Enfield Town FC

Report

Town lose ground on rivals

Carshalton Athletic 2 Enfield Town 0

This was an exceptionally frustrating afternoon in a match which was impacted significantly by at least one debateable decision by the officials at crucial times.

Town had a game plan which was working quite well in an even first half in terms of chances created. Carshalton undoubtedly had the lion’s share of possession with Town sitting deep at times and closing down space when necessary

On ten minutes a Jordan Cheadle free kick was curled into the danger area and headed over by Daniel Pappoe.  But the best chance of a low-key half with the emphasis seemingly on not conceding from both sides saw Ricky Korboa race down the left in the 22nd minute and poke a shot from an angle wide of the far post from just inside the box.

Approaching the half hour mark a shot by Robins’ player-manager Peter Adeniyi hit the side netting when teammate Ricky Korboa was well-placed to receive a pass. Five minutes later, Pappoe was dispossessed and a quick counter-attack from Town saw Junior Mubiayi pick the ball up centrally and  play it wide to Billy Bricknell. He played a bouncing ball over the Carshalton defence where Sam Youngs stretched to lift the ball just over and onto the roof of the net.

In the 38th minute, Kershaney Samuels was allowed far too much room down the middle and was unlucky to see his lob over Nathan McDonald – making his 200th competitive appearance in his two spells with Town – just clear the crossbar. Five minutes before the break, a goal kick from McDonald picked up Bricknell to play in Lyle Della-Verde, who’s fierce low shot was kept out by home stopper Kleton Perntreou, who also saved another dipping effort from Youngs.

Half time: Carshalton Athletic 0 Enfield Town 0

Eight minutes after the restart, more fine work from Della-Verde produced an opening for a shot which was parried by Perntreou straight to Mubiayi who tucked away the rebound only to find an assistant referee’s flag raised to immediately dampen down the celebrations.

Carshalton continued to probe and looked the more dangerous at this point as another run from Korboa saw him cut inside from the right and his shot flew just wide of the near post. McDonald grabbed a Samuels lob on the hour mark before Town started to take control for a spell.  But the pattern of the game was changed when Billy Bricknell was shown a second yellow card – his first wasn’t in dispute – for what the referee saw as simulation. He picked the ball up by the corner of the home box and, as he turned to change direction, it looked as though he was caught by Pappoe’s outstretched leg; but referee Michael Smith disagreed.

The outcome of this incident galvanised Carshalton and they immediately took the lead when a cross from the left was met at the near post by former Towner Harry Ottaway who classily flicked the ball over McDonald into the net.  With twelve minutes left, and the Robins now on tip, debutant Lewis White volleyed in impressively from an angle to seal the points. It could have been worse for a disgruntled Town when Korboa found some space but stabbed the ball wide of the post with only McDonald to beat.

Carshalton Athletic: Kleton Perntreou, Jordan Cheadle, Luke Read, Ernold Haxhiu, Daniel Pappoe, Paris Hamilton-Downes (Danny Dudley 86), Peter Adeniyi (Lewis White 61), Tommy Bradford, Kershaney Samuels, Harry Ottaway, Ricky Korboa (Christie Pattison 82). Unused subs: Michael Kamara, Jauvan Splatt. Booked: Pappoe, Dudley.

Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba, Joe Payne, Scott Thomas, Marc Weatherstone, Glenn Wilson (Sam Hatton 51), Junior Mubiayi, Sam Youngs, Billy Bricknell, Ryan Blackman (Ken Charles 75), Lyle Della-Verde (Kezie Ibe 76). Unused: Bobson Bawling, Nathan Livings. Booked: Bricknell. Sent off: Bricknell.

Attendance: 494.