(Thursday 3rd April, 2014 - 7:45pm kick-off)
With the end of the Ryman Premier League season looming large (and also as a result of this winter’s freak, wet weather conditions and the consequent large number of cancelled games) fixtures are now coming thick and fast at Enfield Town FC. Not unlike their young wingers, an unkind wag might opine - and not unlike those famous, red, London buses which ply their trade up and down the A10 nearby. You wait weeks for the chance to see a game – and then several come along all at once. So last night (Thursday 3rd April) saw The Towners play their 3rd game in 5 days; with their next match scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, to make it 4 in just 7 days). That’s when they will take on basement dwellers Carshalton Athletic, with hopes of notching just their 3rd away victory of the season. Before then, there was the small matter of taking on the league’s 4th-placed promotion-chasers, Bognor Regis Town FC.
Regular followers of my Enfield Town coverage will probably already be aware that the club’s “Donkey-drome” Queen Elizabeth II Stadium (in Donkey Lane) adjoins Enfield’s old King George V Playing Fields, located just a few hundred yards east of the town centre and railway station. Those fields were established and named as a legacy of the much loved King, after his passing, in 1936 (see http://www.fieldsintrust.org/KGV.aspx) giving the late monarch a strong, permanent link to the town. Apocryphally, it was King George V who also uttered those immortal words “Bugger Bognor!” - perhaps making him the earliest Enfield Town fan of all, a full 78 years ahead of last night’s visit by that other town’s footballing representatives, “The Rocks”. Only a week earlier, the Towners had secured just their 2nd away victory of the season in what local newspaper The Enfield Advertiser described as “one of their best performances of the season”, securing all three points at Billericay. That great result had, however, been followed by two narrow defeats, which had kept the club and its fans looking nervously over their shoulders at the performances of the few clubs below them.
A respectable sized crowd of 375 turned out on this mild, early Spring evening under the famous floodlights. Around 25 of those appeared to be long-distance travelling fans of Bognor, hoping for further evidence of their side’s promotion credentials as the reward for their 220 mile mid-week round-trip. Before kick-off, various blue and white flags were flying proudly for Enfield; and the chants were mostly of the “We – are – staying up, said we are stay-ing up” variety. Some of the pre-match chatter surrounded the appearance for the visitor’s of ‘experienced’ former-pro, 38 year-old Sammy Igoe (on loan from Gosport Borough; but previously of Portsmouth, Reading, Luton, Swindon, Millwall, Bristol Rovers, Hereford, Bournemouth and sundry other clubs … how the mighty fall!). My eye, however, was caught more by the presence in the home line-up of young winger Raheem Sterling-Parker, whose resemblance to the similarly-named Liverpool youngster and full England international, alas, ended right there. He is on loan NOT from Merseyside but from Borehamwood FC (admittedly two areas where the life-expectancy of a hub cub is roughly similar).
Perhaps buoyed by their fans’ extremely vocal support, the home side started brightly – if all too briefly. Indeed, for the first 5 minutes it would have been difficult to discern which side was the relegation and which the promotion candidates, as both teams tried to impose some rhythm and authority on the game. Enfield had more immediate possession; and their fans responded with a lusty rendition of “The Great Escape” theme tune. It is unclear whether Elmer Bernstein would have fully appreciated their tribute to his art.
There followed a brief singing competition between Towners fans and their opposite numbers; though, in the latter’s case, it genuinely seemed more like a distant duet than a proper duel. The result was a derisory “Is – that all - you take a-way?” (sung to “Bread of Heaven”) and the more astute “Sh*t pitch – no fans” repeated several times to the refrain of the chimes of Big Ben. The home supporters were clearly in good heart and good voice. So much so, in fact, that the resident drummer felt confident enough to attempt an adventurous, irregular beat – which fell, predictably, entirely flat. The crowd’s response to this rhythmic invitation was both underwhelming and confused – a state that was soon to translate to their team’s performance on the pitch. With the early vocal sparring well under way, it was time to turn attention more squarely to the goings on upon that pitch.
Just 9 minutes in, Corey Whitely raked a low shot across goal, after driving in from the left. It continued well wide of the Bognor goal; but was Town’s first move of meaningful menace. It heralded a half-hour to be dominated by their visitors. In the 15th minute there was a ‘robust’ passage of competitive play deep on Enfield’s right, eventually resulting in Bognor’s Terry Dodd taking a dramatic tumble in the box. No penalty, to sighs of home relief. Bognor were starting to look the more organised and well-disciplined side - and generally the better team. Two minutes later, their swift move down the right saw a low cross smothered gratefully by Enfield’s trusty ‘keeper, Noel Imber. In the next minute another break-away, in which Enfield’s left-back got himself in a tangle and tumbled to the ground, left Dodd alone with another clear chance on goal. Luckily, his weak strike was hit straight at Imber.
