... And now, after some unavoidable delays ...

Enfield Town versus Farnborough

Ryman League Premier Division
Saturday 19th September, 2015 – 3pm kick-off

An explanatory note, offered ever so 'umbly
It has been quite a long time since faithful followers of this blog page (both of them? - incidentally, did you know YOU can become a "Follower", too!) have had something new to read and chew over. Now, just like those pesky, apocryphal London buses, several match reports have come along in quick succession, pretty much all together. I do, however, have a number of well-rehearsed excuses to offer up as extenuating circumstances, in my defence ... and I hope that 'normal service' will now be resumed.

Firstly, since my last match report (Bank Holiday Monday's home 1-1 draw with East Thurrock) The Town have, as I warned you at the time, faced a series of away league fixtures - all of which I missed. They returned to action at Donkey Lane almost two weeks later, taking on the non-league enigma which is currently Farnborough (relegated from the Conference South at the end of last season). Due to "financial irregularities", it was touch and go for a while as to whether they would be allowed to take part in the Ryman Isthmian Premier League at all, this year. They appear to have been cleared to compete however; and your intrepid reporter was on hand to spectate, to expectorate, to ruminate and to fulminate - or, at least, to bring you all the relevant, biassed, gory details.

But wait, you might protest. This next post was first published almost a month after that last match date and report; an unexplained gap. And you would be correct! A couple of factors have intervened to interrupt your normal routine of delight and delectation. The time warp effect was kicked off by my recent focus on a Three Peaks Challenge, under-taken with former work colleagues ... during the Rugby World Cup ... in late September ... in Yorkshire ... where they famously "know what they bloody well like" ... and they certainly DON'T seem to like having the Over-50's taking on their toughest walks.DH during ...                                               and "Après"

  

It only took me a couple of days to recover from the Yorkshire-induced aches and blisters; but then some serious gardening (and a serious bad back, resulting) extended my prolonged absence from the keyboard, even further than originally anticipated. For all of which I sincerely and "umbly" apologise. Fear not though, faithful fans and followers. The Towners (& The Cottagers) exploits have been dutifully captured, as ever; and several posts have now been published, all at once, in order to keep you from any further self-harm which may have been induced by their recent absence. So enjoy ... and think of me, ibuprofen at the ready, continuing to try and recover from my strained lower back - and a dismal England performance in the Rugby World Cup!

Although the town of Farnborough was founded in Saxon times and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the football club has far less deep roots and history than its home town. Originally established in 1968 (as Farnborough Town F.C.) the current club is newly (re)formed, after a catalogue of crises and mismanagement which will be familiar to many who care to follow the fortunes of non-league football. The club's own web page, commenting on their history, describes their progress "From park side to the Conference in 21 years" - perhaps the archetypal "Cinderella" football story - and their subsequent REgress, back down to the 7th Tier. "Boro", or "The Yellows" were RE-founded as recently as 2007, making their latest reincarnation theoretically an even younger club than Enfield Town F. C. (the latter founded 2001).

When they finally got their delayed start to the season under way, they began it with a promising win over Lewes. Three straight league defeats since then brought them to Donkey Lane as a side against whom the Towners would be looking to ignite their own season. The table was being unkind to both teams. Enfield went into the tie with just 5 league points and 3 league goals to their name, from the first 9 games. A poor return by almost anybody's standards; but particularly for a club who were only prevented from tearing up last seasons's play-offs by the petty vindictiveness and injustice of the FA's non-league bureaucracy. Had ETFC become a bad team in the close-season? Manager Bradley Quinton said not. Before the game, Speaking to Enfield Gazette & Advertiser after an FA Cup Replay victory, he said:  “Our injury problems are easing gradually, and I maintain the real Enfield Town will show themselves once we are back to full strength, as we attempt to get to the performance levels we were hitting at the back end of last season. You certainly don’t become a bad team overnight and I’ve got full faith in the lads. When four or five key players get injured at the same time, as happened to us, then that can effect any team. Corey [Whitely] is probably a week or two away from returning. He’s eager to get back and play but just needs to do some more strengthening work. “We’ve got two more home games coming up now and the boys are looking forward to it. We could have another couple of new signings around by Saturday and I think that things are looking good for the club. As I’ve said before, a lot of teams want to bring us down after the great job we did getting into the play-off positions last term and we’re well watched now. Last year proved that nothing is settled in the first few months of any season, and we’ll continue to roll up our sleeves like we did last time around. We are building momentum slowly and we are getting there.”

The visitors had, however, recently brought in reinforcements of their own, including Sanders and Webb; both with recent league club experience, from Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall, respectively. Both would start against Town. So it was a difficult game to call. Would the visitors' strengthening actions be enough to thwart Enfield? Or would Quinton's faith in his returning players and his own planned new signings signal a new assault on the right (that is, the top) end of the table? You can read the club website's full match report here: http://www.enfieldtownfootballclub.co.uk/teams/65370/match-centre/1-1607231. The unofficial, Harney-fied version goes like this.

My son, Callum, joined me for his first Enfield Town game in some time, boosting the crowd to just 372 - although, to be fair, only 3 games in the league enjoyed bigger crowds that day. Freshly graduated and returned home, I hoped Cal's presence would be a good omen for Towners success. Although that started to seem unlikely as early as the second minute, when McDonald needed to produce a strong-wristed save to thwart a Farnborough break-away move and to maintain Enfield's clean sheet. Fortunately, excellent Town wing play immediately after this earned a corner, which Nathan Livings' took from the left. The result was a headed goal at the far post for Towners CB and #4, Claudiu Vilcu, following Harry Ottaway's tidy flick-on. It was a rare sight for the home crowd; only Enfield's 4th goal of the season (their 3rd at home) in already their 10th game. 

