Burgess Hill Town 0 Enfield Town 6
Report by Paul Manel
Tommy Avgoustidis scored the perfect hat-trick on a sunny Halloween afternoon as Towners celebrated their 1,000th league game in style! This victory completed two compelling wins in five days with ten goals for and none against as Enfield’s attacking football continues to haunt opposition defences.
The game started with a bizarre ‘have you ever seen this before’ moment. The referee stopped the game as a combination of a kit clash and the bright Autumnal sunshine was making it difficult for players, officials and fans to decipher between the two teams. Towners had not travelled with a change of strip, so they remained in grey as Burgess Hill swapped traditional green for white.
The home side reacted best after the early break in play. They dominated possession with the two wide men Yoan Edoukou and George Vorster looking lively. Town defended well with the home side unable to create any clear-cut chances despite having more of the ball.
Towners boss Billy Holland said in his post-match interview that it had indeed been a deliberate ploy to sit back early on and allow The Hillians to attack and Enfield were certainly devastating on the break.
With 15 minutes on the clock Mickey Parcell made a burst through the middle. The Town skipper fed Tariq Al-Sadi. Pinball ensued with Tariq’s shot blocked. Tommy Avgoustidis then had his shot saved by the home keeper Rocco Rees but the Enfield number 17 reacted quickly to force home the rebound.
The home side continued to enjoy more of the ball, but Town were always looking frightening for The Hill when they regained possession. On 51 minutes Declan Rydings’ quick pass found Al-Sadi on the left. He squared to the ever-lively Amrit Bansal-McNulty on the edge of the D. Our mercurial number seven lashed an unstoppable swerving shot over the Burgess Hill keeper. Another wonderful goal. Mickey Parcell almost added his name to the Towners goal of the season contenders list when he started and ended a move, forcing Rees to make a great save.
HT: 0-2
The home side changed formation and personnel at the break with two substitutions. This did not have the desired impact as Enfield smothered Burgess Hill, pressing high and playing a quick, slick passing game. Hill could not cope with the assertive visitors. A lovely passing move saw Al-Sadi feed Avgoustidis. Once again, the keeper saved Tommy’s first effort, but his reactions were sharp as he netted at the second attempt.
Towners were now dominant and Tommy duly completed a perfect hat-trick. Left foot, right foot and on 51 minutes a header! Sammy Youngs won an aerial duel, and the ball was fed to Bansal- McNulty on the left. His perfect chip found Tommy who buried it for his seventh league goal of the campaign.
A 4-0 cushion gave Billy Holland the opportunity to make some substitutions. The Burgess Hill right wing-back must have been cursing this nasty Halloween trick when he saw three goal hero Tommy replaced by Olly Davis who was desperate to make an impact after his recent injury lay off. Town made it a nap hand with half an hour left on the clock. Ayo Tanimowo surged down the left beating a couple of dispirited Hill players. He fed Olly Davis, who did a couple of step overs to confuse the defender before he unleashed a right foot shot that hit the inside of the post. The away sub took a leaf out of Tommy’s book and put away yet another rebound.
The jubilant, noisy travelling contingent were delighted to see Jez Davies make his come-back off the bench and young Cambridge United loanee Dan Efobi get a run out as well. Towners scored six on our last visit to Leylands Park in August 2018 and it was the joy of six once again! Jez Davies, who had controlled the midfield after he came on, made a Bellingham-esque run before he fed Olly Davis. His cross was met by that man Efobi with a clinical finish.
Home supporters were magnanimous with their praise for the Town performance. Older Towners fans reflected on the best football they had seen in the 25-year history of the club. A 4-0 demolition of much fancied Chatham Town followed by a 6-0 dismantling of Burgess Hill who had not previously lost at home this season. It is still relatively early in the season of course and the lead at the top is only a point from Welling United but what a wonderful, entertaining few days! The EN1 entertainers have now scored 43 goals in 14 games! What a treat for Town fans!
Town: D Thompson, Parcell ( Townsend-West 65), Hart, Mensah, Tanimowo, Al-Sadi ( Kyei 65) , Leonard, Rydings, Bansal-McNulty, ( Davies 60), Avgoustidis ( Davis 56), Youngs ( Efobi 56)