The FA Cup, Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 10th October, 2015 – 3pm kick-off
Saturday 10th October, 2015 – 3pm kick-off
"Magic" may, in fact, be rather too strong a word for what I witnessed when I attended this game. Hitchin Town's "Canaries" play at the same 7th level of the English football pyramid as Enfield; a sister league currently known as the Evo-Stik League Southern. One of the two sides would, of course, come unstuck in today's knock-out tie - unless there was a draw. In which case, they would require a replay at Hitchin, to be followed by extra-time and penalties, if events were not conclusive within the normal 90 minutes.
I knew something unusual was afoot as soon as I spotted THE QUEUE to get into the Donkey Lane ground, which stretched from the turnstiles, across the road and out into the car park - a Health & Safety executive's nightmare! OK, fair enough, so it was "Non League Day" in an International break weekend; and Hitchin Town had brought a decent following; but neither of these things fully explained the crowd of 883 who had turned out to watch The Two Towns go head-to-head for a lucrative minimum 'purse' of £7,500 winners' prize money; and that would be on top of the bumper gate receipts. This was the largest crowd ever seen at the QEII stadium for a competitive fixture; and far more than double the average gate. Unbeknownst to me, there had been a fair bit of pre-match publicity from the BBC, who were giving a trial run to "a 'Mobile Match of the Day Live' which is set to be a first for a major broadcaster in Europe – televising a 'fans’ eye view' of the whole experience of a football match using mobile phones only; from filming at the game, through streaming direct to the audience’s mobile via the BBC Sport website" ... and all at little old Enfield!
Anyway, according to the BBC's pre-match blurb, Enfield was about to be become the epicentre of a veritable sports media maelstrom ("We’ll support the broadcast with a live page on the front page of the BBC Sport website, where we are likely to reach a UK audience of around 8m users across the day"). Now I don't wish to seem churlish; but I'm a fan of the club - and, if I hadn't gone researching reasons for the over-sized crowd, even I wouldn't have seen a single word of BBC coverage before, during or after the game. If I hadn't gone along to the ground myself, I wouldn't have known anything about it at all. I'm not sure if that makes it a successful BBC trial run, or not; but I'd love to have been in the lavish executive suite as a witness, when those involved and responsible were carrying out their self-serving post-event analysis / justification.
Interestingly(?) when offered the chance of similar media coverage in the next round, Football Club United of Manchester (you may have heard of them!) told the BBC, in no uncertain terms, to go shove it. Perhaps they had witnessed the alleged Enfield media maelstrom ... in a tea cup. Their club web-page explains their rejection, under the headline "Football is a sport, not a television game show" - see http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/m_story.php?story_id=6454
Interestingly(?) when offered the chance of similar media coverage in the next round, Football Club United of Manchester (you may have heard of them!) told the BBC, in no uncertain terms, to go shove it. Perhaps they had witnessed the alleged Enfield media maelstrom ... in a tea cup. Their club web-page explains their rejection, under the headline "Football is a sport, not a television game show" - see http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/m_story.php?story_id=6454
The large crowd might also, in part, have been a reaction to media revelations about the extreme cost of attending top flight games. "Cheap seats at the opera cost less than lowest price Premier League tickets" screamed the Guardian, as the BBC published its annual survey of football ground charges (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/21/football-fans-protests-spark-outrage-over-ticket-prices).
Among other oddities experienced on the day was the sight of a number of unfamiliar gents roaming around the ground with expensive-looking camera and sound gear. Plus a variety of unfamiliar flags. One in particular seemed to suggest that Stevenage Borough fans had boosted the crowd figure and made the journey down the A1 especially, to cheer on the home side against their local non-league neighbours - which all appeared very strange to me! The emblazoned message (partially obscured by an inconveniently parked baby-buggy - it's just that kind of a club!) reads: "Against Modern Football".
"Not a Lot of People Know THAT!"
Hitchin's original club (Hitchin FC) took part in the inaugural FA Cup competition in 1871–72; reaching the quarter-finals before losing to the eventual runners-up, Royal Engineers. In 1905, Hitchin defeated Chelsea 3–2 to become the first away team to win at Stamford Bridge. Having turned professional during the early years of the 20th century, this early club folded in 1911, following that old bug bear "financial difficulties" - and a fire at their ground.
