New Year's Resolution

Enfield Town vs. AFC Sudbury - 3pm k-o

Saturday 7th January, 2017 - Ryman Premier League

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering: 'It will be happier'..." - Alfred Lord Tennyson (Victorian Poet Laureate)

All football fans (I think) hope that next year will be "happier". They'd have to be pretty contrary NOT to want a better year than last time, wouldn't they? At the start of this season even Claudio Ranieri, of Premier League title-holders, Leicester City, said he wanted to go one point better than last time out - although he may well have since re-calibrated his ambitions somewhat. This year, Enfield Town are in with a genuine shout at a Premier League Play-Off place; and an extended end-of-season. Recent form suggests it is well within their grasp, with 20 games left to play. One would hope that making it through to those play-offs should be on every Enfield player's list of New Year's Resolutions.

There are many alluring aspects to The Beautiful Game. Although a wet January Saturday afternoon at Donkey Lane is rarely listed high amongst them, by those in the know - not least if they have recently returned from warmer (yea balmy) foreign climes [see previous blog entry, below]. ETFC, however, had lost only once (away to Leatherhead) in their last 12 games - and just can't stop scoring. So it was to be hoped that the Towners could put on a show to warm my heart and returning soul. Newly-promoted Suffolk side, Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury (1999), had to make the damp, 115-mile round-trip to visit the QEII Stadium, after having picked up just 3 league points from their last 12 available. A journey to the in-form, 6^th-placed side was probably not the cheeriest of New Year prospects for them, looking up the table from 16^th, some -13 points and -20 Goal Difference behind North London’s finest.

It was tough enough for the 407 of us brave, non-league supporting souls present to drag ourselves along to The Donkeydrome in the rain at all; but tough was made tougher still by a delayed start, with the game getting underway some seven minutes late. One could only assume that the match sponsor was the much-derided Southern Trains. This being a New Year fixture, there were comic seasonal references on the lips of the in-form home crowd, who regaled us with variations on one of their most beloved themes: “… I just don’t think you understand. His name is Mark Kir-by. He’s eaten my tur-key … He’s [manager] Brad-ley Quin-ton’s man. He’s fat-ter than my Nan …”, quickly followed by a hilarious, if unauthorised, adaptation from the Kaiser Chiefs: “I predict a Diet”. How we larrfed!

NOT laughing now! 'Food-Thief' Mark Kirby gets better-acquainted with the perimeter fencing ... painfully 
 (Photo: Tom Scott)

As was probably to be expected, given the two sides’ respective league positions and recent form, once the match-day train finally left the station, it was the hosts who dominated early play. On the slippery surface, and in occasional rain, we were surely all expecting a flood that Noah would have been familiar with … a biblical flood of goals, that is. As early as the 15^th minute, the Sudbury floodgates were, indeed, opened up. Unperturbed by his earlier, stubborn chase of a lost cause (and his subsequent, painful collision with the perimeter fence) Enfield skipper Mark Kirby chased a loose ball determinedly, managing to put it back into the danger area. At this point, apparently, Tyler Campbell supplied the sublime finishing touch, low to the right of the visitors’ ‘keeper, Marcus Garnham. I say ”apparently” because, at the critical moment, I dropped my pen and was distracted. Missing the opening goal didn’t bother me too much, though; since it was to be the first of many. Indeed, just a minute later, Campbell turned provider for Dernell Wynter, whose cross-shot … trickled just wide, to the right of the Sudbury goal. It surely couldn’t be long before the next goal arrived. Sudbury looked exactly what they were: a newly-promoted team, out of their depth.

It's a good sign you might well be at a community club, when there's as much exciting action behind the main stand as there is on the pitch in front of it. Kids go free. Literally!

Town are now an experienced side, “at this level”; and they were able to use their superiority to apply significant pressure for the rest of the half – but, ultimately and frustratingly, all to no avail. Despite dominating territory and possession (to be sure, there was plenty of fairy-tale huff and lots of wolfish puff; but) nobody’s seasonal, pantomime house quite fell down.

