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

After Saturday’s gutsy away win, Enfield Town now have back-to-back home fixtures in our quest to main our National League South status, starting with Hampton and Richmond Borough on Tuesday.

The Beavers lie 15^th in the division at the time of writing and on Saturday were beaten at home by Hemel Hempstead in what has been a patchy run of form of late.

But given they are all but safe, they have nothing to lose and Town will remember being on the end of a chastening 4-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture baack in September.

One familiar face on Tuesday could be former Towner Josh Keeya who scored H and R’s goal in Saturday’s 2-1 reverse.

“They’re a side that’s full of energy, we saw that earlier in the season and we are going to have to be at our best,” said Gavin Macpherson.

“We’re at home but the players have to show the same heart and desire that they did against Salisbury. What’s been proven is they can do it. The supporters made a huge difference on Saturday and long may it continue.”

AW

Salisbury City 1 Enfield Town 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

Spirit, grit, desire, determination, teamwork – and the odd slice of good fortune.

Those were the ingredients that contributed to a superb away victory as we closed the gap on Salisbury to two points on a day when for once other results went in our favour in the push for Step 2 survival

If the officiating at times was well below average, to put it mildly, in the end it mattered little as we moved out of the bottom four with nine games remaining and with more than a little help from the away end which sung their hearts out all afternoon.

Salisbury came charging out of the blocks and for 20 minutes it was all about weathering the storm and staying in the game as we struggled to pass to feet and get out of our own third.

But after taking the sting out of the hosts, we started to impose ourselves. Hisham Kasimu’s miscued cross-shot bounced off the angle of post and bar. Then the Salisbury keeper got in a right pickle from a Billy Leonard centre and Hish’s turn and shot was cleared off the line.

How many times this season have we seen the opposition pounce late in the half?  Now the ball was on the other foot. With the last action of the half, Jack Bates’ freekick was nodded on by Adam Thompson and Henry Hawkins headed across goal into the far corner.

H-T 0-1

Town’s second was not long in coming courtesy of a ricket by Rhys Byrne in the home goal. Charlie Stallard recycled a corner by driving a low shot towards the near post and the ball wriggled through Byrne’s arms and legs (pictured).

If it was a stroke of luck, we weren’t complaining and it soon should have been three, Bailey Brown’s close-range strike instead met by Byrne’s fine stop.

Now the Whites started to pour forward again mirroring the opening period of the game, almost everything going through their dangerous wide man Aiden Elliott-Wheeler.

Tommo took a yellow for the team with a deliberate pullback while Joe Wright pulled off a couple of smart stops  from Joshua Hedges and Owen Dore.

We were standing strong but under the cosh and on 83 minutes the pressure finally told as Salisbury talisman Hedges halved the deficit, controlling a long pass before outwitting Xavier Benjamin and slipping the ball past Wright.

As we moved into six minutes of stoppage time, it was hearts in mouth time especially when Joe flapped at a freekick and was rescued by Hawkins who somehow marginally prevented the ball from going over the line to preserve the three points.

“A lot of things went against us with the officiating in the first half when they did similar things and never got punished,” said Gavin Macpherson after we finally snapped a four-game losing streak – the perfect present for Town chairman Paul Reed’s 50^th birthday.

“We had to over-ride that but when you think they had to resort to route one football which is not their style, it shows what a good job we did. We nullified what they’re good at for large parts of the game.”

With Billy Leonard’s ankle having swollen up as a result of a late challenge and Hish limping off with what seemed a heavy dead leg, changes may have to be made in midweek.

“We’ll see how they both are,” said Gav. “I can’t get too carried away because my mind now turns directly to Hampton and Richmond on Tuesday. I’m not going to allow the boys to show me the heart and desire they did today, then turn up with a different mindset. Let’s face it, we were out of the bottom four after Chesham and then went back into it. Which means there’s a lot of hard work still to do.”

Town:

Wright; Hawkins, Thompson, Benjamin; Leonard (Peake 85), Brown, Bates (Oyenuga 75), Parcell, Stallard; Youngs (Chukwu 84), Kasimu (Knight 75).