But that was THEN - and this is now! Today's Hitchin Town team looked on paper like a decidedly young outfit; especially at the back: GK aged 20; #2 19; #3 22; #4 21 ... making their #5, Dan Webb, seem like the veritably geriatric stalwart granddaddy of the side at the venerable age of 25. Yet it was the two defences which held the upper hand in the early exchanges - the first on-target effort not arriving until the 27th minute of the game. That was probably just as well for Enfield; since Hitchin very much held sway in the first half. Especially on their right flank through tricksy, flame-headed winger, #7 Johnny McNamara. Up front their #9 target man, John Frendo, seemed to be carrying the extra weight of a couple of pies too many; but along with his bulk, he also had about him just the level of rumbustious guile that could cause the home side pain and trouble, when they least expected it. Enfield arguably had the best chance of the half, though, when their own CF, #10 Harry Ottaway, failed to connect meaningfully with a header from a nicely flighted cross to the far post. Driving it downwards acutely into the ground, rather than at the gaping target of Hitchin's net.
My view of the match was not my normal one. With such a larger than usual crowd, even finding pitch-side rail-space with a decent view proved difficult in the first half; but I couldn't, ultimately, grumble with the spot I did manage to secure: including, as it did, the beautiful old main stand as a backdrop (see above). And it meant that I had a prime view of Hitchin's main threat, as McNamara tortured the Enfield defence right before my very eyes. Luckily, Hitchin's first half possession, pace, precision, persistence and pressure all came to nothing. The teams turned around with the score still 0-0; and Enfield happy to have maintained a clean sheet.
Manager Brad Quinton was probably not so happy, though. He appeared to have 'had words' at half-time; and possibly a couple of tea cups of his own. Because Enfield came out of the blocks faster; with much more energy and a better game plan, in the second half. It truly was that well-worn cliché "a game of two halves", as Enfield rapidly achieved the dominant role that had been so elusive in the first period. This was facilitated in part by the replacement of diminutive #9, Dernell Wynter, with the returning Corey Whitely. Suddenly MacNamara's duties switched very much from attack to defence on Hitchin's right, to cover the threat of the lively Enfield winger.
The home support became increasingly vociferous as the game wore on. Enfield looked more and more the team most likely to break the deadlock. As ever, you can read more gory details in the club's website match report: http://www.enfieldtownfootballclub.co.uk/teams/65370/match-centre/2-29263.
Suffice it to say that for all the huff and puff of 90 minutes, there were no goals to show; and both sides would need to reconvene just 2 days later at Hitchin's "iconic" Top Field ground - a new 'stadium' for this intrepid reporter. It was very much to be hoped that Enfield could carry over into this next fixture the appetite of their second half performance, rather than that of the first 45 minutes. I wondered how many home fans would make the Monday night journey, as I hoped that the Enfield club's website headline would not come true, literally: "Towns to do it all again". Something would have to give, next time out.
The Magic of the Cup - part II: It was the Best of Towns; it was the worst of Towns
Hitchin Town FC versus Enfield Town FC
The FA Cup, Third Qualifying Round Replay
Monday 12th October, 2015 – 7.45pm kick-off
With apologies to Charles Dickens for paraphrasing his "Tale of Two Cities"; but, after tonight's action was concluded, we would finally know which town's team matched which part of that description. And which could bank an incremental £7,500 of prize money. Enfield's recent lucky mascot and winning omen, Callum, had joined me for the journey up the A1 to North Hertfordshire and a 'new' ground. So what could possibly go wrong? The pre-match medley, playing over the Hitchin tannoy system as we arrived included The Kinks' "Lola" from 1970 - a year when Top Field had probably already seen far better "Days" (1968). "It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world", Ray Davies sang; and who could disagree with him? We stood in the confines of a yellow-and-green-painted stadium, ready to take on 'The Canaries', kitted out in matching yellow and green? "Are - You - Nor - Wich - In - Dis - Guise?"
Floodlight horror "porn"; back-lighting makes the iconic trees at Top Field go all Stephen King-esque.
Did Enfield Town fans, arriving for the evening's replay in optimistic mood, realise that their club were unlikely to win the FA Cup outright? Surely the really big sides (like Forest Green Rovers) would just have too much for them, even if they were able to get past the mighty Hitchin Town. If so, they weren't letting on: "We're the famous Towners' Army and we're going to Wem-ber-ley - WEM-BER-LEY ... WEM-BER-LEY ...". While not quite as impressive as Saturday's record Enfield crowd (of 883) at the original tie, a healthy 486 brave souls had made the effort on a Monday night to take in the replay; and a good proportion were (noisily) in the Away end.
