Congratulations to Nathan McDonald who won the Pitching In Isthmian Premier Golden Gloves Awards for November
Nathan won the award, sponsored by AB1 Goalkeeping, after conceding just one league goal in November.
He received his prize from esteemed Enfield Town director Les Gold before the Boxing Day derby with Potters Bar.
Our home game with Billericay, due to be played on Tuesday January 10, has now been replaced with the Northwood Middx Senior Cup QuarterFinal at Northwood. Kick off 7:45pm
The Billericay game has been rescheduled for Tuesday 24th January 7:45 pm KO.
Enfield Town 4 Potters Bar Town 1
Report by Andrew Warshaw
What a way to end the year!
Despite missing a string of players through suspension and unavailability, Enfield Town treated a bumper 600-plus Boxing Day crowd to one of our best performances of the season as we swept aside our near-neighbours.
From one to 11, Andy Leese’s men were superb, negating Bar’s renowned strengths to move up to fifth in the table, capped by a Sam Youngs hat-trick.
Before the game Nathan McDonald was presented with a pair of gloves for winning the AB1 Golden Gloves Awards for November. Well done, Nathan!
Potters Bar arrived five points ahead of us having played a game more. But apart a decent spell either side of their equaliser, the Scholars were second best, especially throughout the second half when we looked like scoring every time we went forward.
The addition of new signing Chez Isaac in midfield had an instant impact in terms of composure, reading the game and picking a pass. The combination of Chez, skipper Scott Thomas and James Dayton across midfield worked a treat, allowing Sam to take up an advanced role in which he flourished.
His first goal, with supporters still coming through the turnstiles, came with only two minutes on the clock, a close-range swivel and shot after Adam Cunnington — a handful all afternoon for the visitors’ defence — had dummied Marcus Wyllie’s cross.
Stunned into a reaction, the visitors carved out a couple of freekicks in dangerous positions, both of which were blocked, whilst Town were indebted to Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite for a timely clearance to thwart Nick Dembele.
At the other end, Marcus Wyllie latched on to a terrific long ball by Youngs, only for his shot to be cleared for one of a string of Town corners over the 90 minutes while Isaac and Cunnington also went close to doubling our lead.
For the most part, we denied Bar space to play but on 32 minutes we paid the price for backing off their much-touted skipper Mo Kamara who rifled a 20-yard effort into the corner for 1-1.
Kasim Aidoo then cut through our defence but fortunately lost control at the vital moment before a pivotal passage of play ensued.
Right on the stroke of half time, former Towner Wraynel Hercules, who otherwise had a quiet game and was given trademark stick by the Town faithful behind the goal, saw his looping effort come back off the woodwork with McDonald beaten.
Straight from the restart and in stoppage time, a four-man Town move ended with Isaac scoring on his debut via a wicked deflection – off Hercules!
H-T 2-1
In the first attack of the second period, Dembele might have equalised with a toe poke but Town were brimming with confidence and quickly crushed any hope of a Bar recovery.
On 54 minutes, Youngs, who hardly trained while he recovered from his ankle injury, crashed home a penalty after Cunnington was bundled to the ground. Two minutes later he completed his hattrick, sneaking into the box to head home the cross of the game from Jueven Spencer.
Town weren’t done yet and might well have ended up with at least a couple more. Cunnington sent a header against the bar before we were awarded a second spot kick.
With Youngs (pictured alongside former Towner Wraynel Hercules) already substituted, his replacement Lyle Della-Verde, having been taken out by Joe Russel, stepped up to take the penalty only for Dante Baptiste to pull off a terrific save.
There was still time for Baptiste to make another flying stop, again from Della-Verde, to round off a thoroughly satisfying afternoon masterminded by the management team and carried out to the letter by the players.
“We decided on a flatter, tighter midfield three and allowed Sam to get forward,” explained Andy. “The first half was a bit passive but second half we took off and dominated them. I know what Sam is capable of. He keeps himself in fantastic shape, recovered from injury quicker than we expected and loves being here.”
“There were five starters missing from that team today and we had to adapt. So what we did was doubling pleasing.”
“We’ve hardly been out of the top five for the whole of 2022 and I’d like to pay credit to the board for their support.”
Credit goes to Andy, too, as well as the rest of the management team. Onwards and upwards, with our visit to Haringey Borough up next on Jan 2.
Town: McDonald; Spencer, Wilson-Braithwaite, Hill, Payne; Dayton (Taaffe, 72), Thomas, Isaac; Youngs (Della-Verde 79), Cunnington, Wyllie (Okotcha, 85).
We are delighted to announce the signing of experienced midfielder Chez Isaac who has been at St Albans City this season and played most of his career in the National League.
Hatfield-born Chez, who began his youth career at Watford and has represented a string of Step I and Step 2 clubs, is available for selection for Monday’s Boxing Day fixture against Potters Bar.
