We are pleased to welcome another two new recruits to the club ahead of this week’s fixtures.

The first is Henry Hawkins. A towering left-sided central defender, the 21-year-old came through QPR’s academy system and has since gained experience with Whitehawk, Beaconsfield and Farnborough.

The second is midfielder Bayley Brown: Another physical presence, Bayley joins having left Hemel Hempstead Town. The 27-year-old came through the Spurs youth ranks, and has since gained significant experience with the likes of Chesham, Hendon, and St Albans City.

“We felt that working with three centre backs was not enough and Alex [Solomon] is not yet fit”, said manager Gavin Macpherson. “If we lose Dan back to Derby on January 1st, we’re back down to three so I had to think ahead … I’ve been very aware of Henry for two or three years now and have tried to bring him in on a couple of occasions. He’s 6-foot-four and left-footed so hopefully will fit in perfectly.”

“We may lose both Alfie and Christian so again I am planning ahead. Bayley may not need much introduction to some people. He’s been at step 2 for many years at St Albans and Hampton & Richmond as well as Hemel. He’s mainly a central midfielder and began his career as a youngster with Spurs. If we end up being top heavy, so be it, but I can’t wait that long.”

“What we’re doing is bringing in two that are permanently with us, rather than loans.”

Enfield Town 1 Torquay United 4

Report by Andrew Warshaw

A bumper 1,300-plus crowd, a dream start and arguably the best 30 minutes of football we have played all season.

But all that came to nought on Saturday against opponents who capitalised our mistakes and were far  more ruthless in the final third.

 The scoreline may not reflect the effort Town collectively put into the game but a combination of avoidable errors that get punished at this level and tired legs against full-time opponents sent us crashing to a 14^th  league defeat in our final home game before Christmas.

Gavin Macpherson made a couple of changes from the midweek loss to Hornchurch with Billy Leonard and Jake Hutchinson brought into the starting line-up.

And we had the perfect start after just two minutes when Gulls skipper Sam Dreyer yanked down Sam Youngs who promptly sent James Hamon the wrong way from the spot (pictured).

That we couldn’t capitalise on that early boost was massively frustrating given how we took the game to Torquay.

Although it took Adam Thompson’s clearance to rescue Rhys Forster when he spilled Omar Moussa’s fierce drive, Town continued on the front foot.

Twice Hutchinson was in goal but couldn’t deliver the final blow while Leonard’s 25-yard curler brought a flying save from James Hamon.

Yet for all our promise we were behind at the interval as Torquay hit back with two quickfire goals inside three minutes.

First Jordan Thomas got on the end of a sublime Omar Moussa cross to stab into an empty net. Then, after a spell of pinball inside the box, William Jenkins Davies turned the ball home.

It seemed cruel that we were behind but once again, we lacked composure in both boxes and had to play catch-up.

H-T 1-2

 The next goal was always going to be crucial and it fell to Torquay within two minutes of the restart. Town had come out of the blocks in determined mood but were undone by a quickly taken corner and Jordan Young drove the ball home.

Dan Cox planted a free header over as Town tried to rally, then we flung bodies at a cross from the right but to no avail.

But in general, we once again lacked the conviction and belief to create enough goalscoring  opportunities, however well we played from box to box.

And as we understandably tired against fitter opponents, Jenkins-Davies finished us off with 10 minutes left and it was an ominous sign when Alfie Tuck went off with his arm in a sling holding his elbow.

The fixtures don’t come any easier and we now we have four successive away games, starting with a tricky FA Trophy game at Sittingbourne next Saturday followed by three  league games at Tonbridge, Weston super mare and Worthing.

After keeping the players in the dressing room for a lengthy period, Gavin explained why he was so angry.

“The second goal should have been cleared out the ground, the third one killed us even though we had precisely worked on it in respect of stopping it happening. The supporters might sometimes wonder whether the management do their homework but the players were well briefed about what Torquay do and you can’t legislate for switching off.”

“We don’t live with Torquay on paper, we’re chalk and cheese. But that doesn’t mean we accept we’re going to lose. The first 25 minutes were how we like to play but if you’re going to make those sort of mistakes against a side like Torquay, you get buried.

“We put as many good balls into the box as they did but we had nobody busting a gut to score. I’m sick of mentioning it, to be honest, but I’m on the phone constantly to try and address this, often until late at night.”

