Play-Off Hopes Hang in the Balance

Play-Off Hopes Hang in the Balance

  Enfield Town versus Leiston F.C.

Ryman League Premier Division

Saturday 28th February, 2015 – 3pm kick-off

Earlier this week, I spent some time in Liverpool. I survived; and returned to North London – my pulse having been quickened by that short visit to the historic home of great (‘70’s) football. Today (Saturday 7^th March) is FA Cup Quarter-Finals day. Neither of my favoured teams will be contesting the tournament; which gives me time to reflect on last week’s endeavours by Enfield Town in the (far more engaging?) Ryman Premier League. The automatic promotion spot is now, surely, a two-horse race; as Margate and Maidstone fight it out, tooth and nail, over the final weeks (and the last dozen or so fixtures) to finalise bragging rights and the glowing title of Kent's richest 7^th-tier team. Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s game, Enfield Town still maintained hopes of competing for an end-of-season play-off spot at this level for the first time. A poor start to the season, under George Borg, had been allowed to continue for too long, before Brad Quinton was finally promoted to the manager’s role. He brought increased belief, fitness and strength to the squad – and an all-important run of October wins. An end-of-year ‘wobble’ then also lasted too long; and inconsistent form had left Enfield realistically needing a win over play-off rivals Leiston to stay in the hunt. Town’s recent form had a consistently inconsistent pattern and, arguably, a predictable rhythm to it, despite a host of postponed matches: Won, Lost, Won, Lost, Won. Continuing that pretty pattern would probably prove pivotal to any remaining hopes of securing that elusive play-off place. Enfield’s record at Donkey Lane, however, gave cause for hope; with only four sides in the league boasting stronger home form.

The Liver building, captured from the Ferry 'Cross the Mersey

In other Enfield-related news, former Town boss George Borg was recently found guilty of aggravated misconduct, after a five-month investigation by the Football Association came to its belated conclusion, last week. Borg has been banned for five matches, fined £275 and forced to sit an education course by the governing body. It was alleged he said “Hitler’s going to get you” to Wingate and Finchley supporters during a match in August. W&F is a club with strong links to the local Jewish community. Borg maintains he was misheard; but he did not deny use of the name “Hitler”. It strikes me as difficult to construct any sentence incorporating “Hitler” which might misrepresent his true intentions. Borg admits his enforced departure from Enfield still rankles with him, saying: “I hope I can get an apology from Enfield Town. They acted too quickly without any evidence – that was not right.” The club refused to comment when contacted by local press. I suspect that hoped-for apology may be some time in coming.

This fixture would be my first game since New Year’s Day. “Man ‘Flu”, the Great British weather and a decimated fixture list had ensured few other opportunities had arisen since then. The last day of February seemed as good a time as any to renew my acquaintance with Enfield’s up-and-down season. Our visitors from Suffolk have a club heritage dating back to 1880; and were promoted (automatically) to this tier in the same season Enfield reached it, following them via the play-offs. Other recent fame(?) came as one of the footballing homes of Ipswich-born, one-time Montserrat international, Tesfaye Bramble – yes, the lesser-known, former non-league playing brother of England U-21, Titus – and yes, “Tes” was an international player just the one time.

Sport in the Park: a reminder of the Bramble brothers' footballing style?

Enfield Ignatians R.U.F.C. could be seen in mid-match flow, in the King George V Playing Fields, as I strolled towards the ground. Their pitch was already cutting up rough. A “Herculean effort” had been made to ready the QEII pitch, by Enfield ground-staff and volunteers. It would be interesting to find out whether “we” should have just let the promise of yet another long-distance, mid-week fixture, re-scheduled for later in the season, sap the spirit of our visitors. The day started wet and windy; and the forecast ‘fine afternoon’ did not materialise; nor did Leiston’s fans. Just 12 of them stood in the away end, in a total gate of 361. By contrast, Enfield had already filled at least 2 coaches for next weekend’s trip to Margate FC. As a result of the visitors’ poor support, the attendance was a little below Enfield’s home average for the season which, incidentally, is the 7^th best in the league. Despite Leiston’s missing fans, the pitch passed its morning inspection.

