Back to Clarence Park for the visit of Enfield F.C. Former club of City Chairman, Lee Harding, Enfield now have financial stability, I assume, as significant funds held in some kind of Trust following the sale of their ground some years ago have been released to their Chairman following a split as, with the balance of the Trust money, their supporters have formed Enfield Town F.C. and entered the Essex Senior League. Loadsamoney but no fans. It's a funny old game.
Enfield have 10 points from 11 games and they are 17th in the League. They lost 2-0 at home to Maidenhead on Saturday. City are in 8th spot with 17 points.
For tonight, The Dynamic Duo selected Phil Church in goal; 3 at the back: Evans, Brown and Moran; 4 in the midfield: Wraight, Metcalf, Hyatt and Rattle; 2 in front of them: Fenton and Smith; and Martin up front. On the bench were Blaney, Honeyball and Cook. In the stand were the injured: Wilmot, Campbell, Nabil, and Bignal and absent for tonight, Ferguson.
It was a scrappy first half. Neither side could string 3 passes together until, midway through the first half, Enfield strung 6 together in a sweet move on the home left side and a good cross was headed home decisively, but unoppossed. 0-1. Saints showed a little more individual flair than the visitors but Enfield had the greater work-rate and, it seemed to me, determination. Martin looked lonely once again, and once again we were being exposed on the flanks at the back. Other than the goal, neither keeper was overly troubled. H.T. 0-1.
The second half started in much the same vein but the pace began to pick up as City tried to get back in the game and Enfield looked to put the game out of reach. On the hour, Blaney replaced the anonymous Metcalf and there was some bite in the City midfield. It was Blaney who netted after the visitors keeper spilled the ball on the goal-line but was adjudged to be offside. A strange decision. As City pressed forward, Enfield had their chances too, with both Georgiou and Narty failing to stretch the debutant Church. With 10 minutes or so to go, a neat move on the left saw the ball passed from Hyatt
to Rattle to Smith who pulled the ball back to Blaney, 30 yards out, who hit a volley that couldn't have been struck better into the back of the net. 1-1.
Both sides pressed for the last few minutes and chances fell to Martin and Fenton and at the other end, Narty hit the post. Cook and Honeyball replaced Wraight and Fenton for 8 long minutes of injury time. F.T, 1-1.
It was disappointing for the home fans particularly as Saints have played some very good football on the road in the past 2 games. They are just people and for most, this was a bad day at the office. I have those, the last one in 1992 as I recall. 2 points from the last 9 will trouble the Managers, but I'm
sure that they will be up for the Cup. Enfield didn't impress, either. Limited skill on display, but a lot of effort and commendable work-rate. On the night, a draw was probably the right result. The official attendance was 252, with only 30 or so visitors.
Entertainment 6/10. (Only 4 if it weren't for the goal!) Atmosphere 5/10. Technical Merit 4/10. Referee 6/10.
Next up. The magic of the F.A. Cup. The Road to Cardiff. We are at home on Saturday, September 29th to Billericay Town, no minnows, a fellow Ryman League club from the Premier Division where they are 6th, in the 2nd qualifying round. Cup fever grips the City!
Report by Homer |