Enfield (3-5-2)

Forster; Cox, Thompson, Benjamin; Payne (69 Beckles-Richards) Tuck (Scott, 85), Leonard (Smith 78), Youngs, Parcell (Adjei-Hersey 81); Peake, Hutchinson (Whittaker 78)

A quick reminder that we will be holding collections for Nightingale Cancer Trust and the North Enfield Foodbank  during tomorrow’s game against Torquay.

Please give as generously as possible

Lewis Taaffe, often referred to by Town fans as Mr Versatile, has left the club.

Lewis, who first joined in 2018 and scored 19 goals in 160 appearances, has latterly been on a dual registration with Welwyn Garden City but has been very unfortunate with injuries.

 Featuring as a central midfielder, wide forward and as a full-back during his time with us, the hugely popular Taffee, as he was affectionately known, has the distinction of scoring our last goal in the Isthmian Premier as well as our first in Step 2 on the opening day of the season at Torquay – coincidentally tomorrow’s opponents.

We wish Lewis all the best for the rest of his career

One doesn’t need to talk up tomorrow’s home game with Torquay  to realise it’s as big as they come.

With over 400 visiting Gulls likely, we are looking at by far our largest attendance of the season against the best supported team in the league and one with the most prestigious history and stature.

None of us who travelled to Devon for the corresponding fixture on the very first day of the season will ever forget the sense of anticipation for our Step 2 debut. It was the tallest of orders and although no-one likes to lose, coming away with a creditable 2-1 defeat was certainly encouraging given the status of the opposition.

Torquay’s 4-2 midweek defeat of Weston-Super-Mare in a top-of-the-table clash sent them up to third in the league as they bid to regain Step 1 status but Gavin Macpherson is quietly optimistic we can raise our game against full-time opposition who have lost only one in seven in the league but have proved more vulnerable on the road than at home.

Town had a light training session on Thursday following the rigours of Tuesday night and although there were one or two more knocks against Hornchurch, no decision will be made on the Torquay starting line-up until Saturday morning in what is our final home game before Christmas.

“Our form has actually been pretty good of late apart from a mad 15 minutes on Tuesday,” said Gavin.

“I accept that as clubs Torquay and us are chalk and cheese but that doesn’t mean we’re just making up the numbers. We’ve planned and prepared as we always do to try and will get at least something from the game.”

“If you’d told our fans a year ago that we’d be playing Torquay the following season, most of them wouldn’t have believed you. Of course it’s going to be difficult. We’re all still licking our wounds from Tuesday.”

Wheels are still in motion to improve us up front but Gavin is conscious of continuing banging the same drum.

 “I know it’s like a broken record but forwards are extremely difficult to bring in. As soon as they become available everyone is in for them. I’d be an absolute genius if I got all my recruitment right but believe me no stone is being left unturned to add some more quality.”

AW

This is an urgent reminder for supporters not to travel by car to tomorrow’s game against Torquay if at all possible.

Not only will the car park be rammed – partly because of a rugby club event – but there are major roadworks continuing around the local area.

We strongly recommend getting to the game using public transport, on foot, or by bike; or by car-sharing where possible.

Also please try and book your tickets online and in advance since we anticipate large queues at the turnstiles

See this previous post for details:

Fans’ Info: Torquay United (H)

Please read our matchday information ahead of this Saturday’s league match:

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Enfield Town 1 Hornchurch 2

Report by Andrew Warshaw

When you give two quick goals away before laying a glove on the opposition, you have a proverbial mountain to climb.

Which is sadly what happened on Tuesday when we played far better overall than when we knocked Hornchurch out of the FA Trophy on penalties 10 days ago yet ultimately left ourselves with too much to do.

Apart from the first 20 minutes, we were arguably the superior team and scored a fantastic goal. But not for the first time we struggled in the final third and missed a great opportunity to climb off the bottom of the table.

Surprisingly given his comments on the morning of the game, Gavin Macpherson went with the same starting lineup as against Dorking but it soon became apparent there were fitness issues.

Dylan Adjei-Hersey tweaked a hamstring in the warmup and was replaced by Mickey Parcell. Then Christian Scott had to come off after 17 minutes and gave way to Billy Leonard — by which time we were already two goals down.

Liam Nash had already shot narrowly wide for the visitors after Christian was punished for holding on to the ball too long when they took the lead on 11 minutes. Christian was again at fault as former Towner Manny Harvest beat him too easily and his effort flew past Rhys Forster via a headed deflection.