Can we still do it? With a bit of luck and a fair wind, of course we can.  

Step 2 survival has come down to the last 10 games starting with a pivotal visit to Salisbury tomorrow who we ideally need to prevent getting away from us and opening up an eight-point gap.

Victory  on the road in Wiltshire would not only put us two points behind the Whites but also end a run of four straight defeats that has seen Welling and St. Albans sneak ahead of us, the first of whom have a tricky tie at Truro while St Albans face bottom club Weymouth.

“I can’t do anything about the games that have gone but we now have 10 huge ones,” said Gavin Macpherson. “We are one of five teams below Salisbury scrapping to get out of it but winning this game would pull them right into it too.”

With Jack Smith ruled out with an ankle injury sustained in training, new teenage on-loan midfielder Harry Sidwell comes into consideration  for a game Gavin Macpherson recognises must yield some kind of positive result to keep our hopes on track.

It’s tight as heck around the drop zone and keeping pace with those around us is key at the business end of the season.

 “As the points whittle down, obviously it becomes more critical. Not so long ago we were talking about 90 points available, now it’s 30. I’ve just got to make sure we pick up enough of them,” said Gavin.

“The last four games have focussed the mind again. I wouldn’t say it was complacency after those four wins because the defeats have been against really tough sides except perhaps Tonbridge which everyone knows we should have won.”

“Salisbury have a really good set-up and could cause us problems. But we’ve had two good training sessions and the boys have assured me more than ever that they intend to fight for everything. They understand the magnitude of what’s ahead of them.”

 AW

We are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Harry Sidwell on loan from AFC Wimbledon.  Harry, 18, brings youthful energy and talent to our squad, and we are confident he will make a significant impact during his time with us.

Harry began his career with AFC Wimbledon’s youth academy and has recently gained valuable experience on loan at Havant & Waterlooville FC, where he continued his development as a central midfielder. 

Football runs in Harry’s veins, being the son of former Premier League midfielder Steve Sidwell. Steve enjoyed a distinguished career with clubs such as Reading, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Fulham, and was renowned for his work ethic and midfield prowess.

We are proud to welcome Harry to Enfield Town and look forward to seeing him contribute to the all-important run-in.

“He’s very well thought of and a full-time pro,” said Gavin Macpherson.  “He’s done very well at Havant and Waterlooville this season . I’m hoping he can come in and add something  but also we are entrusted with helping his development.”

Welcome Harry!

Enfield Town 0 Dorking Wanderers 2

From Andrew Warshaw

Thirty-six down, 10 to go but plenty of points still to play for.

Against the league leaders and without our chief defensive orchestrator Adam Thompson who pulled out sick a few hours before kick-off, Town arguably deserved more  for a gutsy second-half display on Saturday in front of a bumper four-figure crowd

While celebrations to mark International Women’s Day, with all women and girls given free entry, were a huge success, the same could sadly not be said for a result that sent us into the bottom three.

A shame given the carnival atmosphere though had Sam Youngs not missed his first ever penalty in a Town shirt in regulation time, the outcome might have been different.

Yet the fact that Gavin Macpherson praised the players afterwards said everything about the levels of determination and spirit against full-time opponents who haven’t lost away in the league all year.

After the Dorking coach got stuck in traffic, kick-off was delayed by an eyebrow-raising 45 minutes which seemed, on the outside at least, to have been a somewhat unfair concession given that their players ultimately still had over an hour to prepare.

With Tommo missing, Charlie Stallard was moved into the back three where he was arguably our best outfield player.

As expected given their lofty status, Dorking dominated the ball with Town opting to resolutely sit in and try to frustrate their high-flying opponents.

The plan was nearly undone on 14 minutes, only for Rob Milsom’s penalty down the middle – awarded through Ollie Knight’s trip on Josh Brooking – being saved by the legs of Wright (pictured).

Jason Prior’s hooked volley then rattled the crossbar but for all Dorking’s possession, on the counter Anointed Chukwu’s hold-up play was again impressive while a close-range Knight effort looped over the bar.

