Report

Enfield Town 1-0 Farnborough

Sam Does It Again
Report by Andrew Warshaw

Sam Youngs’ first-half penalty earned a depleted Town a battling win over an out-of-sorts Farnborough side and gave our survival hopes a much-needed boost.

Gavin Macpherson, already without the suspended Xavier Benjamin, had to re-organise a second time an hour before kickoff when Adam Thompson pulled out because of urgent family business.

But the makeshift line-up, including the returning John Oyenuga in an unfamiliar back three role and debutant Charlie Stallard as wingback, did their team proud.

Stallard, who has been training with the club for a number of weeks, was originally due be among the subs but was promoted to the starting eleven when Adam had to withdraw, leaving us with only four on the bench.

Not for the first time, we had to rely on Sam and not for the first time from the penalty spot.  But while we again lacked fluency up front and had to hang on at the other end in the latter stages,  we could in fact have been out of sight after just 15 minutes.

Anointed Chukwu, restored to the starting eleven with Amaru Kaunda having returned to Cambridge, caught Farnborough off guard, only to see his shot saved by the legs of Jack Turner.

The Yellows, playing all in black, are bottom of the division’s form table and Turner again came to their rescue with a brilliant stop from Billy Leonard. As the ball spun into the air, Bayley Brown’s ferocious drive was cleared off the line.

It seemed poetic justice when Brown, who gave away that penalty in the final seconds a week ago at Weymouth, atoned for his error.

On 14 minutes he forced into way into the box and was chopped down by Olly Pendlebury. Up stepped Youngs to celebrate winning his January player of the month award by sending Turner the wrong way.

Minutes later, the visitors had a mighty let-off when Henry Hawkins’ header from a corner came back off the post and somehow rebounded to safety.

Farnborough didn’t threaten until late in the half through Aaron Kuhl, who collected a free kick, found space for himself and thrashed  a shot inches wide. Reggie Young also went close but Town fully deserved their halftime lead.

H-T 1-0

After a dominant first 45 minutes, we found the going tougher but not before Youngs, with twinkle toes precision, forced a corner from which he arrived at the near post but couldn’t quite find the target.

From then on we had to dig in to maintain our advantage as Farnborough played through the lines. Richard Chin shot over after a rash attempted challenge by the otherwise impeccable Hawkins, then Chin stung the hands of Forster.

Yet for all their forward forays and umpteen long throws by skipper Ollie Robinson into our box, Farnborough didn’t test Rhys enough.

In fact, we had the chance to wrap things up twice through Chukwu. First the goal opened up for him, only for the ball to be smuggled clear. Then he chased down a clearance but didn’t have the pace to go on and finish and ran out of legs (pictured).

We almost paid the price right at the death. In a hearts in mouth moment, man of the match Oyenuga – who excelled on his return – dived full length with a goal-saving header four yards out to make sure that this time we held on to the points, Town fans breathing a collective sigh of relief.

The sight of Bailey Brown clutching his shoulder at the finish didn’t augur well given our absentees but Gav was understandably proud of his troops while, conversely, a section of the Farnborough fans called for their manager’s head after eight winless games.

“We had to show battling qualities with a completely makeshift back three,” Gav said. “We had to shuffle the pack twice and the boys were brilliant to be as resilient as they were. I’ve got to take my hat off to John Oyenuga coming in and playing out of position.”

“Having said that, we should have been out of sight at halftime on chances and in the second half, they spun the ball better than us. Overall we should have got nine points from the last three games and haven’t but it’s shown me we’re not far off.”

Town: Forster; Oyenuga, Hawkins, Payne; Stallard, Parcell, Youngs, Brown (Smith, 90), Leonard; Chukwu, Hutchinson (Whittaker, 90)

Video

Details

Date Time League Season
01/02/2025 3:00 pm Vanarama National League South 2024-25

Ground

Dave Bryant Stadium
Dave Bryant Stadium, Donkey Lane, Enfield EN1 3PL

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoals
Enfield Town101
Farnborough000

Past Meetings

4 - 1
Vanarama National League South
2024-25

Farnborough vs Enfield Town