Before we could recover, we suffered a second blow four minutes later. Chief Urchins dangerman Myles Weston, who recently joined them from League Two Bromley, put in a great delivery and Nash darted unopposed into the area to head home.

Cue a clearly struggling Scott being replaced by Leonard and two almost became three when another pinpoint Weston assist saw Forster get a hand to Nathan Bertram-Cooper’s header and push it on to the bar.

At the other end, Ruben Shakpoke, seeking his first Town goal but needing to time his runs more effectively, latched on to a ball over the top but fluffed his second touch.

But at least now we were starting to gain a foothold in the game and reduced the deficit on 38 minutes following a good spell of pressure.

Parcell and Sam Youngs exchanged passes and when the former played a gorgeous ball through the heart of the Hornchurch defence, Lennon Peake finished beautifully with a shot across goal (pictured).

With the bit between his teeth, Lennon stung the hands of Mason Terry from long range but Hornchurch were still capable of exploiting our mistakes and Nash went close after Alfie Tuck was dispossessed 35 yards from his own goal.

H-T 1-2

Now the game was finely poised. Parcell flicked out a vital leg to thwart what might easily have been a Hornchurch third but thereafter Town were the side who looked the more likely.

Leonard rode two challenges before lashing over whilst what looked like a clear penalty was waved away as both Peake and Joe Payne seemed to have their legs taken when trying to convert Xavier Benjamin’s cross.

Yet despite pushing for an equaliser, we simply couldn’t find enough movement off the ball or quality in the final and were left to rue that opening period and now have the small matter of Torquay on Saturday.

“The result doesn’t reflect the game in any shape or form,” said a clearly frustrated Gavin. “It reflects maybe the first 15 minutes when we never got out of the traps.”

“I’m absolutely seething because the better team has lost and we’ve contributed to our own downfall by gifting them two goals. Their bench were clock-watching for the last 15 minutes. But unlike at step 3 when you can be two goals down and come back and win the game, at this level teams are much better at what they do.”

Gavin conceded we must start to offer more of a threat going forward. “I’m fed up with saying it but I’m working my socks off trying to address this. I know it’s not even halfway through the season but I’m not going down that road. Points are just as important now as they are in April and we need them.”

Town

Forster; Benjamin, Thompson, Cox; Parcell (Hutchinson 87), Scott (Leonard 17), Tuck, Youngs (Whittaker, 93), Payne; Peake, Shakpoke (Beckles-Richards 60)

Following Saturday’s excellent point at Dorking, the games come thick and fast and it’s Hornchurch at home tonight as we try and maintain our slowly improving form (ko 7.45).

No two games are the same and having knocked Hornchurch out on penalties in the FA Trophy, it’s all about league points this time and the chance to move two places up the table with a win.

Dorking’s 7-1 thrashing of Hemel Hempstead on Monday showed just how creditable our draw at the weekend was but don’t necessarily expect an unchanged team because of the demands on the players.

 “What nobody sees after games as that we get stats on every player and we see how  hard and far they are running,” said Gavin Macpherson.

“Since I joined as manager, Saturday was the most running everyone has ever done. You have to look at the impact of that as well as playing on a 3G pitch. It’s something I have to consider in terms of whether I will get the same work rate.

“Quite naturally people may assume same team. But it’s not as easy as that. It’s a massively hard week, starting with Dorking and finishing with Torquay. The trophy win over Hornchurch will have no bearing on tonight. They’ll probably be expecting three points so we have to be up for it.”

Meanwhile, with the Torquay game fast approaching, you are advised to buy your tickets online in advance so as not to miss out.

It is also advisable where possible to travel by public transport as we are expecting a huge crowd well in excess of four figures. The car park is likely to fill up very quickly so if you have to drive, please leave as much time as possible.

AW

Part of our sponsorship packages to all of our sponsors is the opportunity for them to offer Enfield Town members a discount off of their services or products. We already know from discussions with sponsors that this is an opportunity some members have already taken advantage of, but just to remind you all, these are the existing sponsors offering incentives.

In the last few weeks, we have also signed up several new sponsors and more details about the offers they will make to members will be published in the coming weeks.

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SPONSORS OFFERING THESE DISCOUNTS INCLUDE:

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If you know of any local company who may be interested in sponsoring Enfield Town, please ask them to email commercial@etfc.london, or speak to Graham Dodd on a match day.

We have sponsorship brochures to share detailing all of our packages, including match day options which start at just £100.00.