Our National League South fixture against Dorking Wanderers has been rescheduled.

We will now welcome the Wanderers to the Dave Bryant Stadium on the evening of Tuesday 17th March, kickoff 19:45.

Enfield Town take on Hampton and Richmond Borough at the third attempt on Tuesday hoping not to be scuppered once again by adverse weather.

The Beavers have had a full week to prepare for arguably our most important game of the season following the postponement of their fixture at Totton on Saturday while we were drawing 1-1 draw at Eastbourne.

Gavin Macpherson summed up just about everyone’s feelings when he admitted that Henry Hawkins’ second-half equalizer will only be a good point if we pick up a maximum haul against a side who, together with Farnborough, are directly above us and six points clear.

Due to their game at Totton being postponed, the Beavers’ last outing was an impressive win against title-chasing Worthing. While Town are now winless in nine league games stretching back to late November, H and R are looking to make it three unbeaten.

This week they signed a new goalkeeper in 21-year-old Aaron Maguire on loan until the end of the season. Maguire is currently  part of the Spurs’ U21 squad and has made two appearances in the Premier League 2 this season. The Beavers have also signed experienced defender David Longe-King on a permanent deal from Chelmsford.

 On the Town fitness front, T’Sharne Gallimore is still battling against an ankle injury though Ruaridh Donaldson is available after completing his two-match ban and Mickey Parcell  — on the bench at Eastbourne — is edging ever closer.

“Does it put more pressure on us given that we didn’t win on Saturday? Obviously given Hampton are close to us, perhaps because it would narrow the gap,” Gavin conceded. “But the reality is it doesn’t really matter who we’re playing, we want to get out of the bottom four. What I’m saying is that our approach is exactly the same.”

Meanwhile, Adi Connolly has gone on a dual registration to Step 5 Wormley;  likewise young defender Ethan Cann to Northwood. “It will stand them both in good stead to have some important game time,” said Gavin.

If tomorrow’s game is called off for a third time, it is not likely to take place before March since the calendar is full every Tuesday in February for either Town or The Beavers.

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Eastbourne Borough 1 Enfield Town 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

A result that was hardly ideal for either team but as Gavin Macpherson said afterwards, a decent point as long as Town follow it up with victory against Hampton and Richmond on Tuesday – weather permitting.

With Hampton’s fixture called off, this effectively ended up as our game in hand and we were indebted to Henry Hawkins rifling home an equaliser with 16 minutes remaining though both teams will feel they could have won it in what was at times a nervy, tension-filled affair.

Gavin made two changes from our last outing, Corie Andrews and Yacou Traore both given their first full starts as Town reverted to a familiar back three. And we began very much on the front foot, taking the game to the hosts who had lost their previous five.

Only a world-class reaction save by Woody Williamson denied  Sam Youngs’ close-range header after just two minutes. Then Nino Adom-Malaki (pictured) picked up a loose ball, sped down the wing and found Hayden Bullas who couldn’t quite get the ball under control.

After controlling the early exchanges, however, Town allowed The Sports to gain a foothold. Kai Corbett had two shots blocked, one of them winding Xav Benjamin in the process, while Joe Wright’s poor distribution almost gifted Eastbourne an opener, Adam May’s audacious lob having to be tipped over by the back-pedalling Joe.

On 32 minutes, however, Eastbourne’s pressure finally told when a short corner wasn’t cleared and May bent a beauty into the net at the second attempt.

Too often, Town lost possession in promising positions while a string of set-piece plays were needlessly wasted.

And on the stroke of halftime they had a huge let-off when Gold Omotayo  seized on Benjamin being dispossessed, only to see his effort come off the underside of the bar, with Maxwell Mullins unable to force home the rebound.

H-T 0-1

The halftime introduction of Lamar Reynolds, who was forced to miss training on Thursday, for Corie Andrews had an immediate effect, using his pace to try and get behind the home defence. But as we upped the tempo, Traore’s tenacious tackling, while highly effective in central midfield, brought him a yellow card when he went through the back of an Eastbourne player. Gavin took the wise option to substitute him 13 minutes later and prevent a possible second caution.