Cal inspects the Enfield club flag on the North Terrace in the first half. Enfield's "Ultras" form the backdrop.
Despite those bold assertions of the travelling fans, the first half at Hitchin started off just as the first half at Enfield had done: with The Canaries dominant and Enfield's performance strangely muted. To be fair, the standard of refereeing was at the now-familiar "dross" level; very much favouring the home side and generating hearty ironic cheers for the all-too-few decisions going in Enfield's favour. Despite failing to assert much control of the game, however, the visitors were clinging on manfully to their clean sheet ... right up until the 40th minute. Hitchin took the lead in extremely dubious circumstances. A throw-in conceded deep, deep inside the home half, almost beside the corner-flag, was quickly taken half-way towards the half-way line, without being spotted or penalised by the officials. The howls of outrage from the travelling supporters were quickly drowned out; as Enfield's #7 Ryan Doyle dwelt on a ball that he should have immediately despatched without ceremony over the stand and out of the ground towards Luton, for a throw-in. Attempting to make a yard for himself with some clever hip-sways, jinks and step-overs, he was dispossessed deep on Enfield's left by Hitchin's "tricksy, flame-headed winger, #7 Johnny McNamara" (yes, HIM again!) who cut the ball back sharply for the on-rushing Burns to fire home with aplomb: 1-0 - and it was hard to argue that Hitchin's possession and determination hadn't deserved the half-time lead they took into the break. Despite the ungentlemanly nature of THAT throw-in. McNamara had let Enfield off the hook as early as the 15th minute, when he had driven fat-boy-slim John Frendo's clever pass against McDonald's bar, with some venom.
Speaking to local North Herts. paper "The Comet" after the game, home manager Mark Burke said “I’m bitterly disappointed. I was really proud of the boys first half. We played some really good football and created a number of chances. We showed passion and desire and fully deserved to be 1-0 up. We could have been 2-0 up, and that’s what we needed to do – get that second goal. At this level if you don’t take your chances you will get punished and we have been.
“Second half I can’t put my finger on it. We didn’t play any football at all. We were really poor... I’m gutted with that second half performance. They got on top, I think maybe they’re a little bit they’re more experienced. It’s still a young team". Enfield were "the best of towns" after all, then. This Hitchin-tinted review confirms it:
http://www.thecomet.net/sport/hitchin-town-fc/canaries_are_knocked_out_of_fa_cup_by_enfield_1_4268824
And The Comet's match reporter also tweeted big respect for Enfield's '12th man', too: "Try telling the joyous @ETFCOfficial players & their vociferous travelling fans the #FACup doesn't mean anything".
The Enfield Gazette and Advertiser emblazoned a "Date With Destiny" headline across their back page, to publicise the club's reward for this gutsy win: another tough away tie; this time at Chesham United, on Saturday. The winners could face League opposition in the First Round 'proper'. The losers will clutch at straws; at maybes and what-ifs. It's so exciting! I just hope I can get in, to bring you coverage of the clash. Wiki tells me that their ground (The Meadow) only holds 5,000.
"We're the famous Towners' Army and we're going to Wem-ber-ley - WEM-BER-LEY ... WEM-BER-LEY ...". Well to Chesham, at least, which is only 24 miles from Wembley.
The Magic of the Cup - part II: It was the Best of Towns; it was the worst of Towns
Hitchin Town FC versus Enfield Town FC
The FA Cup, Third Qualifying Round Replay
Monday 12th October, 2015 – 7.45pm kick-off
Floodlight horror "porn"; back-lighting makes the iconic trees at Top Field go all Stephen King-esque.
Cal inspects the Enfield club flag on the North Terrace in the first half. Enfield's "Ultras" form the backdrop.
Just as in the first tie, though, the competing teams' roles were reversed in the second half. The fans had changed ends; so had the teams; and so had dominance on the field of play. Enfield quickly established an advantage of possession and territory that had previously eluded them. With the away fans boisterously singing their praises, the men in purple first snatched an equaliser. After 65 minutes, Centre-Back Vilcu got up ahead of his challengers for a high ball, leaving the busy (and unmarked!) CF, #10 Harry Ottaway, with plenty of space and time to poke the ball past Hitchin's over-exposed 'keeper, Charlie Horlock - whose league experience with Wycombe helped him find and retrieve the ball, which nestled sweetly in the back of his net.
