Enfield Town 3 Merstham 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

 What an afternoon – on and off the pitch.

In front of a bumper 600-plus crowd to mark the 10^th anniversary since we moved into QE, the players did us proud with a stirring second-half fightback while it was an unforgettable day all round, featuring a huge pre-match photoshoot involving all our teams followed by our youngsters taking over the match-day activities.

Not only did we maintain our unbeaten home league record to stay second in the league but also closed the gap on leaders Worthing, turning on the style in the after the break to make up for the last-gasp midweek defeat at Bishops Stortford.

Sam Youngs was back from vacation but new signing Kurtis Cumberbatch got the nod in midfield in an otherwise unchanged side.

It didn’t start too well as Merstham’s Korrey Henry netted from the penalty spot after 11 minutes, awarded after Ryan Kirwan barged over Chace Jacquart.

In truth the visitors looked the more composed outfit early doors but we soon started to test them, with Andre Coker narrowly off target and Mo Faal seeing his shot saved  by legs of Toby Bull.

Mo had a quiet first half by his own high standards with James Richmond gobbling up almost everything at the back for the Moatsiders. In fact we found it hard to find the spaces in what was a generally unspectacular opening period

H-T 0-1

Cue the second half, cue a totally dominant performance as we came out with all guns blazing to turn the game around with Nathan McDonald a virtual spectator in goal.

Special mention has to go to Percy Kiangebeni who put in what can only be described as the complete box-to-box midfield display from first minute to last.

We were rewarded on 58 minutes when another penalty  was awarded, albeit somewhat dubiously, when Percy was adjudged to have been fouled just inside the touchline after a trademark driving run into the danger zone. Mo did the rest from the spot to level.

Chance after Towners chance then went begging until, on 70 minutes, Toby Bull pushed Percy’s fierce drive into the path of Mo, who drove home the rebound for his and our second.

Now it was question of making the game safe and Coker should have done just that, only to screw his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

In the dying moments, however, he atoned for his glaring miss as he made the points safe with a neat finish after being put through by Mo who showed great persistence  in taking advantage of a bad mistake in the visitors’ defence.

The scenes of jubilation at the final whistle among both players and supporters rounded off a wonderful family-friendly afternoon.

The games come thick and fast. Hornchurch next on Tuesday which should be a spicy affair and then the FA Trophy 2nd round on Saturday at Hanwell.

Town: McDonald, Muleba, Joseph, Gyebi, Kirwan (Chappell 85); Cumberbatch (Cunnington 63), Maja, Kiangebeni, Della-Verde (Smith, 80) ; Coker, Faal.

We are pleased to announce we have  signed 26-year-old midfielder Kurtis Cumberbatch on a dual registration basis with Billericay.

He is available for selection tomorrow and for the FA trophy next week. Welcome Kurtis.

“With Scott Thomas still a few games away from returning, it’s an area of the pitch we felt we needed to strengthen,” said manager Andy Leese. “Thanks to Billericay for helping to make this happen.”

“Kurtis is a National League player and will give us another dimension.”

As most of you know, tomorrow represents a special date in the history of our club as we attempt to get back to winning ways against Merstham.

We have now been at the QEII Stadium for 10 years and to mark the occasion, Saturday will be a “Whole Club Day” illustrating how we have grown and how the stadium has become a hub for football in Enfield.

This will involve our youth section and women’s and girls teams carrying out of number of matchday roles, taking over under supervision from those who normally carry out such duties.

They will also be collecting for two charities:  an autism unit in Enfield for purchase of sensory equipment and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

We are producing a larger than usual programme including how we came to be at the QEII in the first place as well as unique interviews with former Towners legends Steve Newing, Liam Hope, Mark Kirby and Bryan Hammatt.  You can pick up a copy from sellers in the ground or at the club shop.

For this senior fixture alone, there is free admission for U18s. ID may be required. Otherwise normal admission prices apply.

With a large photoshoot planned, we expect to have anything between 100-200 youth and parents (200-300) people in the ground by 1.15pm before the mainstream supporters arrive.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Development are arriving before the game to organise an exercise walk at 12.30 PM outside our QE11 stadium. If you are interested in taking part fill in the form on the link below or turn up and fill it in when you arrive. Alternatively contact Christine Hamilton on 07949071587 .

https://www.tfaforms.com/4878541?tfa_264=a218d000000LGw0

COYT!