Mullins almost doubled the hosts’  advantage when he cut inside an already booked Adam Thompson , only to clip the post. But on 74 minutes Town were level. For once, a set-piece paid dividends as Hawkins lashed home Adom-Malaki’s freekick, worthy of a striker’s finish.

Almost immediately, a soft free-kick was awarded at the other end and caused mayhem in the Town box, Eastbourne coming within a whisker of restoring their lead before thankfully the ball was cleared at the umpteenth attempt.

There on in, having chased the game, Town were the team in the ascendancy with both Tommo and Sam going desperately close to grabbing the spoils and ending a run that now stretches to two points from seven games.

Town are still six points from safety but who knows how important this one will ultimately prove. “I’m slightly disappointed if I’m honest as I thought we were the team that showed greater intent in the second half,” Gavin said afterwards.

“We started well but didn’t score – a trademark of ours this season. Then they had a spell and did score. After that I felt we the ballsier side if I can put it that way. Yes there was a lack of quality and set-piece delivery was poor but I can’t fault the endeavour which the players show week-in, week-out for this club. They are running through brick walls.”

“Essentially it’s only a good point if we follow it up on Tuesday and then in another home game against Horsham on Saturday.”

Town

Wright; Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins; Adom-Malaki, Bullas (Jones 88), Traore (Bartlett-Antwi), Brown, Leonard (Knight 83); Youngs, Andrews (Reynolds 45)

Enfield Town go into the first of two potentially season-defining fixtures tomorrow with belief in the camp still strong albeit with the realisation that losing either game will make the task of survival infinitely more difficult.

As six-pointers go, they don’t come much more crucial than the crunch trip to Eastbourne followed by Tuesday’s home showdown with Hampton and Richmond Borough when we simply have to close the gap behind the Beavers.

Training went well on Thursday though Town look to again be without the injured T’Shane Gallimore while Ruaridh Donaldson serves the second of a two-match suspension that would originally have happened on Tuesday night against Dorking had the game not been postponed.

There is also the distinct possibility that we may not see Cian Dillon, whose loan spell has now expired, in a Town shirt for some time – if ever. Because Cian has got injured again, no extension to his loan can be discussed with QPR at least until he has a scan. Having said that, we created enough chances against Torquay to suggest that we are more than capable of finding the net without Cian.

On the plus side, the three new boys have settled in well and defensive midfielder Yacou Traore, in particular, seems to have impressed everyone in training. “I like what I’m seeing, he’s a little fighter,” said Gavin Macpherson.

The fact that neither side can afford to lose tomorrow makes the encounter even more intriguing. While we have lost four of the last five, Eastbourne, who won the corresponding game at the start of November, have lost five on the spin.

Gavin admits he completely understands why Eastbourne and Hampton have generated so much attention but characteristically plays down any sense of win or bust.

“I entirely get why these two games have been built up but season defining, for me, is when you can no longer achieve what you set out to do,” said Gav. “If we don’t get a result, that doesn’t mean we can’t go and beat other teams.”

“I don’t shy away from the fact that we have our own pressures but the bigger pressure is on Eastbourne who would have expected to be much higher in the table. I believe we’re the more relaxed camp. The reality, however, is that the absolute minimum requirement is not to lose either game.”

The postponement of Tuesday’s Dorking fixture gave the players a full week to prepare while Eastbourne were being beaten at Dagenham and Hampton were upsetting the odds against Worthing. But Gavin would have been happy to play the game.

“The performance against Torquay stood us in good stead to have a go at Dorking. But we can only look after ourselves no matter other results. Do I think we can do better? For sure but this season has really brought home how tough this league is, on and off the pitch. Far, far tougher than last time.”

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Enfield Town could be up against a familiar face when we host Dorking Wanderers tomorrow evening (ko 745).

