Enfield Town FC

Report

Enfield Town 1-6 Slough Town 

Town Shellshocked by Ruthless Rebels
Report by Andrew Warshaw

After two highly encouraging outings, Enfield Town were brought down to earth with a crash on Tuesday night as we were comprehensively dismantled  by ruthless opponents who were quicker, classier and more skilful.

It was a chastening night for the boys across all areas the pitch, especially in defence. In truth it could have been even worse but while there were few if any positives, the fact remains that we have three points from as many games which isn’t too bad a return and can’t be said for the six clubs below us.

It should also be noted that the crowd of 822, superb for a midweek game and including over 100 from Slough, made for a great atmosphere and it is a credit to the Town majority that they remained behind the team throughout, clearly understanding the level we are now playing at.

Let’s not forget too that until the 43^rd minute we were on level terms, only to be undone by a series of clinical quick-fire finishes that showed there’s no hiding place at step 2 and exposed some clear deficiencies which the management team will surely address.

Town made just the one change from win over Weston-super-mare, resting Scott Thomas and bringing in Ernaldo Krasniqi but  Slough Town’s intent was clear from start and they were ahead after just three minutes  courtesy of dangerman Kweku Lucan, whose electric pace troubled Town all evening. Slavi Spasov sped down the left and when his cross came back off the post, Lucan tapped home though we should have got tighter to both of them.

It immediately put us on the back foot and only a smart stop by Rhys Forster prevented Spasov from doubling Slough’s lead.

When Hisham Kasimu whipped a left-footer just over the bar, things started to look brighter and on 25 minutes we were back on level terms as, out of nowhere, Bernie Tanner unleashed a 28-yard thunderbolt.

That should have given Town the belief to push on. Instead we were rocked back on our heels in the last few minutes of the half as Slough picked up the tempo once again and hit us thrice more before the break in a matter of minutes.

First, a lightning move down Slough’s right  beat us for pace and Spasov fired home. Before we could catch our breath we conceded again as Joash Nembhard was basically outmuscled by Lucan who slotted the ball past Forster who will want to forget this particular encounter against his old club.

And there was worse to come. In first-half stoppage time, we didn’t pick up Spasov’s dummy and John Gilbert pounced on the loose ball.

H-T 1-4

Now it was all about damage limitation as we switched to 4-4-2 but Slough maintained their control and gave us nothing to feed off.

Within two minutes of the restart, Henry Ochieng’s volley rattled the bar and it was little surprise when the Rebels added a fifth, Dan Roth nutmegging Khanya Neshabela before feeding Spasov who finished from close range.

We just couldn’t cope with Slough’s attacking interplay as they constantly played balls in behind and the onslaught was complete in second half stoppage time.

The Rebels had already twice gone close to number six against a now weary backline and delivered the final blow with virtually the last kick of the game, John Ufuah finding academy prospect Jack Timberlake who smashed it home.

Gavin didn’t mince his words afterwards.

“I’m probably at my lowest point as a manager,” he conceded. “I’ve never had a result like this. Clearly as a collective group, and that includes me and the management team, it’s not been good enough and that’s an understatement. Slough spun the ball very well but some of the goals were simply calamitous.”

“I can’t put it down to just one of those days because we’re all accountable. We haven’t been too bad in the first two games but I’m appalled by tonight and if I have to change things I will.”

Town: Forster, Tanner, Nembhard, Payne, Parcell (c) (Oyenuga 68), Krasniqi (Folivi HT), Leshabela, Youngs, Knight, Leonard, Kasimu (Beckles-Richards 65).