Enfield Town FC

Report

Town up to third                          

Brightlingsea Regent 0 Enfield Town 2

A delayed kick-off to enable players to negotiate the perils of the A12 on a monsoon of a night didn’t adversely affect Town’s determination to get something from this game; their first ever league points at North Road.

With the pitch looking much better than on previous visits, a swirling wind made passing football very difficult, but both sides coped well.  Regent showed few signs of ill-effects following the recent departure of their manager Tom Rothery, and Jake Turner drew a scrambling low save from Nathan McDonald with their first attack. McDonald was then smartly off his line to grab the ball ahead on the onrushing George Doyle and he subsequently parried an effort from Billy Hunt, but the striker was adjudged to have handled the ball as he controlled it before shooting.

Town began to have the better of possession, and Mo Faal hit a powerful shot which flew inches over on 18 minutes. Ken Charles was well wide from Faal’s pass, and there were appeals for handball when another Faal shot appeared to hit Josh Gould’s hand, but nothing was given.

Regent’s best chance of the opening period fell to Charlie Lindoe, whose firm effort was brilliantly cleared off the line by Jon Muleba. A half of few chances at either end drew to a close with centre back Josh Gould heading wide following a corner on the Regent right.

Half-time: Brightlingsea Regent 0 Enfield Town 0

Town’s hardy band of travellers were rewarded for taking their places fairly swiftly after their half time tea when, four minutes after the restart, Ryan Blackman, in a central position, played the ball forward to Faal, who teed up Sam Youngs nicely to bury a left foot drive past home keeper Charlie Turner’s despairing dive.

Ricky Griggs made a timely clearance as Charles threatened with one of his speedy runs on the left, while, shortly afterwards, Youngs played in Faal who found himself with only Charlie Turner to beat, but his attempted dink was kept out at the second attempt.

The three points were effectively in the bag with fifteen minutes left. Junior Mubiayi, on for Callum Ellesley, played the ball towards the Regent box and with Faal and Lewis Taaffe both within striking distance, it was Taaffe who latched onto the ball and stabbed it home. There were a few seconds of discussion between referee and linesman about the possibility of offside, presumably against Faal who had not touched the ball, but the goal stood.

Brightlingsea forced a couple of late corners and, from one of these, a Griggs piledriver was blocked in a crowded area and from another McDonald helped a header away from the goal with a good reaction save.

There was just time for a totally unnecessary melee to build up around the centre circle, contributing to the seven minutes of time added on and earing bookings for four players, including Blackman and McDonald for Town, but the game finally ended beyond ten o’clock with a very satisfying victory before Saturday’s FA Cup trip south to Chichester City.

Brightlingsea Regent: Charlie Turner, Ricky Griggs, Jake Gould, Jake Turner (Ace Howell 36), Josh Gould, Matt Cripps, Romario Dunne (Joe Yaxley 70), George Doyle, Billy Hunt, Lamell Howell, Charlie Lindoe (Adam Hampson 78). Unused subs: Pip Boyland. Booked: Howell, Jake Gould.

Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Callum Ellesley (Junior Mubiayi 46), Joe Payne, Scott Thomas, Marc Weatherstone, Jon Muleba, Lewis Taaffe, Ryan Blackman, Muhammadu Faal (Charles Brown 76), Sam Youngs (Glenn Wilson 79), Ken Charles. Unused subs: Mario Noto, Steve Wales. Booked: Blackman, McDonald.

Attendance: 154.