Report

Town rue missed chances

Enfield Town 2 Maldon & Tiptree 2 (Maldon & Tiptree win 4-3 on penalties)

This match was Town’s for the taking, particularly in the first half. In an subdued atmosphere initially (FA competitions going ahead with the Steps 3 & 4 league programme remaining suspended), the hosts soon began working up an impressive head of steam. Lee Chappell’s quickly taken free kick put Lewis Taaffe in a good position on the left, but he fired over.

Maldon’s strength was clearly their pace on the break, and a dangerous looking run from Hamza Kaid ended with a tame, floated finish well wide of the target. Taaffe was equally wasteful in the 17th minute with a free kick that failed to trouble Jammers’ keeper Ben McNamara. A minute later McNamara made a crucial save when a high cross to the far post from Chappell found Town debutant Adam Cunnington, but his header was acrobatically clawed away as home supporters were about to celebrate the opening goal of the game.

After 23 minutes, a corner on the right from Taaffe found the head of Josh Urquhart in space, but his clean, unchallenged, header flew inches over the bar.  And it looked like “one of those nights” when a great Town move in the 26th minute involving Cunnington and Sam Youngs found Billy Bricknell bearing down on goal, but his right foot shot from an angle was kept out by McNamara’s legs.  On 31 minutes, Cunnington turned provider with a low cross from the right, but Taaffe’s subsequent shot was blocked for a corner.

Just before the break, a free kick into the home box from busy midfielder Sam Cornish – arguably Maldon’s outstanding performer on the night along with McNamara – was jabbed towards goal but Nathan McDonald was able to collect. The half ended with Bricknell being twice denied by McNamara.

Half-time: Enfield Town 0 Maldon & Tiptree 0

Adam Vyse saw a powerful drive turned behind by McDonald for Maldon’s best chance of the evening to date, before Bradley McClenaghan blazed over.  But Town were continuing to look motivated for this game and were rewarded for their persistence when a long throw from Chappell on the left was headed in by Jeremiah Gyebi approaching the hour mark.

In the 67th minute Town increased their lead and were continuing to look good value.  Taaffe laid the ball to Chappell, and Town’s man-of-the match delivered a high cross to the back post where Youngs was on hand to head home.

There was much more work to be done, however, and Maldon were clearly not giving up without a fight, still showing electric pace on the break. The pivotal moment of the night came in the 77th minute when McNamara again denied Bricknell, and the play switched immediately to the other end with a sweeping move which ended with substitute Shomari Barnwell gleefully converting.

Town’s game management at this point looked tentative to say the least, and Maldon sensed it might not be all over. And, sure enough, in the 90th minute a cross from the right from Scott Kemp found Kaid to slot home with the home defence looking all at sea.

At the death Nzembela did well to wriggle his way past Kojo Awotwi but he couldn’t connect properly after he had flicked the ball over the defender’s head, and the ball trickled off to the sound of the final whistle. Straight to penalties, then, and the sequence was:

Sam Hatton (Enfield) hit woodwork; Shomari Barnwell (Maldon) scored; Lee Chappell (Enfield) scored; Aaron Williams-Bushell (Maldon) scored; Josh Urquhart (Enfield) hit woodwork; Makhosini Khanye (Maldon) missed; Sam Youngs (Enfield) scored; Joe Turpin (Maldon) scored; Percy Kiangebeni (Enfield) scored; Sam Cornish (Maldon) scored.

Maldon & Tiptree will face Bognor Regis Town at home in Round 2.  Town must wait for developments.

Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Josh Urquhart, Lee Chappell, Scott Thomas, Harold Joseph, Jeremiah Gyebi, Sam Youngs, Percy Kiangebeni, Billy Bricknell (Sam Hatton 87), Adam Cunnington (Neville Nzembela 75), Lewis Taaffe (Jared Small 68). Unused subs: Adam Pepera, Jon Muleba, Harry Smart (GK). Booked: Urquhart.

Maldon & Tiptree: Ben McNamara, Kojo Awotwi, Niran Butler (Makhosini Khanye 49), Sam Cornish, Joe Turpin, Martyn Stokes, Andre Hasanally, Bradley McClenaghan (Aaron William-Bushell 87), Adam Vyse (Shomari Barnwell 68), Hamza Kaid, Scott Kemp. Unused subs: Rhamar Garrett-Douglas, Sam Coombes, Alfie Mason, James Conway (GK).

Attendance: 335.

Details

Date Time Season
09/12/2020 7:45 pm 2020-21

Ground

Queen Elizabeth II Stadium
Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Donkey Lane, Enfield EN1 3PL

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoals
Enfield Town023P
Maldon & Tiptree024P

KO 43 68 75 88 FT