Bishops Stortford 2 Enfield Town 1

Report by Martin Bentley

The battle between two teams with month-long unbeaten league runs unfortunately ended in defeat for Enfield Town on Tuesday as a  last-gasp 96^th minute Johnville Renee winner saw the home side take all three points.

It was a hugely disappointing way for Town’s record to end, particularly after we had fought back to equalise in the 87^th minute.

Further bad news came our way as both Worthing and Folkestone won their games, although we remain in second place by the narrowest of goal difference margins. Manny Maja, meanwhile, will be ruled out of the Hornchurch game through suspension having picked up his fifth caution of the season.

An unchanged Town team began brightly, with Lyle Della Verde prominent on the right wing. His clever free kick after eight minutes was well saved by Jack Giddens in the home goal with Mo Faal unable to convert the rebound.

Two minutes later Della Verde’s low cross fizzed across the goalmouth about a foot out of Lewis Taaffe’s reach. The home side, in the meantime, were buzzing around purposefully in midfield without causing Nathan McDonald too many hair-raising moments, although Ryan Charles did hit the outside of the post from a deep cross from the right.

Town continued to create the better chances with Della Verde cutting in from the right and having a shot saved on 34 minutes and just before halftime a typical Faal gallop from the halfway line ended with Town’s top scorer shooting wide.

H-T 0-0

If the first half was fairly even, then the home side definitely upped their game after the break.  Stortford began to enjoy greater possession in midfield, with Town’s passing going astray on numerous occasions. 

Anthony Church had a shot well blocked by Harold Joseph, before the splendidly-named Jonny Giles whizzed down the right wing past two defenders only to see his shot blocked for a corner. 

Although McDonald’s goal was not directly threatened on too many occasions, the balance of play had definitely shifted in favour of the hosts.

Finally, on 81 minutes the game exploded into life.  A Town handball gave the home side a penalty, which was duly belted in by Jake Cass.  

Town’s response was a triple substitution, introducing Nathan Smith, Luke Cook and Lee Chappell into the fray, and it quickly paid dividends. 

Della Verde’s right-wing corner caused chaos in the home six-yard box, and the loose ball was gleefully wellied home by Smith. 

To their credit, Town now went for the win, and almost got it when Faal broke down the right and passed to Della Verde who unfortunately shot straight at Giddens. 

What happened next was as depressing as it was frustrating. With the clock showing 95.30, Charles’ low cross from the left was converted by Renee from close range, leaving Town players, management and supporters all tearing their hair out.

On Saturday we have a chance to pick ourselves back up  when we host Merstham at our special club day to celebrate 10 years since moving to QEII, hopefully in front of a bumper crowd.

Town line-up: McDonald, Muleba, Kirwan (Chappell 83), Maja, Gyebi, Joseph, Kiangebeni, Taaffe (Smith 83), Coker (Cook 83), Faal, Della-Verde. Unused subs: Bray, Walsh

We have been drawn away to Step 4 Hanwell Town in the 2^nd round of the FA Trophy on Nov 27.

Hanwell play in Greenford in the Isthmian League south central division  and are currently in 6^th place but  on a strong run of form.

Last Saturday they knocked our local rivals Wingate and Finchley  out of the trophy and are regarded as a far better side than their Step 4 status suggests, having scored 20 goals in the last six games.

They cannot be under-estimated but the tie, which awards £3,750 to the winners, gives us a marvellous opportunity to progress into the third round and the chance to rub shoulders with one of non league football’s big boys.

Ticket information and ground directions will be posted in due course.

Biggleswade Town 1 Enfield Town 2

Report by andrew warshaw

A brace from Lyle Della-Verde sent us into the second round proper of the FA Trophy for the first time in the competition’s current guise.

Whilst it was never easy against determined fellow Step 3 opponents, no-one could argue that we thoroughly deserved our place in Monday’s eagerly awaited draw when National League north and south teams join the tournament.

In terms of chances, we dominated proceedings, in fact Nathan McDonald didn’t have a single save to make. But cup games can quickly turn against you and there was a palpable sense of relief when the full-time whistle went to the delight of a fantastic away following in the 397 crowd.

