Enfield Town 2 Aveley 4
Report by Andrew Warshaw
It may be a broken record but once again we were badly hurt by the same old problem though no-one can fault us for fight or effort.
The fact remains, however, that unlike at table-topping Farnborough, who will trouble many sides this season, conceding another four goals – this time at home against fellow strugglers who hadn’t won away — only further illustrates the need for quality defensive re-inforcements which, once they come, will surely put us back on the right track.
Just before the Aveley game, we brought in Welsh under-19 international Dan Cox from Derby County on loan. On the bench yesterday, Dan will hopefully play a key role in filling that much-needed position.
Gavin understandably cut a frustrating figure given it was one of our most eye-catching displays with the ball in terms of movement including two well-worked goals. But without it, we continue to struggle badly as we try and strike the right balance.
Town had an early let-off when Hamza Semakula rattled the bar from close range but for the most part our approach and link-up play gave us the edge in well-contested opening half.
On the half hour, we should have taken advantage of a terrible backpass, only for Jake Hutchinson to be caught in two minds whether to shoot or square to Harry Ottaway, allowing the Aveley defence to scramble the ball clear.
The game was then delayed for a number of minutes because of discriminatory language in the away end, resulting in the two captains being pulled together and a strong tannoy warning.
When it resumed, there was goalmouth action at both ends before Town broke the deadlock with a glorious goal. Jack Smith, back in the side after his long layoff, won the ball high up the pitch, fed Ottaway and ran on to convert Harry’s cross.
Two minutes later and back came that old sinking feeling as Ibby Akanbi burst unchallenged down the left and from his centre, Manny Ogunrinde got the last touch.
HT 1-1
It was tough on Town but twice we came within a whisker of restoring our lead, both from crosses by John Oyenuga – who put in arguably his best performance for Town apart from one lapse of concentration that cost us — and both a Hutchinson toe poke away from being converted.
And yet it was the visitors who stole the lead just after the hour mark as Josh Anifowose, who had just come off the bench, rifled a 25-yarder through the middle of the goal with Rhys Forster possibly unsighted.
Now it was our turn to hit straight back through a composed Ottoway finish that should have put us in the driving seat for the final quarter.
Instead, with the game on a knife edge, another Aveley sub, Razzaq Coleman, finished off a pull-back as our defence got in a familiar tangle.
This time, like a boxer who had taken one too many punches, the Towners’ tiring legs couldn’t get up off the floor and we were punished again through Charlie Hughes’ curling effort as we fluffed not one but two chances to clear our lines.
The result kept both sides in the bottom four but Aveley move ominously to within a point of us, having played a game less. And now comes another six-pointer at Welling on Tuesday.
“The scoreline doesn’t reflect the game and I’m slightly scratching my head because the boys actually played quite well,” said Gavin after our goals conceded column was extended to 32, the worst in the division.
“We could have scored five but unfortunately they were ruthless with their chances, we missed ours, and then it’s happened again to us defensively. It’s a massive blow because it was avoidable and a horrible pattern. We need to get points on the board but it’s still all to play for.”
Town
Forster; Parcell, Benjamin, Payne; Oyenuga, Peake (Loenard, 60) , Tuck, Smith (Knight 80), Mills; Ottaway, Hutchinson (Beckles-Richards 72)