Ryman League Premier Division
Saturday 11th April, 2015 – 3pm kick-off
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a football club in possession of a good points tally and pursuing a play-off place, must be in want of end-of-season fixtures against teams fighting tooth-and -nail for their very league survival".
With apologies to Jane Austen and common sense.
Although it really IS a truth universally acknowledged amongst superstitious football fans that, when your football team is still in with the chance of a play-off place (or a title, or a Champions League place, or avoiding relegation), you probably WILL see them having to play their final games of the season against opponents desperate for a win of their own, or with something to prove. You just don't want or need to find them up against flesh-eating zombies; those doomed teams who simply don't yet know that they're already, in fact, 'dead and buried'. The ideal opposition, as a matter of fact, would be sitting in mid-table obscurity, with no local rivalries or grudges to settle. So it was typically “Enfield-ish” that The Towners’ three final league fixtures of the season would, of course, have to be against AFC Hornchurch, East Thurrock United and Witham Town; whose own fans were probably also thinking something similar but different about Enfield Town. Before Saturday’s games, Hornchurch were second-from-bottom, needing to secure an away win to keep alive any realistic hopes of avoiding relegation. On the final day of the season, Enfield will ‘entertain’ Witham, who are currently third-from-bottom and in similar, dire straits and with an equal need for late-season points.
One ticket for some very welcome "Adult" entertainment?
Back to the future now, though, like 1985's Marty McFly. Forwards 30 years, in fact, to 2015; and the more important and less 'amber' stuff of the moment. Although East Thurrock do play in fetching golden shirts. Saturday’s visitors were one of the few sides Enfield have faced in the league who are, technically, an even younger club than “we” are. A.F.C. Hornchurch was formed in 2005, after Hornchurch Football Club suffered financial problems and was closed down. In truth, the club’s history goes back to 1923, when the team were first formed as ‘Upminster Wanderers’. Despite the extreme youthfulness of the current Hornchurch club, they were playing Conference South football as recently as 2012-’13; although relegation followed their first season in that flight - and worse might yet follow this season for “The Urchins” of Upminster, if their Donkey Lane performance was not enough to overcome North London's finest and the weekend's outcome for them was less than positive. Omens for the home side were not the best, though. Enfield had lost two of their last four games, after a run of four previous straight wins. 'On paper', however, Hornchurch didn’t look much like party-poopers: having themselves earned just a single point from their last six games. That wasn’t a statistic destined, however, to steady jittery play-off nerves very much in North London. A glimpse at The Urchins’ fixtures and results web page revealed that they had held even the mighty West Ham United to a 2-2 draw in their first pre-season game, way back in July. OK, so that was only a friendly, admittedly; and it was only against a “West Ham Utd XI”; and it was only played on a Hammers’ training pitch … but I could see the (almost inevitable?) writing on the QEII stadium wall already!
Enfield, in white, kicking left-to-right in the 1st half, towards the mighty A10.