This photo: Tom Scott - Vilcu's sunny, white-booted, headed goal.

Of course, almost inevitably, what followed next was a passage of Boro pressure which saw McDonald save with his feet at his right post (6 minutes in) and at his left post (14 minutes in) before the visitors' #10 Harry Williams finally equalised with a low shot, driven across the 'Keeper from the left and ending up just inside the right-hand post. Town did generally look to be more resolute than in previous games, though; and their lead was duly restored in the 27th minute by #10 Devyne, cutting in from the left and shooting, after a Gabriel throw-in.

Ricky Gabriel's throw-in from the left (in front of the main stand). The ball (top left) found Devyne, who then cut inside and scored to make it 2-1.

It was a deserved lead, which Town were to maintain and take into the break. A 'lively' first half could not have prepared many fans for the incident-filled second half, which was to follow. It is pretty much an unwritten rule of non-league football, as I have witnessed it, that you may kick and elbow lumps out of your opponent and take most of the laws of the game right up to the limit for most of the match; and yet go unpunished. Whilst any retaliation to perceived undue physicality or injustice, by contrast, will be dealt with severely and instantly by even the very weakest of weak referees. This may actually form a part of the little-known, fifth canonical gospel, as written by Saint Des, along with an edict not to show dissent; but I digress. Given the broad understanding of this unwritten retaliation rule, it is amazing how often players (and, in particular, Enfield Town players) forget it. This week it was the turn of #10 Bobby Devyne to let down his team-mates. Just 7 minutes into the second half, Devyne gave Farnborough the extra man advantage their play had barely deserved, as he picked up a straight red card for his altercation with the visitors' #4, Ryan Scott - who was merely yellow-carded. It was heart-in-mouth time for Enfield fans. Though only briefly! 

Just 3 minutes later, and against the reshuffled odds, Town increased their lead; and it was simple stuff. Gabriel challenged the visiting 'Keeper for a high ball. CF Ottaway poked away the ball from his fumble: 3-1 - AND, as a bonus, goalie Victor Silvestre-Brotone was booked for his prolonged protests about the initial challenge. This yellow card would become more significant later in the game. Boro failed to take advantage of their 'extra man', rarely threatening the Enfield goal. One of the best chances fell at the other end, in fact, when Town sub Evans Kouassi (#16) fluffed a great chance from about 10 yards out after his own excellent run with the ball. With six minutes of normal time remaining, he missed the chance to extend Town's lead, trying to place his shot, rather than blast it. A schoolboy error, at this level. The two goal lead did seem enough, though, to most home fans, with Boro still failing to impress, going forwards.

With normal time already over, Silvestre-Brotone came to the edge of his area to collect yet another hopeful Enfield through-ball. As White shirts busily homed in on him, he seemed to lose his bearings and caught the ball just as he had stepped out of his area. Previously stung by the 'Keeper's questioning of his decisions, referee Mr. Corlett had no hesitation in reaching for his yellow card once again (see earlier reference to these unwritten non-league rules, above). It was early-bath time for the original 'keeper, as Captain (#8) Courtney Fearn took the gloves off him to go 'between the sticks' for the few remaining minutes. The score was still 'only' 3-1; but now there were 10 men per side and the three points were starting to look secure. Made even more so in the 95th minute, when Kouassi ran onto another through-ball, rounded the replacement GK and finished with aplomb.

This photo: Tom Scott - Enfield's fourth goal-scorer, Evans Kouassi (in white) challenges Farnborough's Skipper, Fearn; whom he would later face (and beat) in goal.

Final score: ETFC 4 - 1 Farnborough; and Enfield had more than doubled their goal tally for the entire season in just one event-filled match. Perhaps Brad Quinton's optimistic pre-match predictions had some basis in fact, after all. Certainly Callum was looking like a new and very lucky mascot.

A footnote on those Farnborough team names: Victor Sylvestre Brotons undoubtedly represents an impressive Scrabble word score; but surely no player in the land can beat the beautifully-named 79th-minute substitute, Menga L’heureux, in the naming stakes. Although "Happy Menga" might not have been quite as cheerful as usual, when the team departed on their long, homeward journey, after the game.

Teams

Enfield: Nathan McDonald, Mickey Parcell, Ricky Gabriel, Claudiu Vilcu, Harold Joseph, Stanley Muguo (Joe Stevens 86), Tyler Campbell (Ryan Doyle 57), Nathan Livings, Harry Ottaway (Evans Kouassi 81), Bobby Devyne, Tayshan Hayden-Smith. Unused subs: Olumide Durojaiye, Dernell Wynter, Ryan Doyle, Evans Kouassi, Joe Stevens. Booked: Ottaway. Sent off: Devyne.

Farnborough: Victor Sylvestre Brotons, Callum Webb (Yassim Ben Elmhanni 58), Chinua Cole, Ryan Scott, Tom Broadbent, Ed Saunders, Lewis Collins (Menga L’heureux 79), CJ Fearn, Bobbie Dale, Harry Williams, Tommy Wright (Bradley Fraser 58). Unused subs: Jack Barton, Martin Dynan. Booked: Scott, Brotons. Sent off: Brotons.