Enfield Town go into Saturday’s fixture at Farnborough on a mini unbeaten run and buoyed by three crucial points in midweek.
Gavin Macpherson traditionally rejects talk of six-pointers but the postponement of Farnborough’s game against Dagenham and Redbridge on Tuesday has only added to the sense of anticipation, with three points separating tomorrow’s teams who have played the same number of games.
Farnborough have scheduled a 10.30 am pitch inspection on Saturday with much depending on how much rain falls beforehand and we will update Town fans accordingly.
Town’s 5-1 win in the corresponding game at the end of November was a real high point of the season and although no-one is expecting a similar outcome, it’s all about keeping cool heads as the games come thick and fast, with two away fixtures before we entertain Bath tomorrow week.
With Xav Benjamin available again after his one-match ban against Horsham, Town have a relatively clean bill of health against a side who gave as good as they got before going down in an eight-goal thriller at league leaders Dorking last time out and have just brought in experienced winger Courtney Senior, formerly of Colchester United, AFC Wimbledon and Barnet.
“Three unbeaten is really good but the next two games are going to be crucial as far as momentum is concerned,” said Gavin. “Farnborough have some extremely good players and I think most people expected them to be at the other end of the table.”
“Do I expect to lose games between now and the end of the season? Yes but the important thing is some of the draws become wins. We know exactly what we have to do. I get fully that the other night worked in our favour with the other results but we’ve got to accumulate enough points to stay in this league regardless of what anyone else is doing. It’s not going to be a quick process.”
“Sure we can look at some games more than others depending how big those clubs are and where they are in the league, thinking that perhaps we won’t pick up points here or there. But football doesn’t work like that.”
Keeping the squad injury-free will be vital in the weeks ahead when every game is a cup final as the old cliché goes, starting with Farnborough who haven’t had a home league game for a month.
“It’s hugely demanding on the lads and we have to try and keep people fresh,” said Gavin. “Hopefully we’ve had our injury crisis back around the Harborough time but sometimes there’s a huge element of luck involved.”
Whilst part-time team in the division on paper have more difficulty in dealing with such a squeezed schedule, togetherness is all-important.
“It breeds a team environment especially when you’re a smaller club than others at this level,” said Gavin. “We understand what we can and can’t do but what we can do is build a team mentality.”
AW