It's crunch time in the Second Division Play-Offs ... and there's finally a result in the long-running Enfield Town points-deduction débâcle

Stevenage F.C. versus Southend United

Football League Division Two Play-Offs
Kick-off: Sunday 10th May, 2015 @ 6.35pm

Regulars will probably already know that I'd been denied the chance so far of watching Enfield Town in action in the Ryman Premier League Play-Offs. So I decided to get along to watch a (relatively) local alternative play-off game, instead. It was a strange kick-off time on an unusual day of the week; but, putting on my "Neutral" shirt this Sunday at tea-time, I was looking forward to standing on a terrace again, to watch some League football.

With Enfield Town F.C. still engaged in a legal dispute with The Feeble AMATEURS (The FA) over a duplicitous and controversial points deduction and their own play-off place, this was, arguably the best I could hope for, at present. My 'neutral' shirt, incidentally, was Fulham FC's away kit from 1994. The GMB-sponsored red and black halves number by Vandanel, which I was often spotted sweating vigorously into at Wanderers Club practice evenings, in the mid-'90's. (Come On, You Whites!). Back in those days when I was (frequently) asked why the GMB union had chosen to sponsor Fulham I used to say, only half-jokingly, that it was because our players were mostly semi-skilled labourers. How we larrffed!

There were other Fulham FC connections that evening. The last time I'd been along to Broadhall Way was for a Fulham pre-season friendly, back in the '90's. When the Away end wasn't even covered - and, of course, it rained... heavily! I haven't been along there since. There were a couple of other more recent Fulham FC connections, which others might have missed, on Sunday. Firstly, FFC's former goalkeeping coach (originally appointed by his old Crazy Gang buddy, "Dirty" Lawrie Sanchez) 56 year-old Dave Beasant, was named on the bench as substitute goalie, in the absence of his son from the Stevenage line-up. Secondly, former FFC Reserves player, Michael Timlin was turning out for Southend; and really "made his mark" on the game - see below.
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The Home End: surprisingly quiet and less than full.

Stevenage boss Graham Westley is in his third spell in charge at the club. His journeyman playing career included spells at Gillingham, Barnet and Enfield (where he later also managed). His opponent in the dugout, Phil Brown, will be well-remembered for his tenure in charge at Hull City - and his on-pitch half-time impromptu coaching/remonstrations with his players. Both of today's competing clubs were in rich veins of form, coming into the clash. The Away side had sold out all their tickets; and their fans provided most of the game's atmosphere, in a relatively small play-off crowd of just 5,183, in a ground with a  6,722 capacity. Southend were the better organised side. They also showed a better touch in a first half memorable mostly for some great goal-keeping and one of football's more horrific head clashes.

The sun sets over Broadhall Way, as a late Southend corner is sent in under floodlights.

Former Fulham man, Timlin, was in the wars with Stevenage captain Bira Dembele. Their 'coming together' forced a 9-minute stoppage in play, during which not one but TWO stretchers were on the pitch, simultaneously. Fortunately both left the pitch unused. Amazingly, Dembele played on and finished the half before being substituted. Timlin did NOT carry on. A glimpse at the photo's below (courtesy of the BBC Sport website) probably shows why. It's a proper man's game down in the 4th tier.
 

The second half saw action of a different kind. First came the long-awaited opening goal. Arguably against the run of play, Dean Parrett put the hosts in front, with a 25-yard effort after 51 minutes, finally beating the well-regarded Southend stopper, Bentley. The BBC later described it as "a stunning, curling effort"; and then Stevenage dropped deeper, trying to close up the game. There were to be plenty more chances at both ends, though, before the Essex visitors got what they so clearly deserved - an equaliser, after 9 minutes of nervous endeavour. The club's top-scorer, Corr sent a towering, far-post header in, deflected off "the unfortunate Andy Bond".

Parrett (white, #18, wheels away after firing Stevenage in front. I saw the ball go in ... but my camera didn't! The Southend crowd were suddenly silenced. Briefly.

There were seven yellow cards, in a game played in relatively good spirit. These were mostly for cynical, play-stopping interventions. There were, however, to be no further goals, despite which, it seemed like £20 relatively well spent. Although it would have been nicer if the fixtures had been reversed, so that we could have had the chance of a Sunday out by the seaside, with cockles, whelks, jellied eels, kiss-me-quick hats and a gentle afternoon stroll on the mud.

All over; all-square; and off to Roots Hall on Thursday for the return fixture.

As I type up my notes, it is currently the same score-line, 1-1, in the second leg as well ... with just 20 minutes left to play. It looks as though there will be extra time; and, perhaps, penalties? These are two evenly matched sides, even if Southend do have the edge in terms of touch and finesse; and it will be a shame to see either team fail to make it up the Wembley Way, as one of them must. Oh, and if you can believe it, Michael Timlin IS playing again tonight, despite a gaping hole in his head.
Meanwhile in another, similarly surreal world ...

ETFC Appeal unsuccessful

ENFIELD TOWN FC STATEMENT - 12th May 2015

"Enfield Town Football Club has today (Tuesday) been unsuccessful in its bid to overturn the verdict of the FA Regulatory Commission in respect of alleged breaches of FA Rule E10 (fielding a player while suspended) ... the Board has taken the unanimous decision not to take any action that would delay the play offs any further". A total travesty and a shambles of unfairness. So the FA's own record-keeping ineptitude is irrelevant. Their previous commitment NOT to take disciplinary action against Town, in recognition of their own ineptitude at record-keeping, is also irrelevant. I am too gutted and angry to say much more. It's been an up and down season. Mostly up, since Brad Quinton took over as manager; but it's particularly disappointing that, after losing points to so many weak teams throughout the year, it turns out that a win against any one of those poor sides would have been enough to have kept Enfield in the play-offs, even with an unjust points deduction. I hope you've enjoyed some of the action, vicariously, through my blog page. It's gonna be a long close-season!

See you all next season, for more of the same, then!?

DES