Ahead of the Premier League's Exciting Dénouement: Enfield Town FC versus East Thurrock United

It is Bank Holiday Monday, just after noon local time, and I am contemplating making my irregular, short journey to Donkey Lane. The lavishly appointed QEII Stadium sits by London's famous A10 arterial route, formerly the famous haunt of stage coaches and Dick Turpin. This refurbished and now ultra-modern sporting venue contrasts with the area's dark and turbulent past and will today play host to Enfield Town FC's final home fixture of the Ryman Isthmian Premier League season. My son, Callum, is threatening to join me for his first ever Towners match. This may well be a good omen for the home side. When I took Cal along to his first ever football match, aged not quite 7 (Norwich City 0 - Fulham FC 1, in August 2000) he was 'our' lucky mascot; and that early-season away win was the prelude to Fulham securing the Division 1 (2nd tier) title with a then-record 101 points. Today, very different footballing fare will be on offer.

Enfield Town have struggled again this year, in just their second season at this exalted level of English football. Last season, the club finished 16th in the league (out of 24 sides) on 44 points. Five months ago, after another poor start, the club management sacked Steve Newing, who had successfully raised Enfield out of the Ryman League One North, via the play-offs, as recently as April 2012. He was replaced by George Borg, not a member of that alien race which features as recurring antagonists in various incarnations of the Star Trek franchise, but a 'journeyman' manager whose career has included Football League experience and has taken him to Barking, Chelmsford City, Chesham United, Harrow Borough, Enfield (that's the 'other' Enfield-based club), Aldershot Town, Billericay Town, Hornchurch and Braintree Town. His playing days included stints at Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers, Maidstone United, Dartford, Dulwich Hamlet, South Africa's Cape Town City and Carolina Lightning in the United States - where he turned out alongside Rodney Marsh and Bobby Moore. So Borg is an experienced exponent of The Beautiful Game, as played at this level. He was well-regarded by the club's management and fans alike, even before his arrival and, having successfully established his new regime, he has turned Enfield Town into one of the form sides in the league, with only one defeat (and with a healthy 11 points secured) in their last 6 games.

That recent run of good form has put Enfield in charge of their own destiny today; something that seemed highly unlikely at the start of last month, when they were staring relegation glumly in the face. Now sitting comparatively comfortably in 19th place, with 48 points, Town have already earned 4 points more than in last season's campaign, with 2 games left to play. Such has been the strength and fighting spirit of the rival clubs around them this year, however, that total is not yet sufficient to clinch Premier League survival for next season. Five points and just one place clear of today's opposition and with only one further league game to play (away next weekend at already-relegated Cray Wanderers) Town need at least one point from the game to ensure they maintain their current status for at least another year. And they would probably be pleased to know that Fulham's lucky 6-year-old mascot from August 2000 is poised to be in the stands cheering them on today, even with his now semi-permanent scruffy beard and student ennui. Tempus fugit, they say. Certainly time (and tide) waits for no man; and, sure enough, right now the clock is ticking down towards 3pm. Come On, You Towners!