Harry Sidwell, who had a loan spell with us last season, recently joined Dorking who are fourth in the table on goal difference but have the same number of points as Worthing and Torquay in second and third.

“We are not turning up on Tuesday with the thoughts in our heads that Dorking are full-time,” said Gavin Macpherson. “I realise there’s a big divide but my side will never just go out to make up the numbers.”

Indeed, we were by far the better team in the first half against Torquay and the focus now is to try and put two good halves together to arrest a worrying slump that has yielded a solitary point from five games.

Ruaridh Donaldson serves the second in a two-match ban and Tosh Gallimore could again be missing but with games coming thick and fast we at least have options on the bench following the arrival of three new players in the last fortnight.

Gavin, who has already addressed the attributes of Corie Andrews and Ruben Bartlett-Antwi,  is looking forward to seeing how defensive midfielder Yacou Traore shapes up having spent the past three years in Middlesbrough’s youth ranks.

“Having seen him in training he’s a tough lad who gets himself round the pitch,” said Gavin. “At Maidenhead we only managed four outfield players on the bench so we needed to give the squad a boost.”

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Enfield Town 1 Torquay United 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

As the old cliché goes, football is a cruel game…especially when you’re near the bottom.

For the second Saturday running, Enfield Town fell victims to the officiating as much as the opponent, slipping ominously to a fourth defeat in five games against title-chasing Torquay.

After controlling all but the first 10 minutes of the opening half, when any neutral observer might have concluded that we were the full-time professional team, Town were pushed back after the break but ultimately went down to a highly controversial penalty.

With two new signings, forward Corie Andrews and midfielder Yacou Traore, having joined just before kickoff, both made the bench while Gavin Macpherson brought Bailey Brown and Hayden Bullas into the starting line-up with Ruaridh Donaldson serving the first of a two-match suspension and T’Sharne Gallimore injured.

It looked a forbidding task to begin with as Joe Wright twice came to the rescue, most notably managing to scramble away a Sam Dreyer header from a freekick.

But Town soon settled down and broke through on 19 minutes when Sam Youngs took a touch before magnificently rifling the ball low across goal and into the far corner (pictured celebrating).

It was just the tonic Town needed and we so nearly doubled the lead when Nino Adom-Malaki’s sublime cross found the head of Bailey Brown, only for James Hamon to pull off a world-class save and for his defence to clear the rebound off the line.

A couple of last-ditch blocks by the Gulls rearguard ensued as Town ended the half very much in the ascendency.

H-T 1-0

Without the suspended pair of Louis Dennis and Jordan Young – 26 goals between them — Torquay had struggled up top but with all their resources had plenty of back-up forward options and came out firing after the break, no doubt having been given a rocket.

Within three minutes they made Town pay for those missed chances, though with an element of good fortune as Dylan Morgan’s shot deflected off Joe Wright and spun in the corner of the net when it looked like going wide.

Town were now on the back foot without the same intensity but still showed commendable resilience and spirit against their lofty opponents, albeit enjoying something off a let-off when the crossbar denied Exeter loanee Kieran Wilson who was left free at the back post.

Torquay had the bit between their teeth but as we continued to stand strong, Bullas drilled a shot narrowly wide on a rare counter.

Town were then relieved to see Jay Foulston’s close-range effort narrowly ruled out for offside before the highly contentious moment that saw the Gulls fly off with all three points – much to the delight of their travelling army who swelled the crowd to 1,114.

On 88 minutes, Bailey Brown’s hand was somehow adjudged to have been in an unnatural position when struck by Wilson’s powerful effort. Penalty was the ruling though there was some conjecture whether it was made by the referee or linesman. Whoever it was, Wilson duly sent Wright the wrong way, a gut-wrenching finale after all the effort and commitment.

Like many in the stadium, Gavin was enraged by the decision but couched his words in moderation. “I’ve looked back at it and it’s  extremely harsh, one that we see every single week,” he said. “We were in a very similar place last week at Maidenhead but I can’t control the officials. Having said, we should have been three up at halftime and that we can control. We expected to spend periods without the ball but we’re very disappointed with their first goal. We need results and we’re not getting them and that is starting to hang heavy.”

