Report

Enfield Town 2-0 Welling United

Town On A Roll
Report by Andrew Warshaw

Three straight wins, three clean sheets, five unbeaten. Whisper it quietly, survival is suddenly in our own hands though no-one is yet getting carried away.

In an electrifying atmosphere reminiscent of our playoff campaign last season, Enfield Town produced one their most effective displays of the season on Tuesday just when it mattered most —  after the ground staff worked miracles on the pitch, including a healthy layer of sand in one goalmouth.

Sam Youngs’ 14th goal of the season in all competitions and Anointed Chukwu’s first ever in National League South — particularly sweet given it was against his old club – got us over the line and closed the gap on Welling to two points with a game in hand.

No wonder the team and management were cheered to the rafters at the final whistle.

With John Oneyuga still ill and Xavier Benjamin playing out the last in the three-game suspension, Micky Parcell moved into the back three while up front Chukwu was paired with Hisham Kasimu, the latter making his first start in his second spell in a Town shirt.

The plan worked a treat with both strikers giving the Welling defence no peace though the architect of our victory was undoubtedly Jack Bates, whose deliveries from virtually every Town corner caused panic in the visitors’ defence – just as his freekick did at Aveley on Saturday. What an acquisition Jack looks like being until the end of the season.

Welling’s main threat on the night came from the experienced James Alabi but most of the goalmouth action was in his own team’s box.

Town should have been in front on 10 minutes when  Welling keeper Rhys Lovett, who had a tough night, managed to claw away a Youngs header from a pinpoint Bates corner, only to miss the ball completely when it was played back in. Luckily for him, Kasimu somehow stabbed wide from three yards.

Rhys Forster, who had little to do of note for most of the evening, gave Town fans kittens with one of those daring dribbles out of his area but just managed to prevent being closed down.

At the other end, a deep Bates corner appeared to hit the underside of the bar before yet another delicious set-piece very nearly saw Wingate skipper Dave Winfield put through his own net, only for a goal-line clearance  to spare his blushes.

But eight minutes before the break, Town broke the deadlock with the same combination that won us the game at Aveley. This time it was a Bates’ corner but the result was the same as Youngs scooped home a header.

Whenever Welling did venture forward, Town invariably got bodies on the line, one counter in particular producing three successive blocks. And just before the interval, Forster made himself big to preserve the lead in a one-on-one with Don Martin following Welling’s best move of the half.

H-T 1-0

Town were good value for their lead and needed to maintain their energy levels and make their superiority count even further.

But every team has a spell at some point and now it was Welling’s turn to push forward following a halftime rocket from their manager who turned the air blue in the dressing room with some choice language.

A Wings penalty shout for handball was turned down while neat interplay between Dan Quick and Jayden Davies screamed out for a final touch that wasn’t there.

But just as Welling threatened an equaliser, Town doubled their lead against the run of play  – something they hadn’t managed to achieve for weeks on end.

And what a special moment it was for Anointed who looked like he had got the ball stuck under his foot, only to hold off his man and shoot across goal into the corner (pictured), reward for having worked tirelessly throughout.

The goal completely knocked the wind out of Welling and Town might well have extended their lead. Kasimu, making his first start in any match since October because of injury and who will surely get fitter, shot wide of goal after great combination play with his fellow marksman.

“The fans took me right back to some of the vibe from last season,” said Gavin Macpherson afterwards. “They more than played their part and we’re going to need them.”

“We should have been out of sight by halftime but Welling are a combative team.  I’m so pleased for Chuk because that’s exactly what we’ve been working on in training with him, getting that touch away from the defender. As for Jack, I knew what I was signing when Alfie Tuck left. He’s having to adapt but is a technician.”

“What’s behind this run? Maybe we’re now gelling better. Relationships don’t happen overnight. It’s going to be a fight to the finish but no-one is daring to dream ‘cos we’re still in the bottom four and until we’re safe I won’t be satisfied.”

Town: Forster, Parcell, Thompson, Hawkins, Leonard, Brown, Bates, Youngs (Smith 89), Stallard, Chukwu (Hutchinson 83), Kasimu (Whittaker 74).

Video

Details

Date Time League Season
11/02/2025 7:45 pm Vanarama National League South 2024-25

Ground

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

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoals
Enfield Town112
Welling United000

Past Meetings

1 - 0
Vanarama National League South
2024-25

Welling United vs Enfield Town