Desperate Sudbury 1st half defense (in red) was to the fore, as they were battered by Enfield's rams.

That was until the 38^th minute. Town’s Nathan Livings ran half the width of the pitch to clatter inconceivably into Sudbury’s Jack Wilkinson, later even than the proverbial Southern Rail train of legend, on the half-way line, with the ball long gone. Unsurprisingly, Livings was sent off; shown a straight red card by Mr. Donnellan for upending his opponent in the most agricultural (or locomotive) fashion. In an echo of the closing theme music from hit 1980’s comedy drama “Auf Wiedersehen, Pet”, one despondent home fan muttered “that’s Livings, alright”. He has form in this area; and now there was a risk that it would be Enfield’s ‘house’ that might be blown down wolfishly. Luckily, it turned out that Wilkinson was not, in fact, dead at all; as had seemed likely from his long-term, prostrate position on the bloody field of battle. One colleague had helpfully intervened, early in the delay; strolling over, presumably, to suggest that there was really no rush whatsoever to get back up, whilst the referee was still considering his disciplinary options, with the help of some judicial contributions from his assistant / linesman.

Engrossing action - and Enfield's famous Cafe Stand.

So much for that pre-match observation that Town "just can't stop scoring". Was this red card to be the cause of a collapse in Enfield’s house of cards? It soon became clear that we might not have to wait long to find out. There were still several minutes of first the half for Enfield to survive, with just 10 men on the field. To be followed by the small matter of a further 45 minutes, after the break. In the last action of the half, Town’s long-suffering fans were given a sign of what to expect when Sudbury's Sam Bantick drove his side’s best effort of the half against the corner of the Enfield woodwork, from distance. A long-range artillery bombardment could be anticipated, it seemed. When, at half-time, the PA system began to play Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s anthemic "Crazy (in Love)", it was hard not to assume this was a barely-veiled criticism of Livings’s rush of blood to the head; and an acknowledgement of the fifty-minute-plus rear-guard, defensive action he had just bequeathed to his team-mates. It was very likely that the game-plan (and the spectacle for the crowd) would now take on a very different hue - and cry - to that originally anticipated.

It's so crazy right now!

... Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no

Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no

Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no

Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no.

First-half floodlight and corner-flag "porn".

"If you asked me for my New Year Resolution, it would be to find out who I am" - Cyril Cusack (South Africa-born Irish stage, TV and film actor)

Here was Enfield's chance to find out precisely who they really are. Surprisingly, after the break, the expected Sudbury onslaught never really fully materialised. Enfield played a little deeper, for sure, and left Harry Ottaway mostly alone up front to keep the visitors’ defence busy and 'honest'; looking to extend Town’s lead, on the break - or as a result of a defensive error. Campbell scuffed an early shot wide, and the fresh legs of Enfield substitute Mickey Parcell forced Garnham into action, parrying his effort, after 64 minutes. Shortly afterwards, Captain Kirby, leading by example and still coming forwards for every set-piece move, headed Billy Crook’s corner thumpingly - but just wide-ly. Ottaway also got into the offensive action, firing wide across goal from an unlikely angle on the right of the box. Meanwhile, Sudbury tried to pepper the Enfield goal; but mostly without the necessary accuracy. McDonald was forced into just a few valuable saves: one from a Dylan Williams free-kick; another, a Luke Callender header after Wilkinson’s set-piece cross.

Enfield's loyal fans huddle together in the dry for warmth - and maximum decibels.

Enfield have the eighth-best home attendances in the Ryman Premier League. Sudbury have the fourth-best away gate record. You would never have guessed the latter. There was little more than a scattering of travelling support; and it made a difference. Even as the home side’s inevitable fatigue began to show, with little encouragement from the terraces, Sudbury mostly continued to offer little invention going forwards. They continually fired the ball from side to side, across the full width of the pitch looking for better angles, chinks in the defensive armour and opportunities to take the fight to Town’s defence; but, like a team of obstinate, muddy Gandalf’s, Enfield insisted the visitors would not pass! Late on, Brad Quinton threw on a couple more substitutes to break up the rhythm of the game and provide some much-needed breathing space for his besieged defence.

