Preview by Andrew Warshaw

The anticipation and excitement is mounting. This Saturday Enfield Town attempt to make history by reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest and most prestigious domestic knockout competition.

For the first time since we were seconds away from beating National League Maidstone in the fourth qualifying round in 2017 before losing the replay at home, Town – who suffered the same fate at Chesham in 2015/16  —  go to Cray Valley PM hoping to make it third time lucky.

Whilst this presents a glorious opportunity having avoided all the big boys and former league clubs in the draw, Step 4 Cray, who play in the Isthmian League south-east division, will be feeling the same as us and have been on terrific form.

On paper, it’s another of those ties that has banana skin written all over it. We seem to get drawn against unbeaten sides and Eltham-based Cray Valley PM are another of them, having scored a staggering number of goals this season and knocked out Carshalton – who we know all about – in the previous round after a replay, proving how dangerous they can be.

In the league, because of several cup replays, Cray lie in eighth place but have only played four games, roughly half that of their rivals, and have bags of experience within their ranks.

Plus they have already achieved something we haven’t – tasting the euphoria of the FA Cup first round proper three years ago when they narrowly lost at Havant and Waterlooville having fought back from two goals to win at National League Maidenhead in the fourth qualifying round.

After narrowly missing out on a play-off spot at the back end of last season, a new era has started with a complete managerial change following the appointment of Steve McKimm.

Gavin Macpherson says there is no way our players will be complacent, especially following the heartbreaking Trophy defeat at Chesham last Saturday, and is hoping for a repeat of our fantastic victory at high-flying Halesowen in the previous round.

“To get through this would be a game-changer for us,” said Gavin. “I’ve been a great lover of the competition since I was a child. At our level, it’s like making the final to get to  the first round.”

“Make no mistake, Cray Valley PM are an extremely difficult side, pacey and combative, plus we are away. They may be a Step 4 team but they are Step 3 in respect of their players. I want our supporters to have the experience of the first round and for the club to enjoy generating National media interest, not least because of our fan-owned ethos.”

VENUE:- THE ARTIC STADIUM, BADGERS SPORTS, MIDDLE PARK AVENUE, ELTHAM, LONDON, SE9 5HP

Please be aware the ground is situated within the new ULEZ zone so certain vehicles could be subject to charge.

Nearest train station: Eltham approx 20 minutes walk to the ground.

ADMISSION PRICES : – PAY BY CASH OR CARD AT THE TURNSTILE
ADULTS – £10, CONCESSIONS (+65 & Students, with ID) – £6, CHILDREN 11-17 £2. CHILDREN U11 Free

If the scores are level after normal time there will be a replay on Tuesday 17th October 

Because of our continued involvement in the FA Cup, our scheduled home Isthmian League match against Whitehawk on Saturday 14th October has now been moved to the evening of Tuesday 21st November, 7:45pm kickoff.

Please note that there are no men’s first team matches in midweek, as our timetable has been cleared in preparation for our FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie with Cray Valley PM. As such, our away game against Kingstonian will take place next Wednesday 18th October, 7:45pm kickoff.

A decision will be made very shortly whether there is sufficient take-up to organise a supporters’ coach for Saturday’s all important FA Cup tie at Cray Valley PM.

Please purchase your tickets asap on the link below so that we can gauge interest.

https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets

Chesham United 4 Enfield Town 3

Report by Andrew Warshaw

The Chesham United curse struck again on Saturday as Town crashed out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle after being on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller.

Just like last season, the Generals — where we also lost in the FA Cup a few years ago — put us out of non-league football’s main cup competition though this time it was a far closer affair than that 4-0 drubbing.

Three times we came from behind to equalise, showing commendable spirit and character, only to succumb to an 89^th-minute Chesham winner as the game was heading for penalties.

To make matters worse for players, management and fans alike, a highly competitive encounter was settled by a totally avoidable defensive mix-up, an agonising way to go out after battling so hard against our high-flying Southern League opponents.

Things didn’t go out way right from the off. Starting brightly, Sam Youngs was a coat of paint away from giving us a fifth-minute lead, only for Chesham to go in front 60 seconds later with a sweetly struck first-time volley from Jordan Edwards.

Sam wasn’t to be denied, however, and quickly pulled us level with a glorious strike into the corner from 20 yards.

It wasn’t long either before the next goal arrived, Generals skipper Steve Brown finishing from close range after a mistimed header back across our own box from a corner.

Whilst we needed to get closer to Chesham’s wide players, Town continued to look dangerous going forward and levelled again when Kyle Bailey controlled an Ollie Knight cross with his shoulder before prodding the ball home (pictured).

Town could have snatched the lead when debutant George Sykes’ flick-on was almost converted by Marcus Wyllie while at the other end Lucas Sinclair – the scourge of the second half – forced Rhys Forster into a smart save and almost converted the rebound.

HT: 2-2

With a card-happy referee and our all-important FA Cup tie to come next weekend, we made a change at halftime as Marcus – who had already been booked – made way for Obi Onyeagwara.

The 19-year-old made an instant impact, whipping in a dangerous cross with virtually his first touch and causing the Generals’ backline all kinds of problems.

A lovely Chesham passing movement through midfield ended with Bruno Andrade lashing wide but we were giving as much as we got — if not more.

Youngs shot straight at home keeper Zaki Oualah when either side of him would have produced a goal but once again, Chesham made us pay for hesitancy when Sinclair stayed onside to restore their lead.

Back we came for a third time, however, as Onyeagwara was up-ended by former Towner Scott Shulton and Youngs buried the penalty.

As the game entered its final stages, spotkicks looked increasingly likely, only for Chesham to put the proverbial nail in the coffin right at the death. Forster and Bailey got in a terrible tangle as to who would clear a routine ball out of defence and Sinclair took advantage by nipping in to seal a place in the next round.

“There’s been a few hard truths in the dressing room,” conceded Gavin afterwards. “Kyle had control of the situation for the last goal but the others we conceded were terrible too and it’s a game we’ve let through our grasp and I’m hugely disappointed.”

“We’ve gone away from home, scored three goals against a good side and still lost. I wonder when the last time that happened here was. Having to score five to win tells me we made rudimentary mistakes. It was a result that was totally avoidable. Now we’ve got a hell of a lot of hard work to do before Cray Valley next weekend.”

Town: Forster; Parcell, Bailey, Richmond, Payne; Knight, Youngs, Thomas (Soulya-Osekanongo, 64), Beckles-Richards; Wyllie (Onyeagwara, 46), Sykes (Keeya, 84)

You may have noticed we had a young 19-year-old on the bench at Halesowen last Saturday.

Obi Onyeagwara has formally signed for Town having made 12 appearances for Dartford towards the end of last season.

 Obi progressed through the youth system at Stevenage and also spent time at Biggleswade Town.

Gavin Macpherson sees Obi as “someone we are keen to develop and a player who has real belief in himself to succeed.”

“Whilst names like Obi and Josh Keeya or not as familiar to supporters as the likes of  George Sykes, it’s important to this football club that the balance between experience and younger talented players is enhanced.  That includes our own pathway through the academy.”

Welcome, Obi

We are thrilled to announce the exciting signing of experienced striker George Sykes who will be available for our FA Trophy game at Chesham on Saturday.

Still only 29, George (pictured with first-team coach Steve Conroy) joins us from Step 2 Bishop’s Stortford having previously been at Aveley,  Canvey Island, Braintree and a raft of other clubs and will add considerable know-how to our forward line.

“I tried to sign George earlier in the season and it didn’t happen for understandable reasons so I’m really pleased he’s decided to join us,” said Gavin Macpherson who has been searching for a suitable numerical replacement for the luckless Jake Cass.

“He’s someone who can add firepower to this team whilst adding something different. He’ll complement what we already have in the forward area.”

“We know he’s one who works hard and can be a real threat in a number of different ways. George fits the group and I think he can go on to be a firm fans favourite”.

Welcome George!

Following our superb FA Cup victory at Halesowen, attention turns to the FA Trophy this Saturday, a competition just important in the context of non-league football.

On paper, our visit to Chesham United is every bit as tough an encounter as Halesowen and we will again have to be on our game to make further progress.

Like Halesowen, the Generals are flying in their Step 3 division, lying third in Southern League South with just one defeat in nine games.

The fixture is a repeat of last season’s meeting – that time at home – when we were soundly beaten 4-0 and crashed out of the competition early doors.

Gavin Macpherson is well aware of the threat Chesham pose.

“On paper cup draws have presented us with difficult tests,” said Gav. “Chesham will be no different and will be a different sort of test to last week. It’s a competition we want to do well in but we’ll look at the whole picture and plan accordingly.

“I think we are all looking forward to another significant test and another indication of our progression as a group.”

There are no replays in the FA Trophy, the game going to penalties if the teams are tied after 90 minutes.

So now we know. We will be visiting Cray Valley PM in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on Oct 14 after they won their third-round replay, upsetting Step 3 Carshalton Athletic 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Whilst this presents a fantastic opportunity to reach the first-round proper for the first time in our history having avoided all the big boys and former league clubs in the draw, Step 4 Cray, who play in the Isthmian League south-east division, will be feeling the same as us and will certainly not be under-estimated.

On paper, it’s another of those ties that has banana skin written all over it. We seem to get drawn against unbeaten sides and Eltham-based Cray Valley PM are another of them, having scored a staggering 42 goals in 13 games in all competitions so far this season.

In the league, because of several cup replays, fifth-placed Cray, who have plenty of experience within their ranks, have only played four matches but are yet to lose and are a Step 3 side in all but name.

With a certain huge away ETFC following, it promises to be another thrilling cup-tie with a momentous prize at stake.

“I’ve made it clear that any side to have made it this far in the competition is a good one,” cautioned Gavin Macpherson.

“When you look at Cray valley’s results and playing personnel , it’s clear they are more like a step three side currently playing at step four. 

“I know Steve Mckimm well, and his sides are always competitive, well organised and pacey, which means a very difficult game awaits. But we’ve been to Halesowen and won and we haven’t had it easy ourselves, the boys are in good spirits and we’ll be prepared for what’s to come. We’ll need to play well to stand a chance”.

The Club is saddened to hear that Iain Keay, one of our members and donors, passed away yesterday morning.

Iain’s involvement in football in Enfield and his passion for Enfield Town FC was highlighted recently within an article on our website. Everyone at the Club sends his sister Elaine, family and friends our condolences. The Club will mark his passing at a future home fixture.

We have been drawn away to Carshalton Athletic or Cray Valley PM in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on Oct 14.

The two sides drew 3-3 on Saturday at Carshalton and replay at Step 4 Cray, who lie fifth in the Isthmian League south-east division, on Tuesday night.

We of course know all about Carshalton who recently beat us at home and while everyone wishes we could have had a home tie after successive away draws against Halesowen and, in the Trophy, Chesham United, on paper there is no reason why we can’t progress and reach dreamland — otherwise known as the first round proper for the first time in our history.

“Once you get to this stage I honestly believe there isn’t an easy game so the draw is the draw,” said Gavin Macpherson. 

“To automatically assume Carshalton will be the tougher opposition isn’t necessarily so, Cray Valley are a step 3 side in my opinion with an experienced Management Team so whatever happens in the replay we have a difficult game ahead. 

“But we will be boosted by the weekend’s result, our supporters will travel in numbers so it’s massively exciting for the club to be at this stage of the competition”.