Enfield Town 0 Chippenham Town 0

The two sides cancelled each other out in this one at a sunny Dave Bryant Stadium in an attritional game in which free-flowing football was at a premium.

Following a minute’s silence for the late Middlesex FA Chair John Taylor, the visitors were the first to show, with Tom Owen-Evans dragging a low shot across Joe Wright’s goal. For Enfield, Ollie Knight had a shot saved by ‘keeper Will Henry who, soon afterwards, punched clear a flick-on following an inswinging corner perilously close to his goalline, with a number of fans behind the goal claiming that the ball had actually crossed the line.

On 16 minutes Jake Evans fired over after some build up play on the Chippenham right, and a few minutes later Xavier Benjamin did well to block an effort from Luke Spokes after he had been fed by Alex Bray. Wright took no chances with a loose bouncing ball, pushing it over the bar, but a scarcity of goalmouth action in the first half contributed to the fairly low key atmosphere.

Half time: 0-0

The second period was more competitive, and not without controversy. Lennon Peake’s inswinging corners continued to cause problems for the Chips’ rearguard, and he also drilled a free-kick off target. Jack Bates’ rising shot failed to trouble Henry while, around the hour mark, a dangerous Spokes free-kick was headed behind for a corner by Henry Hawkins. At the other end, Bates was booked for simulation after he appeared to be impeded inside the box and then Town’s man of the match on the day saw his firm drive tipped over. Sam Youngs fired narrowly wide.

The key moment of the match came ten minutes from time following a Bates free-kick which caused confusion in the visitors’ defence. Substitute Cian Dillon appeared to force the ball over the line following Henry’s parry, and online footage after the match indicated at least a suspicion of handball on the line but, much to home supporters’ ire, the referee and his assistant waved play on.

As the match reached its conclusion, home skipper Mickey Parcell shot wide while, at the death, after a Chippenham free-kick had been deflected behind, Wright produced a top-drawer save to keep out Caine Bradbury’s goalbound shot to preserve a potentially crucial point.

Interviewed after the game, Gavin Macpherson was firmly of the opinion that his side should have won the match and that the players remained positive, upbeat and in good spirits, knowing that Town’s fate was still in their own hands over the remaining five tough encounters to come.

Team: Wright; Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins; Leonard, Parcell, Bates (Chukwu 86), Sidwell (Brown 57), Knight; Youngs, Peake (Dillon 61). Subs not used: Stallard, Kasimu.

Attendance: 982.

Welcome to the Towners, Cian Dillon! 🙌 We’re thrilled to have the 18-year-old Irish centre-forward join us on loan from Queens Park Rangers U21 until the end of the season. With 4 goals in 6 caps for Ireland U19 and a knack for finding the net, Cian’s ready to make his mark at Enfield Town FC. Let’s give him a warm welcome! ⚽

#UpTheTown

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we said goodbye to our founding chair and all-around legend, Dave Bryant. His spirit continues to inspire us, and this Saturday, we’re coming together to celebrate his legacy. We’re thrilled to welcome Rizete and Barbara, who are kindly sponsoring the match ball and Man of the Match award, along with Dave’s family and many friends who will be joining us at the game. It’s set to be a heartfelt tribute to a man who meant so much to our club.

On the ground, progress is steaming ahead as we work to bring the stadium up to Step 2 standard. The turnstiles are now in place, and this week marked the start of groundwork for the new stand. The first task? Relocating the north stand, a job ticked off the list by Monday thanks to some serious teamwork. A huge shoutout goes to our dedicated volunteers—Eric Allan, Ian Hamilton, Jonathan, Steven, Simon, and Pete Gooch—who rolled up their sleeves and put in a full day’s graft. It wasn’t easy, but seeing the stands now standing proud made it all worthwhile. We’re also grateful to Elite Stands and Alan from David Stanley Transport for their support in making this happen.

For Saturday’s match, the re-sited stands will likely still have their seats in place, but don’t worry—the full removal is on the horizon. We’re moving forward, step by step, and it’s all thanks to the incredible community that keeps this club alive. See you at the game!

#UpTheTown

Way back in August, Enfield Town received a nasty wake-up call in the form of a 6-1 home defeat at the hands of Slough Town. The return fixture proved a vastly different story against a largely similar Slough line-up, with Town unlucky not to take all three points following an impressive second half comeback. The performance was testament to the huge advances made by Gavin McPherson’s side in the intervening seven months. The point also moved Town up a place in the National League table, with Welling United’s unlikely victory over leader’s Worthing the only activity of note involving the teams below us. 