The balance of play was shifting ever in the visitors’ favour, while Enfield were making successive rash clearances and failing to keep possession. Two minutes later and there was more combination play down Enfield’s left, as Bognor’s Dodd played in a hopeful cross for Wills to chase. The home side’s problems were clear and they took action to rectify. Joe Stevens put some better defensive work together, after his unpromising start. In the 22nd minute, he cleared one useful ball to Hope, who played it out wide for the galloping right back, Jordan Lockie, to chase; earning a corner. Before it could be taken though, proceedings were thrown into temporary disarray as the referee, a Mr. Leach, limped to the touchline and off to the dressing room, never to be seen again. Then came the tannoy announcement Jimmy Hill would have loved: “Would anyone who is a qualified linesman please make themselves known to club officials?”
The restless crowd enjoyed the change of theme this turn of events allowed for their chanting. “Can – we have – a ref – a - reeee?” and “Use - our flags - to run - the line” (both sung to “Bread of Heaven”, again) the latter sung simultaneously with some enthusiastic twirling by those in charge of the big club flags; “All We Need’s a Ref” (to “All You Need is Love”). To drown them out, club officials initiated some entertaining popular music through the public address system, starting with Chubby’s Checker’s “The Twist”. This choice merely resulted in an even louder chorus from home fans - this time requesting that visiting ‘keeper, Anthony Ender, should give an impromptu interpretation of the eponymous dance style, for the crowd’s delight and delectation. His sullen refusal led to a resounding “He’s got his I – Q – on his shirt” (to “Got the Whole World in His Hands”). Next through the speakers came “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” by Aretha Franklin; something that was, clearly, sadly lacking for Bognor’s goalie.
With one of the linesmen now installed as replacement referee and a new, substitute "line-o" on the pitch (dug only semi-willing from the crowd and resplendently decked out in official kit) the game resumed after an 8 minute break. The corner was immediately ordered to be re-taken, to choruses of “You don’t – know what – you’re do – ing” and “Can – we have – a ref – a ree” (again). The re-take was sent straight back out by Bognor's defence; so a third ensued. This time Ender flapped at the resulting deep cross, perhaps belatedly giving his interpretation of “The Twist”, in mid-air? Play broke to the far end, where a scrambled clearance gave Bognor a corner. Central defender Craig Robson notched simply, with a powerful header from Igoe's well-placed cross. One-Nil to the visitors, with 32 minutes gone; and a noticeably deflated home crowd, despite the defiant taunting of “Con - so – lay – tion – goal”, chanted to the refrain of “Chirpie-Chirpie Cheap-Cheap”.
A few minutes later Ender was flapping at another Lockie cross from Enfield’s right. The ball fell invitingly to absolutely no-one, in the absence of any white-shirted players following up for the second ball. The keeper was able to gather and release yet another Bognor foray. In subsequent attacks, Igoe hit the crossbar and centre forward Dan Thompson appeared to have a shot cleared off the line. A hopeful Enfield penalty appeal was turned down after 43 minutes by the substitute ref and linesman. After 50 minutes of the first half, a much clearer penalty shout was again not upheld, as Sterling-Parker was tripped by the retreating number 5 Stuart Axten - with the added insult of the midfielder being warned by the recently promoted official to “stay on your feet” … which is generally considered a difficult request, when somebody else has put fresh air between them and the ground. Clearly the ref was aware of the assessor watching the game from the stand. It was the last meaningful action of the first half. Enfield’s players trudged off in search of inspiration, while the home fans trudged off towards the Real Aberdeen Angus Burgers stall (“Real Fresh Tasty Food”) and / or the bar.
Your correspondent noticed a new-ish vinyl banner adorning the perimeter railings, emblazoned with the downright lie: “Nick de Bois, MP – on your side”. Interestingly, Nick is not on our side when it comes to the closure of the local Chase Farm Hospital A&E department. Both he AND David Cameron (yes, that’s the actual Prime Minister of the UK) had made direct and specific personal commitments on national TV to prevent its closure, prior to the last general election. Duly installed in power, BOTH had conveniently forgotten those nuisance promises and closed it; meaning that a seriously injured player would need to be ambulanced several miles further away, through North London’s congested streets, to the nearest remaining ER, for assessment and treatment… such an inconvenient truth; and such shame-faced liars both.
By the time of the re-start, mists were forming on the North side of the ground, barely kept at bay by the light, swirling Southern breezes. A dedicated runner was seen completing laps around the encompassing athletics track assisted by the football floodlights, a veritable blur of long white socks, lycra shorts and pink top, seemingly entirely oblivious to the nail-biting excitement and entertainment on show within. Based on Enfield’s first half performance, her antipathy may have been well-placed. The home side emerged for the second half, however, entirely altered; enlivened by their pee-break and the warm words of manager George Borg ringing in their ears.