“I tried to sign Chez in the summer but it didn’t work out so I’m delighted to get him in now,” said Andy Leese. “He will give us options in the middle of the park and brings huge experience with him.”
“Going the other way to Hendon on a dual registration arrangement is Hamilton Antonio. Ham needs to play and will get game time at Hendon. We wish him well.”
In other news, we now have a rescheduled date for our postponed home fixture with Hornchurch.
The match will take place on Tuesday, Jan 31, so please make a note of it.
Merry Christmas and COYT
Potters Bar are our visitors on Boxing Day for what should be a tasty derby against our local rivals, 3pm KO.
To add spice to our final game of 2022, The Scholars may well field Wraynel Hercules who they recently signed from Town.
This is a potentially pivotal six-pointer and not to be missed.
While you’re at the game, why not grab a ticket for our New Year’s Eve party in Butler’s Bar featuring live music. Tickets are just £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s and can be purchased from the club shop.
Merry Christmas everyone and COYT
Following an early pitch inspection, tomorrow’s game with Hornchurch is off due to a frozen pitch.
Details of the rescheduled fixture will be announced in due course.
The Club Shop will be open on Saturday morning between 10am and 12 noon for all your Christmas gifts.
Aveley 1 Enfield Town 1
Report by Martin Bentley
Town returned from Parkside with a nasty case of Friday night frostbite and a useful late point gained from a hard-fought encounter.
Unfortunately, the game provided very little in the way of entertainment, leaving the hardy 203 in attendance more concerned about the sub-zero temperatures than events on the field.
The quality of the first half oscillated between tedious and unwatchable, with the teams managing to conjure up one decent chance each, Aveley’s being comfortably held by Nathan McDonald and Town’s effort, from Adam Cunnington, being deflected narrowly wide.
After the break, the ugly mess of midfield scuffling and overhit long balls continued.
The home side were gaining territorial advantage however, bombarding the Town defence with a string of corners and free kicks that were competently dealt with by Lewis Knight and debutant Josh Hill.
Aveley succeeded in getting their noses in front after 62 minutes with a rare moment of quality, George Sykes finding room on the edge of the box to curl a shot beyond McDonald.
Despite introducing three substitutes, Town were still struggling to make any meaningful headway, until coming up with an equaliser five minutes from time, with Scott Thomas’ cross from the right being converted by Cunnington with a looping far-post header.
Both sides chased a winner to little effect, despite a late appeal for a penalty when Lyle Della-Verde went down in the box.
Ultimately, a draw was a fair outcome though, with both sets of fans happy to head for a warmer place to scrape the icicles off their extremities.
Town: McDonald, Spencer (Dayton 81), Payne, Thomas, Knight, Hill, Wordsworth, Youngs, Cunnington, Wyllie (Cass 72), Hercules (Della Verde 72). Unused: Taaffe, Braithwaite
We are delighted to announce the loan signing of Dulwich Hamlet central defender Josh Hill.
Josh, 31, will be with us until Jan 3 and will be available for several key games over over the next few weeks, providing vital cover in a position where we have lost two suspended players.
Although Dulwich signed Josh from Dartford in the summer, he hadn’t been able to play until recently as he recovered from knee surgery.
He finally made his debut for The Hamlet on Nov 26 in a friendly with Chelsea U21s and made his competitive debut for the club four days later in the London Senior Cup against Cray Wanderers, both times as a second-half substitute.
Despite his relative lack of game time, Josh brings a wealth of experience having played more than 200 National League and National League South games for Dartford (two spells), Boreham Wood, Hemel Hempstead Town, Havant & Waterlooville, St Albans City, Chelmsford City, Wealdstone, Braintree Town and Welling United.
Welcome, Josh!
(photo courtesy of Rob Avis)
Interview by Andrew Warshaw
You might assume that Jake would have had a special incentive to do well against his old club on Saturday.
Yet, despite the unfortunate way in which he left Stortford to join the Town just under a year ago, Jake was insistent that his penultimate home game before he takes a short break was like any other fixture. “It’s true I left under deeply controversial circumstances but it is what it is,” said Enfield’s number nine with commendable frankness. “I have not lost any sleep over them and probably vice-versa.”
“Things sometimes don’t work out in football. The only incentive I have to do well against them is the fact that they are in the playoff positions with us.”
In mid-December, straight after the Hornchurch game, Jake is due to fly off for a long-planned vacation, missing several vital fixtures, though Town’s fortunes during his time away will not be far from his mind. “It’s been a very tough year for me personally for all kinds of reasons,” Jake revealed. “When we lost the playoff semi-final, I was heartbroken.”
“I knew I’d miss the whole of pre-season because I have to travel a lot due to work, and then four weeks at Christmas. I told the gaffer that if my level of commitment was not acceptable, I’d completely understand.”