Too right. Given our current plight seven points from safety, Dorking on Tuesday now becomes even more vital followed by two mega six-pointers at Eastbourne on Saturday, then at home to Hampton and Richmond.

Town

Wright, Adom-Malaki, Hawkins, Thompson, Benjamin; Bullas, Brown; Knight (jones 88) , Youngs, Leonard (Ackerson, 90+3′); Reynolds (Andrews, 70)

Prior to this afternoon’s league game against Torquay United, we are pleased to announce two new recruits.

The first is Yacou Traore. A combative English-Malian defensive midfielder, the 21-year-old joins having spent the past three years in Middlesbrough’s youth ranks. He has also gained senior experience with Wealdstone, where he made 7 National League appearances in a loan spell last term.

The second is experienced striker Corie Andrews. The 28-year-old has the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Wealdstone, Aldershot, and Oxford City on his CV, and joins us for the remainder of the season on loan from Maidenhead United.

“Corie has not had the greatest time at Maidenhead but he’s extremely capable at this level,” said Gavin Macpherson. “I spoke to him in the summer when I tried to being him in then. If I can get a tune out of him, we’ve got a very good centre forward.”

Both are available for selection this afternoon. Welcome, lads!

Today’s game against Torquay United (3pm) is ON following an early pitch inspection

Hats off to the ground staff for their tireless endeavours

COYT!

There will be a pitch inspection at 8am tomorrow, Saturday, ahead of our home fixture with Torquay

Gavin Macpherson insists his players will not be fazed by the visit of heavyweights Torquay United tomorrow despite having taken just one point out of the last 12.

Town will be without at least three first teamers in Tosh Gallimore (ankle), Mickey Parcell (still recovering) and Ruaridh Donaldson (suspended) but will need to raise their game against the Gulls whose travelling fans are likely to swell the gate to beyond four figures and make for a fabulous atmosphere.

Torquay are followed by the visit of another high flier in Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday and although the subsequent two games against fellow strugglers Eastbourne and Hampton and Richmond are potentially more crucial, we have reached the point where we simply cannot allow any of our rivals near the bottom to pull away.

“This is what we signed up for coming into the league, to be playing teams like Torquay and Dorking,” said Gav bullishly. “The magnitude of the two games can’t be understated. To some we are ‘little old Enfield’ , which is understandable, but we’re at home and I go into every game hoping to win it. At the very least I expect us to run hard, compete and give full throttle.”

Torquay will be without two key trump cards in suspended strikers Louis Dennis and Jordan Young, who have scored no fewer than 26 goals between them. But they still have plenty of forward options including last season’s leading scorer Cody Cooke and Joe Hatch who has just signed from Plymouth Argyle on a one-month loan deal.

“I doubt (Torquay manager) Paul (Wooton) will be that worried given who he can bring in,” said Gav. “Paul’s got an excellent record against me unfortunately and generally the better teams end up near the top. But these are the games you look forward to because on any given day anyone can beat anyone in this division.”

 Gav revealed that Cian Dillon could be back after injury for either Dorking or Eastbourne depending on parent club QPR’s requirements. And, crucially, there are hopes of trying to extend Cian’s loan deal which runs out at the end of January.

At the time of writing Town were in advanced negotiations to  sign an established new forward as revealed at last night’s AGM. As for Ruben Bartlett-Antwi, who came off the bench to make his debut at Maidenhead last weekend, Gav was at pains to take the pressure off the 21-year-old striker .

“Centre-forwards are the hardest commodity at our level to bring in and as I’ve said already, Ruben is by no means the finished article at Step 2. What he does have are certain attributes and a willingness to learn. But he has to be here for the longer run. If he suddenly decides he wants to play Step 2 every week, he’s not quite there for that. We’ve had that conversation and I believe he is someone can be effective and is certainly in my toolkit of options.”

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