Way back in August, Enfield Town received a nasty wake-up call in the form of a 6-1 home defeat at the hands of Slough Town. The return fixture proved a vastly different story against a largely similar Slough line-up, with Town unlucky not to take all three points following an impressive second half comeback. The performance was testament to the huge advances made by Gavin McPherson’s side in the intervening seven months. The point also moved Town up a place in the National League table, with Welling United’s unlikely victory over leader’s Worthing the only activity of note involving the teams below us.
Town changes saw a recall for John Oyenuga and a first start for Harry Sidwell in midfield, but the home side were the first to settle, with wingers David Ogbonna and Johnny Goddard giving Town’s full back several hairy moments. A low cross from Taylor Clark was stabbed into the net by home centre back Edon Pruti to give the Revels a 14th minute lead, but this Town side are made of sterner stuff these days, and quickly set about repairing the damage. Lennon Peake was finding space to operate down the left, but Town were unable to benefit from his crosses. The best first half chances fell to Peake, whose shot was blocked; in the resultant scramble, Sam Youngs’ effort was save by the outstretched leg of home keeper Charlie Horlock. Xavier Benjamin then hit a low effort a yard wide as Town began to ask some serious questions of the home side.
The second half saw Town on the front foot, with wide men Peake and Billy Leonard stretching the Rebels’ defence, although most of their crosses were swallowed comfortably by the sure-handed Horlock. The equaliser soon arrived though, and was the result of some bloody-minded persistence, as well as two good advantages played by referee Mr Swan. Mickey Parcell might have had a free kick when he surged forward from midfield, and Anointed Chukwu might have had a penalty when he was impeded in the box. The ball ended up at the feet of Youngs though, and he beat Horlock with a low drive from ten yards. Game on.
As Town chased a winner, the crosses were continually fired in, and Chukwu missed the best chance of the game when he volleyed Ollie Knight’s cross wide of Horlock’s right hand post. Slough’s forward line had belatedly woken up, however, and Joe Wright tipped Ogbonna’s dangerous cross to safety, with two hopeful Rebels waiting at the far post. Francis Amartey’s effort was brilliantly blocked on the line by Benjamin in the 90th minute, and the travelling support’s fingernails were getting a severe chewing during the following seven minutes of stoppage time. Their only two efforts of note, however, sailed harmlessly into the Lynch Hill Academy behind the goal, and Town held on comfortably for their deserved point.
Inch by inch we are moving away from the trapdoor. Wish all away days were like this.
Team: Wright, Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins, Leonard, Parcell, Sidwell, Oyenuga, Youngs, Peake, Chukwu
Subs: Knight (for Oyenuga 62), Tormey (for Chukwu 80), Kasimu (for Peake 89), Bates (for Sidwell 90+7. Not used: Stallard
Don’t forget our next fixture is at home vs Chippenham and we need you the 12th man! Tickets can be purchased in advance online here https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets