Report

Aveley 0-1 Enfield Town

Town Grind Down Millers
Report by Andrew Warshaw

Enfield Town’s survival hopes took another significant boost as we ground down fellow strugglers Aveley to secure our first back-to-back haul of the season and close the gap on Welling United to five points.

Whilst we had to rely on Rhys Forster for a number of excellent saves to keep us in the game and then, once again, on Sam Youngs to provide the winner, the reaction of the players and travelling fans at the final whistle said everything about what the result meant in the context of the table. Town’s defence was reinforced by the return of Adam Thompson and boy, how we needed him. Although we carved out the first big chance through Jake Hutchinson, Aveley, beaten only once in their previous eight home games, controlled much of the rest of the first half.

Not once, not twice but four times in that opening period, Forster came to the rescue as Aveley looked the more fluent side and peppered our goal, David Hicks and Raz Coleman De-Graft showing particular technique. But it was certainly not all one-way traffic. Anointed Chukwu, playing alongside Hutchinson and arguably enjoying his best afternoon yet in a Town shirt, charged 40 yards upfield before playing in Billy Leonard who should have returned the compliment rather than trying to score himself. On their familiar artificial surface, it was easy to see why Aveley’s possession-based game had troubled a number of visiting teams and they thought they had broken the deadlock when hesitation on the touchline by John Oyenuga allowed Coleman De-Graft to get a shot away, only for a fine block by Henry Hawkins to avert the danger. The hosts were being allowed too much space and just before half time, Forster was on hand again, this time to keep out Tyrese Owen following a quickfire four-man move, while at the other end, Chukwu couldn’t quite find the net from a tight angle.

Half Time, 0-0

Several times this season, we have rued missed chances and not getting what we deserved. Now the boot was on the other foot. With virtually his first touch, half time substitute Jack Bates – who had replaced the ill Oyenuga – marked his Town debut with a superbly delivered free kick on 52 minutes to find Youngs whose glancing header gave the keeper no chance. Three minutes later an unsavoury touchline melee involving Chukwu and a string of Aveley players resulted a booking for each side, in Town’s case Anointed who was unfairly deemed at fault after having his shirt pulled for the umpteenth time.

As Aveley pressed for an equaliser, they were thwarted by two terrific Town headers out of defence and by their own Harry Beadle fluffing a clear header. But this was one day when we were not to be denied, typified by Forster’s man of the match display. And we could have even added a second late on when Hisham Kasimu, off the bench on his return to the club, ran through but couldn’t control his footing.

“We’ve got to keep going because Aveley are good enough to come and catch us,” said Gavin. “If I’m honest it was one of the worst performances for a long time in terms of lack of quality but we’re certainly going in the right direction.”

“Desire and work rate got us through because they play their surface very well.  I made the halftime change because John was sick and probably shouldn’t have played. Jack Bates is a good technician and is settling in nicely. We’ve played much better and lost games and were indebted to Rhys at times but I’ll take that.”

Town: Forster; Oyenuga (Bates, 46), Thompson, Hawkins; Leonard, Brown (Smith, 82), Parcell, Youngs, Stallard; Hutchinson, Chukwu (Kasimu, 80)

Video

Details

Date Time League Season
08/02/2025 3:00 pm Vanarama National League South 2024-25

Ground

Parkside
Parkside, Belhus, Park Ln, Aveley, South Ockendon RM15 4PX

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoals
Aveley000
Enfield Town011

Past Meetings

2 - 4
Vanarama National League South
2024-25

Enfield Town vs Aveley

1 - 2
Pitching In Isthmian League Premier
2022-23

Enfield Town vs Aveley

1 - 1
Pitching In Isthmian League Premier
2022-23

Aveley vs Enfield Town