Enfield Town 0 Totton 1

Report by Andrew Warshaw

Gavin Macpherosn cut a disconsolate figure after former Towner Hisham Kasimu condemned us to another late, late defeat and sent us to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Everyone acknowledges that the squad is deeper and stronger than this time last season, plus the fact that we have had arguably the toughest start of any side in the division.

But the fact is the league as a whole is stronger too and we need to find a way of getting that first win on the board and start testing opponents more effectively.

Gavin as expected rotated the squad again with five changes, bringing the likes of Sam Youngs and Mickey Parcell back into the line-up, the latter playing his last game before a three-match ban.

With both teams having played 48 hours previously, Totton also switched five players but in a game of two halves, we really should have been in front at the interval.

On just three minutes, Billy Leonard put a sidefoot volley over the bar after great work from Nino Adom-Malaki (pictured) who increasingly  looks like a shrewd signing.

Nino was again involved when Tommy Wood missed an even more presentable chance, powering a header straight at the Totton keeper.

Two more chances quickly followed. Nino picked the ball up left of centre and dribbled past three players before shooting just wide; then a Youngs header was superbly saved, only for Harry Lodovica’s close-range finish on the follow-up to be ruled out for offside.

At this point the Stags were second best and a penalty shout only resulted in Craig Tanner being booked for simulation.

But our south-coast opponents had shown enough in their slick build-up play on the counter to suggest they might be a threat after the interval.

H-T 0-0

And so it proved as Totton suddenly upped the tempo and pinned Town back for almost all of the second half, save for a Youngs header tipped over by Ryan Gosney.

Christie Ward fizzed a volley into the body of Forster and the dangerous Ashley Clarke was a constant threat.

How Xavier Benjamin prevented the afore-mentioned Clarke from opening the score on the hour will surely be talked about long into the season.

Having had an initial effort saved by Forster, Clarke had the goal at his mercy from just two yards, only for Xav, out of nowhere, to come hurtling back and miraculously clear off the line, tangling himself in the back of the net in the process.

 Another Totton penalty appeal, this time for handball, went unheeded.  Then Town were caught out by a Christie Ward long ball which Rhys managed to save with his legs.

As the pressure mounted, enter for the second time Xav Benjamin with a clearance almost as remarkable as his first, a lung-busting intervention thwarting Tony Lee as he bore down on goal.

Just as it looked like Town would pick up a third point of the season, within a minute of six added on the otherwise sound Forster dropped a clanger and was made to pay.

You had to feel for Rhys who appeared to hold on to a Clarke cross, only for the ball to slip out of his hands and allow Kasimu, of all people, to tap home.

“I felt we had five good chances of the first half and should have made at least one of them count,” said Gavin Macpherson. “That’s costing us as much as last-minute mistakes. I share the frustration of the supporters. We were nil again in front of goal and that’s got to change.”

The fact we have a point less than at the same time last year, and only one goal, despite a better squad is not lost on the management team.

“We are relying on the defence at the moment which is very difficult. Our shape out of possession is excellent and we are difficult to break down but the potency isn’t there at the moment and I don’t lay that entirely at the forwards’ feet,” Gavin added.

“As for Rhys, he’s has been very good recently and while it was the major factor in the game, it wasn’t the only one.  I’m hugely disappointed we are not serving up better results. We’re so much better than at this time last season but we have one less point. I’m feeling it more than anyone and I take full responsibility.”

Town: Forster; Benjamin, Hawkins, Donaldson; Adom-Malaki (Jones 72) , Parcell (MacArthur, 75), Bullas, Youngs, Leonard; Wood, Lodovica (Brown, 65).