“We’re a big club with a good level of football and the last thing I wanted to do, which is still very much the case, is take liberties. I was very transparent with my circumstances.”
It’s precisely because of his love for Town that Jake expressed that kind of honesty. It’s all about the team. “I know the situation is not ideal. The manager has to do what he has do. If I can’t get back in the team and have to sit on the bench, I just have to accept it. I’m either going to play for Enfield or no-one.”
That’s some statement but Jake talks like he means it. “When I come back in January, I think I’ll be in great shape. I’m only 29 and feel I’ve still got a lot to give.”
“I love everything about Enfield Town. I’ve played non-league football for over a decade and this is by far one of my favourite dressing rooms and by far and away the best fans. There is no other walk of life where you can replicate that level of appreciation.”
It’s important to note that Jake has also become a member of the club as well as one of its key performers. “I just love the community concept of the club, the unique aspect in terms of no barrier between players and fans. Whether or not I’d been selected regularly this season I still would have become a member. It’s certainly 20 quid well spent.”
“Great club, great cause, great people and long may it last. I’m just pleased to do my bit.”
And looking ahead? “With the players we’ve brought in, I genuinely believe we’re in a better place than we were last season. The spine of the team is strong, so onwards and upwards.”
__________
This piece originally appeared in the Enfield Town FC Matchday Programme. Pick up your copy on home matchdays, or subscribe to GoToTown to receive each edition as a digital or hard copy.
Enfield Town 0-1 Bishop’s Stortford
Report by Ken Brazier
Bishop’s Stortford earned a fourth consecutive win against play-off rivals Enfield Town, a run stretching back to March 2020, and leapfrogged them into third place in the table whilst Town dropped to sixth.
The opening period was a somewhat subdued affair, with the visitors having spells of possession and, not for the first time this season, Enfield found it difficult to get a foothold in the game in the opening 45 minutes.
David Olufemi had a shot blocked, and Nathan McDonald was becoming increasingly busy, firstly cutting out a dangerous low cross from Donell Thomas and then dealing with a free kick from the eye-catching Darren Foxley. Soon afterwards Frankie Merrifield fired just wide from Foxley’s square pass while, at the other end, Jake Cass was way off target with his left foot.
After Foxley had forced McDonald into another save, Cass went on a great run down the left, but his low ball across the edge of the six-yard box just eluded Adam Cunnington. Then on 37 minutes, the lively Donell Thomas found space on the edge of the home box and fired low past McDonald’s outstretched right hand for what turned out to be the winning goal.
Half-time: 0-1
A couple of minutes into the second half, Cass was played through but, as he elected to flick the ball past the onrushing keeper Jack Giddens rather than take an early shot, the ball was cleared by a covering defender from near the goal line and the chance was gone. Then around the hour mark, a slow-burning touch paper was ignited by a major skirmish in the centre circle. Once the dust had settled, the officials opted to red card Lewis Knight and James Richmond for the hosts and Harry Beadle for the visitors, despite there being a number of other players heavily involved in the melee.
Another Foxley free kick was saved by McDonald, but Town showed great spirit for the remainder of the half despite their numerical disadvantage. In the 71st minute, Cass tested Giddens with a crisp volley which was tipped over. From the ensuing corner Giddens then made an even better stop from the same player’s bullet-header from close range. Many Town fans felt aggrieved a few minutes later when a well-flighted Scott Thomas free kick from the left drifted over Giddens’ head and nestled in the back of the net, but an infringement had been spotted by referee Benjamin Bowles.
Stortford saw out the rest of the game with few alarms, although as McDonald came up for a late corner and a cluster of Town heads connected with the ball, it dropped agonisingly wide of the post from a Town perspective just as the referee blew for full time to end a game which the Blues had managed well on the day. Town’s misery was compounded when, in addition to manager Andy Leese during the second half, referee Bowles also red-carded Anthony Wordsworth in the tunnel after the match had ended.
“On the balance of the first half, it wasn’t good enough. The second half probably, unfortunately, has to be consigned to the bin”, said Andy Leese. “The consequences of today are pretty dramatic for us. We’ve huffed and puffed and created two or three chances when we’ve gone down to nine men; at that point you have to salvage whatever you can from the wreckage … but not a good day all round.”
Town: McDonald; Spencer, Knight, Richmond, Payne; Della-Verde (Youngs 66), Thomas, Wordsworth, Taaffe (Wilson-Braithwaite 63); Cass, Cunnington (Hercules 74).
Blues: Giddens; Olufemi, Henshaw, Beadle, Porter; Foxley, Johnson, Church (Jack Thomas 76), Charles (Giles 86); Donell Thomas (Peters 81), Merrifield.
Attendance: 530.
