Town Pitch Perfect

Billericay 0 Enfield Town 4

Report by Andrew Warshaw

It doesn’t get much better than this. Against a team that had won its previous four home games, Enfield Town put on the ultimate complete display to maintain our push not just for a playoff place but for automatic promotion.

Superb to a man, Town’s teamwork, cohesion and penetration swept Billericay aside in front of a 1000-plus crowd – including a terrific away support — to secure the league double over our Essex opponents in the space of just 10 days.

With six wins in our last seven outings, second-placed Town are very much the form team in the division. With 16 games still to go, it would be foolhardy to get carried away but with the best goal difference in the league and only two points behind leaders Bishop’s Stortford, there is a growing belief that we have as good a chance as anyone of going all the way this time.

Billericay’s manager churlishly remarked after our 2-0 win in the corresponding fixture that the way we played was a crime against football even though for long periods they didn’t lay a glove on us.

On Saturday the only crime that we that didn’t score even more goals in what seasoned observers said was one of the most professional collective displays for many a year, the only downside being what could be a serious knee injury to Jueven Spencer.

Right from the off Town were on the front foot, winning second balls and attacking down both flanks and the middle. Sam Youngs curled a shot just wide while Marcus Wyllie unleashed a glorious left-wing strike that came back off the post.

In between there were two lengthy stoppages for accidental head clashes, one of which resulting in Lewis Knight being bandaged up.

Soon afterwards Juevan, who has been so consistent all season, had to be helped off the pitch by two sets of arms, returning later to the dugout on crutches.

Such is Town’s strength in depth that his replacement,  Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite, slotted in seamlessly at rightback.

In fact shortly after the enforced change, Town took the lead on 28 minutes as Wyllie latched on to Adam Cunnington’s header and fed Andre Coker who finished with aplomb.

Wyllie then came close to converting  a glorious Scott Thomas pass while at the other end, in a rare Ricay counter, Nathan McDonald pushed away  an Anthony Jeffrey’ effort.

H-T 0-1

For much of the game Billericay’s raids were largely speculative whereas there was an intent and purpose about Enfield’s play.

Only in the first 15 minutes of the second half was our dominance threatened as Ricay came out with more urgency.

It  needed a magnificent tackle by Wilson-Braithwaite to prevent Eze Ebuzoeme from equalising but on 58 minutes we got the all-important second goal.  A trademark Joe Payne long throw  wasn’t cleared and Chez Isaac rushed forward to smash the ball home (pictured).

Now Enfield regained the ascendancy and before long the game was made safe following a pair of inspired substitutions by the management.

When a 25-yard Payne freekick rattled the underside of the bar, Jake Cass was first on hand to head home the rebound. Then Lewis Taaffe’s scuffed effort across goal was turned into his own net by a Billericay defender.

“Another fantastic all-round display form us today,” said Andy Leese. “Apart from a spell after halftime I felt we controlled the game. We were unfortunate not to be further ahead at halftime with some great attacking play.”

“Yet again our substitutions changed the game and we cruised to a well-desered three points. It keeps us in the promotion mix but that’s all  it does with so many games left to play. Some great individual performances today as well especially from Chez and overall as good a team performances as we’ve had all season.”

Town:

McDonald; Spencer (Wilson-Braithwaite, 25), Knight, Richmond, Payne; Thomas (Cass, 71), Youngs, Isaac; Wyllie, Cunnington, Coker (Taaffe, 66)