Our defence was finally breached four minutes  before half-time when a miscued header fell to Prior who got the final touch.

Half-time: 0-1

A soft goal to concede and now our game plan had to change. So it did as we defended higher up the pitch and used the flanks to greater effect. But not before Wright pulled off two wonderful saves,  first from Jimmy Muitt, then tipping Charlie Carter’s header from a corner over the bar.

As we grew into the game, it was Dorking who were now on the back foot. Youngs released Billy Leonard whose fine cross just eluded Chukwu but on 70 minutes we had a great chance to equalise as Youngs was adjudged to have been brought down by the keeper.

He took an age to put the ball on a muddy spot, then proceeded to try an audacious but weakly hit Panenka – straight into the grateful gloves of Harrison Foulkes.

The surprise miss took the stuffing out of Town’s hard-fought-for momentum switch. Muitt smashed a volley against the woodwork before Wright pulled off another worldie, this time from substitute Jack Young.

 Still we pushed for a leveller but with two minutes remaining gifted Wanderers a second. Under pressure, Wright sent a clearance straight to the feet of Carter who fired the ball into an empty net with Joe back-pedalling.

It was his one slip of an otherwise outstanding display but only served to complete a frustrating afternoon.

“I can’t fault the players this time, the game was all about moments,” said Gavin. “We set up to stifle, then have a go if necessary and that’s what we did. I thought we were good value to get something from the game in the second half.”

“Youngy changed what he normally does and although you can’t be too hard on him, it cost us because it was potentially a game-changer.”

“I’ve never seen a team turn up late and be given an hour to get ready. I asked the ref if it was a rule change and he said no. I need to choose my words carefully but maybe we wouldn’t have got that given to us if we turned up late away from home.”

Four straight wins have been followed by four straight defeats but at least we now have a week to prepare for Salisbury which suddenly becomes the mother of all six-pointers. “It’s  obviously not the position I wanted to be in but it’s a massive game,” said Gavin.

Town Wright; Benjamin (Kasimu 76), Hawkins, Stallard; Parcell, Brown; Oyenuga, Leonard (Peake 89), Knight; Youngs (Hutchinson 93), Chukwu

There’ll be pre-match dance displays, all manner of stalls selling colourful merchandise, a spin the wheel competition from Hertfordshire Zoo, a halftime  girls’ penalty shootout out and free entry for all female fans.

All we need now  as we celebrate International Women’s Day tomorrow is for the team to do us proud on the pitch against league leaders Dorking Wanderers — just as they did in the corresponding game in november when we eeked out a draw.

No-one is any doubt about the quality of opposition that faces us but after three straight defeats, we have to start to “change the narrative”, as Gavin Macpherson put it, as we bid to keep our survival  hopes alive.

The fact that we have no midweek game next Tuesday is a huge relief, especially with a crucial visit to Salisbury next weekend. Psychologically at least, that should provide added incentive against a Dorking side that have only lost once this year and not at all away from home.

Lennon Peake looks like being available for selection after his long lay-off while the other piece of team news is that Dylan Adjei-Hersey and Joe Payne have joined Reece Beckles- Richards at Potters Bar in order to get some game time in their legs.

“They are all dual registered and I need to get all of them up to speed,” explained Gavin. “They are all very much part of this squad but we need to give them the right tools for when we need them”

Only 90 minutes’ training took place on Thursday after the rigours of Hornchurch and Gavin is under no illusions about the task facing us.

“We are just entering our toughest game of the season,” said Gav, “an extremely talented side with extremely experienced players. Everyone will need to be at least an 8 out of 10 and detailed in our planning. A bit like us last season, Dorking are a fired-up relentless team going for result after result.”

Gavin admits he has a figure in his head in terms of how many points we might ultimately need but understandably won’t say publicly.

“I have a number but every manager will be doing the same thing whether at the top or bottom. There have been some missed opportunities, especially last Saturday. Even against Hornchurch the stats show we were right in there except the one stat that matters.”