The game kicked off in typical English April weather. Warm sunshine bathed the stands, although the cooling influence of a broadly Norther-Easterly cross-wind was with Enfield, as they attacked the A10 end of the ground under light, scudding clouds. Early end-to-end action belied the difference between the two sides in terms of their respective league positions. Town's play-off hopefuls would, apparently, need to earn those three all-important play-off points the hard way. As usual! Although Enfield held the balance of play in terms of possession and territory, Hornchurch were not without threat, particularly from their pacey #10, George Purcell, making his 100th appearance for the club and seemingly looking to celebrate that milestone in the best and most traditional way. In their early attacks, The Urchins earned a dubious free kick after 10 minutes, in a dangerous position on Enfield's right. The referee initially allowed play to continue after an infringement; but belatedly awarded the kick after Hornchurch made nothing of the advantage he had clearly played. Joey May's cross caused some concern in the home defence. Town's Nathan McDonald flapped at the crossed ball; but then reprieved himself with a double save, as the rebound fell to Purcell, whose deflected shot earned only a corner, when it could have gone anywhere. That corner kick resulted in another Purcell shot, this time over the bar; but the pattern had been set. A break away attack soon led to another dangerous corner for the visitors. Town 'keeper Nathan McDonald then saved well from Purcell (him again!) who had been put through by #9 Martin Tuohy, Only eleven away fans were in the Hornchurch end, for a close-up view of all that action; but they had brought a very nice and jolly big flag with them, to boost their end-of-season confidence
Enfield then started to develop more consistent pressure on their opponents, wasting an excellent opportunity from a free kick awarded just outside the Hornchurch penalty area. Regular readers of this blog will be only too keenly aware, however, of what dangers lurk when The Towners seem to be in control of a game. So, sure enough, after 17 minutes, a route-one ball was flicked on deftly by Purcell through to Tuohy, who celebrated his own 200th appearance by outpacing the Enfield defence, who were 'caught square', and by neatly slipping the ball wide of the advancing McDonald. It was 0-1; but not entirely against the run of play. "Con - so lay - shun goal!" sang the home fans, somewhat halfheartedly to the melody of 1971's #1 hit "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" by Scottish band Middle of the Road. Luckily, there were still about 75 minutes remaining in which to try and salvage Enfield's play-off hopes; and the home side set about the task with renewed vigour. There were wasted crosses and wasted free-kicks, plus tidy saves from The Urchins' Sam Mott. In between, we saw good footwork on the right by towering #4 Claudiu Vilcu; and good footwork on the left by towering #6 (and captain) Stanley Muguo. Both wasted. A new pattern was emerging; but after 31 minutes this was broken by another dangerous Hornchurch attack, as the Urchins' own #6, Frankie Curley, put a diving header harmlessly high and wide, after yet more dubious refereeing and another obvious foul ignored. Within two more minutes, Curley (probably unintentionally) handled a Tyler Campbell shot which was hammered straight at him, inside the box. "Penalty!" Surprisingly, the referee agreed with the home fans. "Off, off, off, off ..." Unsurprisingly, the referee disagreed with that helpful suggestion. No red card was flourished; not even a yellow one. So it was down to former-Urchin, Enfield's reliable #8, Ryan Doyle, to ensure that punishment was duly meted out. Luckily, he did so in style. Leaning to his left, whilst he struck the ball to his right, just inside the join of Mott's left-hand post and cross-bar.
The established to and fro recommenced, ending the half with a pair of corners for Enfield, as they piled on the pressure for a go-ahead goal; but to no avail. The referee had seen enough and sent both sides out of the sunshine for a breather, with the scores level. During the break, the public address system took us all back to the 1980's one more time. The 1981 Abba medley by Dutch novelty pop act Stars on 45 featured some inspiring lyrics; along with a possible warning about Enfield's hope for a play-off place: "... Now - it's - His-to-reeee!". The crowd was announced as 430; the 3rd-highest of the day, behind Maidstone's and Tonbridge's (who both managed home wins) and somewhat above our average (of 385). The uninterrupted half-time view from the roof of the main stand was an inspiring vista of the avenue running through the George V playing Fields, next door. I hoped that Enfield's second half performance would also be a pleasant walk in the park.
Enfield suddenly seemed to realise they were the better team; and would not let up the pressure on their visitors, particularly down their left (Hornchurch's right). April's wispy clouds were no protection from the rays of the sun; nor the rays of Town's renewed brilliance. Six minutes after scoring Enfield's second, Whiteley was at it again. Town's #11, Tyler Campbell, intercepted a poor pass on Hornchurch's pressurised right and ran on before sending in a low cross to the near post where, once again, Whitley was on hand to apply the finishing touch with a deft flick.