Leiston arrived fielding only three of their five permitted substitutes; and with a change in goal, where the diminutive Nick Rossis looked likely to have a torrid day. Enfield kicked off towards the East, with the wind at their backs, attacking on the half of the pitch surface in better condition. For the first half-hour, Leiston offered very little threat. Possession and territory were all Enfield’s; and it soon became clear that the visitors would play a deep-lying, spoiling game, allowing Town to press forwards, in the hope of catching them on the break, when over-committed. The yellow card tally grew ever-larger, from the 11^th minute onwards, as Leiston coupled physical intimidation to their other key objectives. Many times, the home crowd howled with indignation as their players were tripped, barged and kicked off their game, particularly in and around the penalty area. The ref mainly seemed keen not to act in areas that might actually directly affect the score! Rossis (often more by luck than judgment) was able to block everything, with disdain.

Enfield (in white) attack down their right, on the "better" end of the QEII surface

For regular readers of this irregular blog it will come as no surprise, then, to hear that after Enfield’s dominance in that first half-hour, after several shots on target (and with the away ‘keeper playing a blinder) Leiston broke to score the opening goal of the game, against the run of play. Things looked likely to get worse soon after when, in the 38^th minute, Leiston’s #10 Sands was clearly fouled inside the Enfield penalty area. That is to say, it was clear to everyone looking on, in horror, even from the far end of the ground. Referee Mr. Holderness duly booked Sands for “simulation” when it appeared he was, himself, the only one simulating - imitating a qualified and competent referee. His linesman soon took up his example. In the next Enfield attack, the home side were flagged offside after a run from behind several defenders to reach the touchline and cut a ball back. The decision, like so many others, again made no sense to the spectators. Mr. Holderness finally got one call right, when he decided it was time to retreat to the warmth of the bar / changing rooms.

Leiston's Rossis prepares to get in the way of one more effort on goal, as yet another infringement goes un-noticed and un-punished inside the Leiston box

During the half-time break, a tannoy announcement apologised for an earlier technical error. This could have been referring to the first goal or any one of the officials’ howlers; but it turned out that the PA system hadn't been working at the start of the game.

Enfield toil on the "worse" end of the pitch in a torrid second half

The second half carried on where the first had left off. The main changes were the home side playing against the strong wind and under floodlights. Enfield dominated possession again; Leiston’s goalie gymnastically repelled all onslaughts; and the away side scored their second (again completely against the run of play) after just over half an hour, whilst the referee continued to see relatively few infringements anywhere near either penalty area. This time Leiston’s goal came from a handling error by Enfield ‘keeper McDonald, at a corner from his right. The visitors’ full-back, Blake Saker, accepted the generous gift with a driven shot through a crowd of players and across goal, back into the right-hand corner of McDonald’s net. The main difference between the two halves was that the playing surface Enfield toiled on in attack now resembled a ploughed turnip field. This was clearly a natural advantage to the visitors from Suffolk. Enfield appeared clueless in the face of stiff defensive resistance. There was too little invention and wing-play up front, coupled with a lack of clinical finishing - something in which Leiston gave a masterclass. Having rarely reached mid-way to the half-way line on many occasions, the visiting goalie at last gave up his horrific efforts to kick the ball, leaving these duties to a colleague, who was soon dubbed his "Dad" by wags in the home crowd. Substitutions saw additional Enfield strikers brought on; but record club scorer Liam Hope found himself playing in midfield, as towering centre-back Joe Ellul was pushed forward to add aerial threat, to no avail. The clock ticked; Enfield toiled; the game ended – as did any meaningful hopes of an end-of-season challenge for the play-offs. Leiston might just be in that mix, though; if other sides are as baffled and clueless as Enfield proved about how to play against them. The visitors posed little threat and barely sought possession; but dined richly off scraps – in hopes of a Tier 6 banquet next season. We really should have laid off those pre-match pitch preparations, after all ... as we had all(?) probably suspected.

Makeshift centre-forward (#4) gets another aerial effort just OFF target

Full time: Enfield Town 0 Leiston 2

Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Jordan Lockie, Ricky Gabriel, Claudiu Vilcu, Mark Kirby, Ryan Doyle, Leon Wilson (Dernell Wynter 60), Nathan Livings, Corey Whitely (Michael Kalu 73), Bobby Devyne, Tyler Campbell (Liam Hope 67). Unused subs: Joe Stevens, Joe Ellul. Booked: Gabriel.

Leiston: Alex Rossis, Blake Saker, Stuart Boardley, Daniel Cunningham (Tom Winter 67), Joe Jefford, Scott Mitchell, Patrick Brothers, Gareth Heath, Leon Ottley-Gooch, John Sands (Darren Mills 65), Joe Francis. Unused sub: Josh Meritt. Booked: Sands, Francis, Jefford.

All over, bar the shouting. One corner flag tells the tale of gale - and the deep-lying defensive tactics of the tractor-boys (in red) are revealed.