Ten-man Town (in white) continue to take the game to their more numerous opponents.

As the stalemate continued to wear us all down – and, perhaps, somewhat in desperation – AFC’s manager, Jamie Godbold, left his own experienced head on the bench and gave debuts late on to two of his Academy graduates, Sam Mills and Joe Wright. But breaking down the wily, if depleted, home defence remained beyond them all. Nothing would dent Enfield's resolution. The AFC website would later describe the action as “a narrow defeat”; but that barely scratched the surface of their uninspired performance, with a man advantage.

Town players celebrate their hard-fought win - and come to thank the home support for their vocal performance.

Is it fair to even talk about “10-man Enfield” at all? It would not be unreasonable to suggest that the home crowd, sometimes referred to as “The 12^th Man”, simply took up Livings’s place in metaphorical midfield and became the 11^th man. Certainly, after the final whistle, Town’s players showed more than their usual degree of gratitude for the fans’ part in keeping up team morale. Bringing so few travelling fans may have cost Sudbury at least a point.

Man in Black: Enfield manager Brad Quinton gladly leads the lengthy celebrations, before finally heading for the dressing room. At least 2 points saved!

As I have previously menioned, some very good friends of mine at Colne Radio (active campaigners Against Modern Football - https://www.mixcloud.com/brynandbill/new-episode-12-the-bryn-bill-football-show-with-john-mcgreal-the-dragons-michael-kennedy/) take a very keen interest in football clubs’ involvement with their local communities. Enfield Town have taken their own community connection in a new direction this month, by offering locals a "January Sale". Not a sale in the well-patronised club shop; but at the turnstiles where, for their last league fixture of the month, entry will be half-price. Which is almost as good as 50% off; and there’s no multi-buy con, collector mechanic or other strings attached, like at Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Costa. Join me, if you can! It could be the best value 90 minutes of the season.

It seems like a generous gesture from the fan-run club. That is until you realise the opponents, Grays, are adrift at the foot of the table, with a Goal Difference of -35, having lost 5 of their last 6 league games. Regardless of this more pragmatic maths, "football for a fiver" remains a far cry from the cynical commercialism of most 'Modern Football'. There's an obvious New Year's Resolution lurking somewhere in there, just waiting for the Premier League money-men to find it.
Come on, you Towners! Show them the way ...

Enfield Town: Nathan McDonald, Harold Joseph, Ricky Gabriel, Jon Muleba, Mark Kirby, Scott Shulton, Tyler Campbell (Bobby Devyne 81), Nathan Livings, Billy Crook, Harry Ottaway (Percy Kiangebeni 90), Dernell Wynter (Mickey Parcell 58). Unused subs: Tom Collins, Keir Dickson. Sent off: Livings.

AFC Sudbury: Marcus Garnham, Jack Wilkinson, Aidan Austin (Liam Wales 63), James Baker, Tyler French, Adam Tann, Sam Bantick, Dylan Williams (Sam Mills 84), Luke Callander, Craig Parker, Robert Eagle (Joseph Wright 87). Unused subs: Kolade Salaudeen, Jamie Godbold. Booked: Eagle, Williams.

Attendance: 407

Stop Press News: Enfield Town followed up their courageous and Herculean 10-man efforts against Sudbury with another formidable performance, this latest effort away to table-toppers Bognor Regis Town ("The Rocks"). Despite leading the game 1-0 for over 50 minutes, Enfield ultimately had to settle for a single point, extending their unbeaten run to five games. The match report on the club web-site says they "were unlucky not to have gone in at the half time break more than a goal up". They remain in 6th place; but now only by virtue of a superior Goal Difference over the heavenly Tonbridge Angels.