Carshalton Athletic 1 Enfield Town 2
Report by Andrew Warshaw
(photo: Michael Michalia)
Let’s not tempt fate after just a quarter of the season but if, come mid-April, Enfield Town have managed to claw their way back up to Step 2, this will surely be one of those results they will look back on as pivotal.
Because for long periods it looked for all the world like we would be securing our first draw of the campaign rather than celebrating maintaining our 100 percent away league record and going three points clear at the top against a Carshalton team who, until they ran out of gas, gave as good as they got – and sometimes more.
Having dealt with almost everything they had to offer in a wonderfully entertaining encounter, Town did what Town have been doing so well – spotting the opposition’s tiring legs and using their fitness, speed, teamwork and game management to take full advantage.
We all know we can’t win every game and that there will be bumps along the way. But the way Tariq Al-Sadi was mobbed by jubilant teammates after netting our 91st-minute winner said everything about what this particularly victory meant after certainly not have everything our own way — especially after the Robins equalised early in the second half.
Billy Holland, who made three changes from Saturday’s win over Dulwich with only 48 hours in between, admitted as much as he gave an honest appraisal of a Carshalton side whose strong press made it an even contest until the final stages.
The fact that Robins fans said it was their team’s best display of the season only served to illustrate what an impressive achievement it was for us to get over the line – ultimately courtesy of two pieces of magic.
Without the unavailable Sam Youngs, Town, for all their trademark approach play, at times lacked a presence up front and it was the hosts who enjoyed the early running.
Three times, Robins skipper and chief dangerman Nathan Young-Coombes had the chance to open the scoring, each time shooting straight at or close to Dylan Thompson.
But on 20 minutes, the hosts were made to pay when Amrit Bansal-McNulty’s precise pass was handled just outside the area. Up stepped Amrit to send a gorgeous dipping freekick over the wall and under the bar.
Carshalton’s form has deteriorated badly of late after winning their first five league games but their heads didn’t drop as they carved out a number of corners, most of which were well defended – especially by the rock solid Sonny Hart – although one saw Nico Jones head narrowly over.
A weak Carshalton penalty claim came and went and Town on balance shaded the first half, mainly due to their superior transition play and Carshalton’s tendency to lack power and direction in the final third.
Indeed we should have gone in 2-0, Billy Leonard firing over from close range in the final minute of the half after Aye Tanimowo played a cleverly disguised ball into Billy’s feet.
H-T 1-0
Instead, three minutes after the interval the hosts restored parity when that man Young-Coombes got the last touch to the latest Carshalton corner to stab home at the far post.
Town were having problems playing out from the back as the Robins cut off the spaces and forced the pace. Having said that, we were always dangerous on the counter and our lead should have been restored when Declan Rydings scooped over from substitute Luke May-Parrott’s layoff.
As a persistent drizzle eased on the artificial surface, Town were given a golden opportunity on 70 minutes to stop Carshalton in their tracks when Bansal-McNulty had his leg clipped as he was about to unload.
In the absence of Sam Youngs, Amrit took the penalty but saw his powerful effort down the middle superbly pushed over one-handed by Benjamin Dudzinski.
The miss didn’t faze Town who could see their opponents’ energy levels drop and now went for the jugular with Al-Sadi, like May-Parrott, making his presence felt from the bench as did the returning Micky Parcell at the other end.
Six minutes of stoppage time were signalled and just as it looked as though both sides might have to settle for a draw, Tariq used all his skill to drift infield and kiss the post with a dramatic winner to send the visiting Town faithful, as well as the players, into raptures (pictured). And there was still time for May-Parrott to loop an opportunist effort over Dudzinski and on to the top of the bar.
A ninth league win then, arguably our toughest so far, and now off to Three Bridges on Saturday to try and make it 10 from 12 games.
Town
Thompson; Tarima (Parcell 77), Hart, Mensah, Tanimowo (Velasquez); Kyei, Davies (56 May-Parrott), Rydings, Avgoustidis (Al-Sadi 63); Bansal-McNulty, Leonard