Town changes saw a recall for John Oyenuga and a first start for Harry Sidwell in midfield, but the home side were the first to settle, with wingers David Ogbonna and Johnny Goddard giving Town’s full back several hairy moments. A low cross from Taylor Clark was stabbed into the net by home centre back Edon Pruti to give the Revels a 14^th minute lead, but this Town side are made of sterner stuff these days, and quickly set about repairing the damage. Lennon Peake was finding space to operate down the left, but Town were unable to benefit from his crosses. The best first half chances fell to Peake, whose shot was blocked; in the resultant scramble, Sam Youngs’ effort was save by the outstretched leg of home keeper Charlie Horlock. Xavier Benjamin then hit a low effort a yard wide as Town began to ask some serious questions of the home side. 

The second half saw Town on the front foot, with wide men Peake and Billy Leonard stretching the Rebels’ defence, although most of their crosses were swallowed comfortably by the sure-handed Horlock. The equaliser soon arrived though, and was the result of some bloody-minded persistence, as well as two good advantages played by referee Mr Swan. Mickey Parcell might have had a free kick when he surged forward from midfield, and Anointed Chukwu might have had a penalty when he was impeded in the box. The ball ended up at the feet of Youngs though, and he beat Horlock with a low drive from ten yards. Game on. 

As Town chased a winner, the crosses were continually fired in, and Chukwu missed the best chance of the game when he volleyed Ollie Knight’s cross wide of Horlock’s right hand post. Slough’s forward line had belatedly woken up, however, and Joe Wright tipped Ogbonna’s dangerous cross to safety, with two hopeful Rebels waiting at the far post. Francis Amartey’s effort was brilliantly blocked on the line by Benjamin in the 90^th minute, and the travelling support’s fingernails were getting a severe chewing during the following seven minutes of stoppage time. Their only two efforts of note, however, sailed harmlessly into the Lynch Hill Academy behind the goal, and Town held on comfortably for their deserved point. 

Inch by inch we are moving away from the trapdoor. Wish all away days were like this. 

Team: Wright, Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins, Leonard, Parcell, Sidwell, Oyenuga, Youngs, Peake, Chukwu 

Subs: Knight (for Oyenuga 62), Tormey (for Chukwu 80), Kasimu (for Peake 89), Bates (for Sidwell 90+7. Not used: Stallard

Don’t forget our next fixture is at home vs Chippenham and we need you the 12th man! Tickets can be purchased in advance online here https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets

 Cast your mind back to our third game of the season and that sobering 6-1 trouncing by Slough, a result which illustrated, if we didn’t know it already, how tough a challenge this league would be.

Seven months on, we have a chance to avenge that when we visit Arbour Park on Saturday hoping to maintain our recent run of form that has seen us pull clear of the drop zone with three straight wins.

Six points ahead of Town, Slough have been inconsistent of late but will be keen not to get dragged into the danger area and proved how dangerous they can be with a 4-0 home win over high-flying Worthing last month.

“We’re a very different team to when we played them last with different attributes and more running power,” said Gavin Macpherson.

“But we’re still very much underdogs. Let’s face it, we’re the league’s unfashionable club that people don’t really consider to be at Step 2 level.”

“I understand that point of view cos you have to earn your stripes in this league and we haven’t done that until maybe recently.”

With St Albans winning and Welling losing in midweek to be five and eight points behind Town respectively, all those near the bottom have now played the same number of games, with seven left.

“It’s in our hands,” said Gavin, “but there will still be some twists and turns. I’ve got a hell of a lot of time for (Slough player/manager)  Scott Davies who I speak to regularly. He does a fantastic job over there and we know they have players who can hurt you. We’ll have to defend well on another artificial surface but the boys are competing above and beyond what I’ve asked of them.”

AW

We are delighted to announce that Gavin Macpherson has once again won the Vanarama National League South manager of the week award.

Our fantastic, last-gasp win over high-flying Truro on Saturday opened up an eight-point gap above the bottom four at the time and was our third straight maximum points haul as we bid for Step 2 survival

Many congrats, Gav!

Enfield Town 3 Truro City 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

This was surely about as good as it gets. An “I was there” moment.

Two goals down, both penalties, against the form side in the division, Town plucked victory from the jaws of defeat with two stoppage-time Ollie Knight goals in a breathtaking finale that, metaphorically speaking, took the roof off the Dave Bryant stadium

Bottom of the table on New Year’s Day, Town have now plundered 21 points out of 33 to leave us eight points clear of the drop zone. Never mind a relegation scrap, that’s playoff form.

Gavin Macpherson is not one to get too high or too low until the job’s done but as trademark statements go, this was right up there. After all, second-placed Truro had not lost in the league since the end of January and were unbeaten in 10.

With Sam Youngs back in the side after the birth of his first child, Town played into a strong first-half wind but soon found themselves a goal behind with the most bizarre of penalty decisions.

Tinners dangerman Tyler Harvey was adjudged to have been pulled over and duly beat the outstretched arm of Joe Wright from the spot.

Harvey’s 22^nd goal of the campaign became 23 five minutes before the break, also from the spot, when Adam Thompson wrestled Luke Jephcott to the ground.

In truth, Truro’s final-third passing had been cleaner than ours in the opening 45 minutes. Harvey was denied by Joe Wright, a goalmouth scramble kept out Connor Riley-Lowe while Tommo’s superb interception got the better of Jaze Kabia.

But instead of allowing heads to drop, Town started to give as good as they got, with Billy Leonard especially eye-catching. Youngs shot inches over, Hisham Kasimu also went close and in between Truro’s brace we had a far more realistic penalty shout when Bailey Brown was clearly manhandled in the area but incredibly nothing was given.

Just before halftime, Wright’s point blank save from Kabia kept us in it before the mother of all comebacks.

H-T 0-2

Some of the officiating had left a lot to be desired but within five minutes of the restart, Town were on the scoresheet. With virtually his first touch, halftime substitute Harry Sidwell picked up the ball 40 yards out, dribbled forward and unleashed a spectacular effort into the net.

It was just the tonic we needed and midway through the half, we were given a golden opportunity to level things up after what in truth looked like another harsh penalty call. Up stepped Youngs, only for the normally Mr Reliable to miss for the second time in a row as Dan Lavercombe guessed correctly.

It so nearly proved costly when Truro’s Luke Jephcott struck the post eight minutes from time. Instead, as  the shadows lengthened and the clock ticked past 90 minutes, Ollie Knight’s deflected shot from a Harry Hawkins throw ended up in the back of Truro’s net.

It looked for all as if we had salvaged a point in the dying embers of the game which would in itself have been quite an achievement

But remarkably, it got even better. Five minutes of stoppage time having originally been signalled, the referee added on a couple more due to Kabia receiving lengthy treatment just outside our box.

To say we took full advantage is an understatement.  Jack Bates, also on a sub, sent one final and particularly delicious cross into the box and Ollie turned the ball in at the back post to complete a sensational recovery and send the whole place wild — made even sweeter by the fact that St Albans and Welling both lost.

“We thoroughly deserved it today,” said Gavin after our third straight victory with seven games now remaining. “It’s a massive win. We tweaked it a bit at halftime and eventually ended up as a 3-4-3 because we had to roll the dice. I didn’t watch Youngy’s penalty but he’s our talisman and knows he has to do better. But I wouldn’t bet against him scoring the next one he gets.”

Inspired substitutions with Ollie and Jack? “Listen I’m not a genius, you just hope things come off. I told the boys to enjoy it because they’ve had enough of me rambling on after defeats about what we should have done better. But now we turn our attention to Slough next Saturday. My feet are firmly on the ground till we have achieved our goal.”

Enfield 3-5-2

Wright; Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins; Stallard (Chukwu,60), Parcell, Brown (Knight 82), Peake, Leonard; Youngs, Kasimu (Sidwell 46)

Eight cup finals is how Gavin Macpherson describes the run-in to the season, starting with Saturday’s clash with title-chasing Truro who need the points for entirely different reasons.

Tuesday’s win over Hampton and Richmond may have been a huge step in our survival bid but Gavin has stressed the importance of staying ahead of the game.

“The fact that we are five points ahead of the two teams below us can quickly be eradicated, given they both have a game in hand,” said Gav who is nevertheless pleased about how we have responded since the turn of the year, the four straight defeats notwithstanding.

“You have to acknowledge that in some people’s minds around other clubs, the narrative was that we were dead and buried at Christmas. I took no notice of the stuff on social media and I dare say, none of our supporters did either.”

“Character is an often used cliché in football but when you have that, there’s more than a fighting chance.”

Gavin acknowledges that getting anything against high-flying Truro will be a bonus. “We know what a good side they are. Everyone is focussed on the so-called bigger clubs but I can tell you Truro are in with a terrific chance. We will pay them due respect. They are very potent up front but in patches we did well at their place.”

Ideally the hope is by the time St Albans visit us next month, we will have already have enough points. “That would be great but in all probability it will go down to the wire,” said Gavin who concedes our inferior goal difference needs to be constantly monitored given it could be crucial.

“It’s an important factor and while a draw against Truro may be perceived as good result, we need to keep chalking off wins to make sure goal difference doesn’t ultimately prove the clincher.”

Meantime, we wish striker Jake Hutchinson all the very best as he returns to former club Hitchin Town. “Sometimes things don’t quite work out how you want it to and you have to do what’s best both for the player and the club,” said Gav.

AW

Enfield Town 1-0 Hampton & Richmond

Report by Charlie Baker

Enfield Town celebrated Gavin Macpherson’s 100^th game in charge by moving five points clear of the relegation zone, in the process getting revenge on the visitors.

We were on the receiving end of a 4-0 Hampton hammering back in September as we tried to find our feet in the division.

We certainly did early in this game, with the returning Lennon Peake firing just wide of the post.

Anointed Chukwu, coming in for Hisham Kasimu up front, showed silky footwork which led to a free kick from which Henry Hawkins’ header was gathered by Beavers keeper Max Merrick.

After 17 minutes, the early Town pressure was rewarded. Mickey Parcell’s blocked shot was picked up by Peake who fired it past Merrick into the bottom right corner (pictured, celebrating)

With a quarter of the game gone it was becoming clear this was a different Hampton to the side we faced earlier in the season. However, they grew into the game, with their first real chance coming from lively former Towner Josh Keeya.

Another through ball then put Hampton in, but Hawkins carried on from his Man of the Match performance in our win at Salisbury on Saturday with a last-ditch tackle. 

Town went up the other end, with Bayley Brown next to cause the Beavers problems. He weaved his way into the box and found Xavier Benjamin in the middle but the defender’s touch took the ball away from him. 

A small spell of rain then seemed to have a big effect on the pitch. A Hawkins slip left Joe Wright stranded out of his goal, but Keeya couldn’t convert and we saw out the half with ease.

HT 1-0

Having picked up just three points from their last 27 available, the visitors would have to step up against a confident Town if they wanted to get anything.

But we were back at it in the second half, with Chukwu’s shot deflected in the box. Brown and Ollie Knight were next to try their luck, both firing over. 

There wasn’t much else to report on, with Hampton unable to keep the ball for long periods and Town looking relatively comfortable.

However, we know all too well how dangerous a 1-0 scoreline can be, and Hampton crept back into it.

Wright was forced into a solid save down to his right and claimed a couple of dangerous crosses to see us over the line. 

To top it off, new midfielder Harry Sidwell made his debut off the bench and looked lively for the 20 minutes that he featured.

The vital win – secured without Sam Youngs who was celebrating the birth of his first child – sees us move up to 38 points, five clear of St Albans and Welling in the relegation zone who both have a game in hand. We’re also now level with Salisbury who picked up a point away at Torquay. 

We’re back at home this Saturday against high-flying Truro, looking to make another big step in the road to survival.

Town: Wright, Hawkins, Thompson, Benjamin, Leonard (Oyenuga 77), Brown (Sidwell 72), Parcell, Stallard, Peake (Bates 75), Knight, Chukwu (Kasimu 87).

As we maintain our push for Step 2 survival, we have been further strengthened by the signing of former Arsenal attacking wide midfielder Nathan Tormey.

Nathan, 24, represented Arsenal youth, under-18 and under-23, most recently played for Bromley and joins us as a free agent.

It’s a hugely exciting acquisition and Gavin Macpherson commented: “He can play anywhere across the front three and gives us something we haven’t got.

“Ultimately Nathan wants to get back in the Football League but he’s under no illusions and realises he’s got to knuckle down.”

Welcome, Nathan