With Adam Cunnington ruled out through illness just before kickoff, the management team called up Matt Walsh but there was no time for him to make the journey up the A1 to join the subs bench.  Thankfully, it didn’t affect the result.

The first big chance of the game went the hosts’ way as Ronan Silva drove an effort inches past the post with McDonald beaten.

But two minutes later, Mo Faal thought he had opened the scoring for Town, finishing off a gorgeous move only to be ruled offside – wrongly according to almost everyone close to the action except the linesman.

Mo was a threat all afternoon but this was one occasion when time after time he fell foul of the offside flag.

By the midway point of the first half, we had moved into the ascendancy and it was no surprise when we went in front on 22 minutes. Biggleswade failed to clear a corner and Della-Verde hit a sweetly struck shot through a ruck of players and into the net.

He should have made it two moments later, heading over from four yards when unmarked after great combination play down our left.

Nathan had been largely untroubled since that early Biggleswade chance but calamity struck five minutes before the break. Helping out his defence, Lewis Taafe got the last touch from a corner (even though the goal was credited to Biggleswade defender Matt Hall) and the ball trickled over the line for the most fortuitous of equalisers.

H-T 1-1

Encouraged by their goal against the run of play, the hosts enjoyed a strong 10-minute spell at the start of the second period but we were soon back in control – creating chance after chance.

Della-Verde fired into the side netting from close range, then twice in quick succession rushed his shot and blasted over the bar. Then  it was Mo’s turn, pulling the trigger from 30 yards only for Jake Alley to make a flying save.

Lyle wasn’t to be denied, however. On 70 minutes with the home defence backing off, he kept his composure with an unstoppable effort to restore our lead.

Cue a double substitution one of which gave young Luke Cook his first taste of first-team action.   

Whilst we always looked capable of getting a third – not least when Mo was clean through but uncharacteristically took the wrong option — Biggleswade were still in the game. On more than one occasion we were forced to throw bodies in the way of home-team efforts, with Harold Joseph enjoying an especially eye-catching afternoon.

Late on, we switched to a back five to see the game out and all in all, another commendable team display despite being without a number of players. Now we wait to see who we pull out of the hat on Monday.

Town:

McDonald: Muleba, Joseph, Gyebi, Kirwan; Kiangebeni, Taafe (Smith 72), Maja, Della-Verde (Bray, 89); Faal, Coker (Cook, 72)

Our opponents in the FA Trophy First Round proper on Sat, Nov 13, are fellow Step 3 side Biggleswade Town, not to be confused with Biggleswade FC or Biggleswade United.

 Biggleswade Town play in Southern League Premier division Central at Langford Road, Biggleswade, SG18 9JT.

 If you intend to travel on the Club Coach you must book in advance by contacting Les Gold on 07979 72756 / lesgold@enfieldtownfootballclub.co.uk . The Coach departs the QEII Stadium at 11.30  

If you are making your own way you may find this information from the Biggleswade Town website helpful. 

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/biggleswadetownfc/a/access-to-langford-road-52098.html

The Waders are currently 10th in the Southern Premier Central with 19 points from 15 games. They reached the Trophy first round by winning 2-0 at Wisbech Town with a couple of goals from Joe Neal. It promises to be another hard-fought fixture against a team who play at the same level as us but gives us a fantastic opportunity to progress.

No extra time or replays in the Trophy this season so straight to penalties if we are level at 90 minutes. The winners of Saturday’s game receive £3,000 in prize money, the losers £775. 

Enfield Town manager Andy Leese was a guest on “our local non-league” show on Wednesday and talked about a variety of subjects including the Corinthian Casuals victory, the Bedfont Sports defeat on penalties, Saturday’s upcoming Trophy game, the background to Mo’s signing and the challenge ahead.

Here is the link for those who haven’t yet seen it

Our AGM will be held via Zoom on Thursday 20 January 2022. You must be a member to attend but you can join now if you are not already a member.

You can join online at https://membermojo.co.uk/etfcs or by completing a membership form available at the Club Shop on match days.

Board Elections

We will very shortly be seeking nominations for the Board of Enfield Town FC . If this is something that interests you, you are welcome to speak to any member of the board about what this is likely to involve. To stand for election you must have been a member for one year and you will need 3 current members to support your nomination.