Early exchanges went in Enfield’s favour, culminating a wild shot from the right by Jamie Smyth, after good work from Sterling-Parker, and a soft shot by Jamie Richards from centre left edge of the penalty area. Just 7 minutes after the break came the deserved break-through. A strong run and cross from the left by Corey Whitely seemed to find Liam Hope, whose apparent glancing header flew across the keeper and into the far side of the goal. I made a quick note to self, regarding making an opticians appointment, as the tannoy announced an own goal by Bognor’s otherwise-stalwart central defender, Stuart Axten. One-One!
The footballing tide seemed to have turned and, for most of the remainder of the game, Enfield appeared to have the upper hand - but without the necessary penetration in the final third. Five minutes after the equaliser, a Hope free kick from the left-hand edge of the box went marginally wide of the right-hand post. Two minutes late, Hope was again causing problems as he hit the corner angle of the goal frame from 8 yards out, with the keeper beaten at his near post. A Midfield stalemate ensued for the next 10 minutes, broken up only by Bognor substitutions, as the management team sought to break Enfield’s increasing dominance, and by an outbreak of “hand-bags” between Sterling-Parker and a couple of Bognor defenders – which briefly threatened to erupt into an ugly melee.
Nearly 70 minutes into the game, Bognor's Harvey Whyte had cause to rue the deceitful lying of those local and national career politicians. He was stretchered off the pitch to generous, warm applause, after another long delay to play, having awkwardly blocked an attempted cross by Jamie Richards from the right-hand side of the box. He had the unfortunate opportunity to test the predicted ambulance travel times to North Middlesex Hospital, on the distant North Circular Road – perhaps wishing that a number of un-named politicians had suffered heart attacks and/or strokes in the stadium, simultaneous with his own injury, to enable their own testing of journey times. The break was enlivened by further community singing. This time, a fair recital of The Beatles’ “Twist & Shout” along with repeated invitations to the visiting keeper to do the Twist. Phil Medley and Bert Berns might well have struggled to recognise their much-loved melody, though.
At the eventual restart, Ryan Doyle’s powerful header struck the bar from the resultant Enfield corner. Were Bognor living on borrowed time? Or would Enfield rue their many missed chances? After 75 minutes, Enfield were profligate yet again. Persistent work from Sterling-Parker created a chance in the centre for Jamie Richards, whose drive went just over. A minute later, more good work from Enfield’s number 8 created another chance, this time for Whitely, who could only manage a wild, hacked shot from left of centre.
With time running out, Michael Ewang was kept busy providing cover to kill off Bognor’s threat. A Jordan Lockie shot was deflected out for an 89th minute corner from the right. A floated, deep cross reached skipper Mark Kirby, just beyond the far post. The central defender’s powerful header down ricocheted in. Two – One!
Cue ecstatic celebrations by home fans and players alike. Bognor’s travelling fans had sung when they were winning; but there was little response from the far end now, beyond the dreaded creep for the gates and an early exit for the M25. “No songs – from the Butlin’s boys” and “Beds in the mor - ning; you’re making beds – in the mor – ning”. How we larrfed! Until the away side mustered all their energies for a final onslaught … which Enfield survived. With the various injuries to players and ref., the game had lasted 108 minutes. The Home side now found they still had enough energy to celebrate a famous win, as though they had just secured promotion. Richards grabbed the drum kit and gave an impromptu demonstration of how not to play it; but nobody cared how bad he was as a musician. “We – are – staying up, said we are stay-ing up”; and this time, the singing was delivered with more conviction than it had been 2 hours earlier. The club remains in a relegation dog-fight; but clearly this dog still has plenty of its teeth left and a fair bit of fighting spirit. Their four-point breathing-space near the bottom of the table was well-earned. As the Enfield Advertiser observed after the match, “Enfield Town ought to consider playing (more) regularly on a Thursday evening” - and Bognor's opener really HAD been a “Con - so – lay – tion – goal”, after all. But Saturday brings us to Carshalton Athletic.
Enfield Town: Noel Imber, Jordan Lockie, Joe Stevens, Ryan Doyle, Mark Kirby, Michael Ewang, Jamie Smyth, Raheem Sterling-Parker (Tyler Campbell 84), Liam Hope, Jamie Richards, Corey Whitely
Subs Not Used: Lee White, Bradley Quinton, Mitch Hahn, Nathan Livings.
Subs Not Used: Lee White, Bradley Quinton, Mitch Hahn, Nathan Livings.
Bognor Regis Town: Grant Smith, Paul Hinshelwood, James Crane, Doug Tuck, Stuart Axten, Craig Robson, Sammy Igoe, Kane Wills, Dan Thompson, Terry Dodd, Scott Chamberlain, Harvey Whyte, Ashley Harris, Ollie Pearce, Michael Weir, Dan Sackman
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