Enfield Town FC

Report

Strong first half showing seals win

Enfield Town 3 Chelmsford City 1

Town clicked into gear for this test against higher level opposition to record their first pre-season win at the QEII.  Striker Shaun Okojie made his first Town appearance since the league trip to Bishop’s Stortford on 10^th March. Chelmsford fielded a familiar face – former Maidstone keeper Lee Worgan, signed recently from Dover Athletic – in goal, while ex-Towner Alex Teniola came on for the Clarets after the break.

Town took the lead after ten minutes when Sam Hatton drove down the right hand side and delivered a low cross which Okojie converted at the near post – thus recording consecutive, similarly constructed, goals in consecutive appearances five months apart.

Town continued pressing for a spell and Hatton’s cross-cum-shot was tipped over by Worgan, who then denied Okojie with a point blank stop around the twenty minute mark. At the other end Cameron James curled a long ball behind the defence for Callum Harrison, but he hit his shot straight at McDonald.

Chelmsford drew level when James found Tom Wraight on the left, and the ball was cut back for Harrison to score with the aid of a significant deflection.

Barely three minutes later, Lyle Della-Verde – impressive since his return to the side – exchanged passes with Okojie and fired home from just outside the box, beating Worgan at his near post.  On 37 minutes, another fine finish from Della-Verde after more Okojie involvement in the build up gave Town a two-goal cushion going into the break.

Half-time: Enfield Town 3 Chelmsford City 1

The second period saw the traditional swathes of substitutions from both sides.

Chelmsford were unlucky when Mickey Spillane tried his luck from distance but was denied by a combination of McDonald and crossbar, while Teniola fed Harrison for a shot which McDonald kept out with relative ease.

The visitors had a spell of domination, but Town were looking tight and disciplined. Further chances came and went for both sides but, overall, this was a solid and deserved win against good opposition.

Town starting line-up: Nathan McDonald, Sam Hatton, Trialist, Scott Thomas, Trialist, Josh Urquhart, Two trialists, Shaun Okojie, Sam Youngs, Lyle Della-Verde.

Substitutions: Ryan Blackman, Billy Bricknell, Junior Mubiayi and eight trialists came on in the second half.