"A-gayne! You'll never play here a-gain!" It was a cruel taunt; but possibly an accurate one. After 68 minutes, Purcell shanked a Hornchurch free kick badly, from a promising position, Enfield nerves started to subside. The fans indulged in a few of their favourite party tunes: Johnny Cash; The Beatles. "Well, shake it up, baby, now (Shake it up, baby) - Twist and shout (Twist and shout)" It was to be hoped that the Urchins would not "Work it on out". But you can never be sure of anything, when Enfield are playing. So home hearts were in metaphorical mouths when the Essex side's Joseph went over theatrically in the centre, just outside the box, earning a yellow card for 'simulation' for his troubles. Home fans showed their short memories a minute later when Devyne went down on the edge of the Hornchurch area without reward; but also without receiving a card: "The Ref-e-ree's from Hornchurch". It wasn't long, though, before a free kick in a dangerous position finally WAS awarded; and it went to the visitors. Home celebrations were put on hold as Purcell directed his curling, left-footed strike from distance past the shaky defensive wall and into the far corner of the Enfield net, right in front of that trusty flag. Whoops!
There were still five minutes of normal time remaining; and probably some abnormal time to add, too. This was not the script we had approved before the game. A minute later and another free-kick went Hornchurch's way, in a similar position. Town were less troubled this time, luckily; and the club website later observed "there were no more anxious moments of note during the four minutes of added time". That is NOT how it felt, at the time, however.
Manager Bradley Quinton (in black) shows his appreciation for the home fans' unwavering(?!) support, after yet another nerve-jangling narrow victory. The players seem fatigued by their efforts and, perhaps, their earlier celebrations. While injured club captain Mark Kirby (in shades, his future's so bright) urges them to follow their boss's example.
Enfield had their end-of-season fate back in their own hands. Two more league wins would see them through to the play-offs for sure. With a two points and one goal advantage over nearest rivals Grays, four points or less might yet be enough. There was yet more good news, perhaps: since, after a 2-2 draw at Kingstonian on Sunday, next weekend's opponents ("The Rocks" of East Thurrock) would no longer be in with even a mathematical chance of promotion. They would, therefore, have "nothing left to play for" against us; and would surely sit back and let us win easily. Yeah, right! Although their fellow draw-mongers, Kingstonian, did still have just the slimmest glimmer of a play-off chance. Whatever happens on Saturday, down by the Thames, Enfield Town would still be in the mix for those play-offs; but wouldn't it be good to ensure we were still in control of our own fate the following Saturday? Meanwhile, three straight wins could yet see losers Hornchurch survive their relegation threat. Although they've only picked up one point from the last 15 available; and their fate might yet rest in Enfield's hands, when we play one of their drop-rivals, Witham Town, on the final day of the 'regular' season.
No flesh-eating zombies THIS week after all, then; but we must still venture out next to deepest, darkest Stanford-le-Hope for what will, surely, be a far sterner test. ""The horror! The horror!” Readers with good memories may recall seeing Thurrock's FA Cup run on TV earlier this season, It was terminated by league opposition in the shape of the (now-recovering) 'Monkey-Hangers' of Hartlepool United. Come On, You Towners!
Full-time: Enfield Town 3 - AFC Hornchurch 2
Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Jordan Lockie, Ricky Gabriel, Claudiu Vilcu, Joe Ellul, Stanley Muguo, Nathan Livings (Liam Hope 52), Ryan Doyle (Phil Kane 82), Corey Whitely, Bobby Devyne(Dernell Wynter 82), Tyler Campbell. Unused subs: Isaac Nkosi, Michael Kalu. Booked: Hope, Wynter.
AFC Hornchurch: Sam Mott, Danny Woodards, Junior Luke, Elliot Styles, Billy Roast, Frankie Curley, Tobi Joseph (Kieran Bishop 87), Danny Johnson, Martin Tuohy, George Purcell, Joey May (Reece Beckles-Richards 65). Unused subs: Thomas Gogo, Courtney Homans, Billy Coyne. Booked: Johnson.
Attendance:430.
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