carefully to apply a clinical finish.
Towners were now passing with precision and just a minute later Towners equalised! Amrit threaded the ball through for Billy Leonard to finish coolly. Cue delirium amongst the Towners faithful behind the goal. Towners went searching for a third before half time. On 42 minutes Amrit shot straight at the keeper but two minutes later the Towners number seven and Tariq conjured up another contender for goal of the season! Al-Sadi displayed twinkle toes worthy of Strictly Come Dancing before combining with Amrit. He threaded a lovely ball back to Tariq who finished wonderfully from a tight angle.
A crazy half of football!
H-T 2-3
The expectation amongst fans was that the game might settle down a bit after the break. Nobody told the two teams! The match became stretched and often resembled an end-to-end basketball match as neither side managed to exert much control.
Towners made a half-time change with new signing from Wingate and Finchley Mackye Townsend-West replacing Ayo Tanimowo at left back. It was Mackye who released Billy Leonard on 53 minutes but his cross fizzed across the box with nobody running in on the end of it. A minute later and it was the home side on the charge. A cross from the right found the ever-dangerous Bridges number nine Leighton but thankfully his header went over.
The sliding – doors moment of the second half came on 56 minutes. A quality Amrit corner found Tariq running in at the near post, but his bullet header went narrowly wide. If that had gone in it could well have been another three points on the road for the Town. Four minutes later, however, Three Bridges centre half Scott Malone popped up 25 yards from the Towners goal, and his curling effort flew into the top corner.
The end-to-end nature of the match continued. Town’s best chance came to Tariq following a fine marauding run down the right by Mickey Parcell. His excellent cross found Al-Sadi but his shot was blocked by a defender and deflected for a corner.
As the game entered its closing stages hope remained amongst the Towners travelling faithful for another late – late show like at Carshalton on Monday night, but it wasn’t to be.
Towners had to settle for a draw, but we are still top of the league, and we remain unbeaten on the road in the league this season. Billy Holland gave an honest post-match assessment. He felt that a number of the Towners players had not performed anywhere near their best. Avoiding defeat when you are not at your best and coming back from 2-0 down is a major positive to take from the afternoon. There is also the great news that Tariq Al-Sadi will be with us for at least another month.
Town
Doran, Parcell, Hart, Thompson, Tanimowo ( Townshend-West 45), Al-Sadi Leonard ( May-Parrott 80) , Rydings, Bansal-McNulty, Youngs( Davies 28), Kyei( Avgoustidis 63)