“We have to change the narrative  of slipping back into some poor ways. That’s done by mindset and how you are tactically and organisationally. But realistically let’s face it we are massive underdogs. We never set out to make up numbers but we realise the levels we have to get to in order get anything from this particular game.

“Dorking have been training all week compared to our 90 minutes and it’s a massive step up. We have to be on it on and off the pitch. I know I’ve said this before and it’s an old cliché but we need the vocal support, the drums and everything that comes with it. It makes such a difference when you’re down in the trenches.”

AW

Hornchurch 3 Enfield Town 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

In a sense Tuesday night was a case of déjà vu. Score first, then concede three.  Just like last Saturday.

Except this wasn’t quite the same. Tougher opposition, mudbath of a pitch and everyone in a Town shirt putting in a shift.

And yet another game slips by and we have now lost three on the bounce following four straight wins.

Why the trend has been suddenly reversed is a question Gavin Macpherson admitted he was scratching his head over but this latest setback can be put down, quite simply, to the fact that Hornchurch were more clinical and showed superior accuracy of pass.

The fact we created good chances away from home on that kind of surface was certainly a plus point but playing twice a week against teams of individual quality takes its toll. Especially when you have to work harder for your opportunities than the opposition.

Having said that, on another day we might well have got something. Gavin made two changes, giving Ollie Knight a start on the wing and moving Bailey Brown into midfield, replacing John Oyenuga and Jack Bates respectively. And both played their part.

It was Ollie who gave Hornchurch an early scare with a curling centre that was cleared from under bar.

Whilst Hornchurch thereafter looked the livelier side as they settled into a rhythm, the first half was pretty much 50-50. Town had already seen Anointed Chukwu’s flick find Hisham Kasimu whose turn and shot was thwarted by a timely block before, on the half-hour, we went in front as Knight’s corner was moved on by Chukwu for Bailey Brown to finish (pictured).

How we could done with our next chance also finishing in the back of the net. Instead, Knight’s rising strike after great work by Hish just cleared the bar though a corner should have awarded instead of a goalkick after Mason Terry got a touch.

 Hornchurch’s equaliser wasn’t long in arriving. At Step 2 you invariably get punished for mistakes and when Mickey Parcell lost possession, the ball was moved across to Charlee Adams who rifled it into the corner.

As halftime approached, Joe Wright – like Mickey playing against his old club –  kept out Charlie Pegrum’s effort but we still posed a threat as Chukwu’s low drive was parried by the legs of Terry.

H-T 1-1

Now it was a question of getting through the next period of play unscathed. Instead within seconds of the restart, we lost concentration and allowed Darren McQueen to poke the ball home as the very first attack off the half was only half-cleared.

As Hornchurch attempted to put the game to bed, Wright had to fly across his goal to push away another Wraight effort before two further home attacks flashed wide.

Cue a decent spell of possession by Town but although we pushed forward in search of parity, our decision making left a lot to be desired.

Hish couldn’t convert a one on one and with seven minutes left, all our efforts suddenly came to nought. Former Towner Manny Harvest, off the bench, delivered a sublime assist and McQueen’s finish was almost as good.

After keeping his players in the dressing room for half an hour, Gavin admitted some “hard truths” had been discussed with 11 games now left.

“Their superior quality in finishing showed through,”  Gavin conceded. “Between the two boxes it was pretty even but they were meaner in defence and better in attack. Yes we put in a shift but this league is unforgiving.”

Gavin couldn’t help but again look back to Tonbridge. “Saturday was a killer. Tonight was always going to be extremely tough. We are where we are for a reason.”

Now comes the small matter of hosting league leaders Dorking in four days’ time.   

“It’s bizarre form we are showing in the last few games and we’re trying to work it out,” said Gav. “As long as I live I probably won’t be able to fathom it. All we can do now get the team prepared for Dorking while keeping legs as fresh as they can be.”

Town

Wright; Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins; Leonard, Youngs (Hutchinson, 90), Parcell, Brown (Bates 85), Knight; Chukwu (Oyenuga, 68), Kasimu