Ottaway levels the tie (photo: Tom Scott)
A period of unrelenting Enfield pressure ensued. After a number of decent chances FINALLY came the go-ahead goal. Devyne advanced with the ball on the left and, after drawing desperate defenders towards him, squared it for the big man Vilcu, who (not content with merely setting up the equaliser) drove it in without fear. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hitchin heads dropped. They looked for all the world like a beaten team ... and so they were.
Vilcu sends Enfields travelling fans into Cup Heaven (photo: Tom Scott)
After 80 minutes came a chance to finish the tie off for sure. Devyne found himself in the clear, with only Horlock to beat; but his on-target effort was blocked by the 'keepers legs. Although Gabriel also had a late chance, these were mostly nervous final minutes for the travelling support. Quinton made a couple of late changes to slow down and break up the game and introduce fresh legs; and Enfield's players showed their steel, holding on for a famous 1-2 away win ... and the chance of yet more Cup glory. The jubilant away fans sang so hard and so irrepressibly that they had run out of ideas long before the final whistle came: "E-ven your treez-are-sh*t!" (to Verdi's "La Donna è Mobile") was one of the more repeatable refrains. It was a fair result on balance. Enfield had showed True Grit and determination to come back from behind. Hitchin had, once again, lost their way in the second half.
Ottaway levels the tie (photo: Tom Scott)
A period of unrelenting Enfield pressure ensued. After a number of decent chances FINALLY came the go-ahead goal. Devyne advanced with the ball on the left and, after drawing desperate defenders towards him, squared it for the big man Vilcu, who (not content with merely setting up the equaliser) drove it in without fear. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hitchin heads dropped. They looked for all the world like a beaten team ... and so they were.
After 80 minutes came a chance to finish the tie off for sure. Devyne found himself in the clear, with only Horlock to beat; but his on-target effort was blocked by the 'keepers legs. Although Gabriel also had a late chance, these were mostly nervous final minutes for the travelling support. Quinton made a couple of late changes to slow down and break up the game and introduce fresh legs; and Enfield's players showed their steel, holding on for a famous 1-2 away win ... and the chance of yet more Cup glory. The jubilant away fans sang so hard and so irrepressibly that they had run out of ideas long before the final whistle came: "E-ven your treez-are-sh*t!" (to Verdi's "La Donna è Mobile") was one of the more repeatable refrains. It was a fair result on balance. Enfield had showed True Grit and determination to come back from behind. Hitchin had, once again, lost their way in the second half.
Speaking to local North Herts. paper "The Comet" after the game, home manager Mark Burke said “I’m bitterly disappointed. I was really proud of the boys first half. We played some really good football and created a number of chances. We showed passion and desire and fully deserved to be 1-0 up. We could have been 2-0 up, and that’s what we needed to do – get that second goal. At this level if you don’t take your chances you will get punished and we have been.
“Second half I can’t put my finger on it. We didn’t play any football at all. We were really poor... I’m gutted with that second half performance. They got on top, I think maybe they’re a little bit they’re more experienced. It’s still a young team". Enfield were "the best of towns" after all, then. This Hitchin-tinted review confirms it:
http://www.thecomet.net/sport/hitchin-town-fc/canaries_are_knocked_out_of_fa_cup_by_enfield_1_4268824
And The Comet's match reporter also tweeted big respect for Enfield's '12th man', too: "Try telling the joyous @ETFCOfficial players & their vociferous travelling fans the #FACup doesn't mean anything".
The Enfield Gazette and Advertiser emblazoned a "Date With Destiny" headline across their back page, to publicise the club's reward for this gutsy win: another tough away tie; this time at Chesham United, on Saturday. The winners could face League opposition in the First Round 'proper'. The losers will clutch at straws; at maybes and what-ifs. It's so exciting! I just hope I can get in, to bring you coverage of the clash. Wiki tells me that their ground (The Meadow) only holds 5,000.
"We're the famous Towners' Army and we're going to Wem-ber-ley - WEM-BER-LEY ... WEM-BER-LEY ...". Well to Chesham, at least, which is only 24 miles from Wembley.
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