(Ryman League Premier Division) 3rd January 2000

Enfield (1) 1 Morris 14
Hitchin Town (0) 1 Keen 50 s/o Parker 84

The first game, goal and sending off this Millennium? Certainly the first of the Ryman League. An 11.30am kick off and wet conditions. The gate of 243 was up on previous efforts so there must have been a few groundhoppers looking to take advantage of an afternoon game as well. A much better overall performance from the E's - in the first half particularly - with Town's goal leading a charmed life early on as Bunn and Morgan forced a frantic goal line scramble in the penalty area. Wilmot pulled off a fine save to deny Bunn, with a desperate Hitchin boot eventually denying Morgan as he attempted to score past the prone keeper. Enfield took an early lead through Jamie Morris, who executed the perfect lob to catch Wilmot off his line to the delight of a crowd that included St. Albans City players about to leave for their afternoon match. Both sides had claims for a penalty turned down for handball. I cannot judge the opposition effort, but it was certainly handball at our end of the ground. Morris just failed to score a second from an exquisite pass by Morgan, whilst Dunwell allowed a tap in to roll under his foot when it looked easier to score.

Within five minutes of a soggy second half, Hitchin were back in the game. Jerome John was unable to intercept a through ball, leaving Keen free to just edge the ball over the keeper and into the net. From here on in the visitors had the better of the chances, with John diving full lenth to parry a goalbound shot, being nowhere for a goal line clearance, and helpless as a hopeful cross into the penalty area rolled agonisingly close to a lunging Town forward.

Chandler took off Dunwell and Bunn, to be replaced by Alleyne and returning reserve team here Busby Finch. The two players combined to create the best chance of the half. Finch set off after a hopeful through pass and crossed into the penalty area where Alleyne in one movement took the ball facing away from goal and spun to shoot just wide. Hitchin's No10 Adam Parker was only yellow carded for stamping on Tomlinson's head. However, a second yellow soon followed when he kicked the ball away after conceeding a free kick. Referee Mr. Hermitage had previously produced an Enfield yellow card for the same offence. So at least he was consistent.

(Ryman League Premier Division) 8th January 2000

Hendon (1) 2 Gentle (pen) 8; Towler 81
Enfield (1) 2 Cooper 40; Rattray 67

A cold afternoon watching two teams battle it out on a lifeless pitch. Enfield's second half performance offered some hope for the coming months on the pitch, whilst off-field, there was much muttering of Enfield shares up for sale and the location of our next league match. Playing at Hendon may not be an option if the pitch cannot take regular use.

Dominic Gentle did not take long to put the hosts ahead. His spot kick in the first ten minutes came after a push/handball* (*delete as applicable), which put Enfield on the defensive for a while. What chances were to be had came by way of Danny Alleyne's testing run at defence that ended in the side netting, followed by a flick on that fell conveniently into McCann's hands. An offside flag denied the same player a third time in a half which was to put it mildly, uninspiring. However, Cooper was on hand to poke home a scramble in the goalmouth to have Enfield undeservedly level at the break.

The most amusing moment of the fixture came with a farcical two balls used on the pitch at the same time. So whilst Tomlinson was contesting a ball that was kicked back to the bench, McCann was in the process of clearing the ball upfield in the same direction. When the players settled again, Jerome John was called upon to produce a full length save to keep his side in the game. Danny Jones fluffed his shot after playing a neat wall pass. Enfield took the game by the scruff of the neck soon after, with Morgan's corner being headed home by Rattray, which was the cue for some prolonged pressure. Hendon, meanwhile posed questions of their own, making one count from a free kick that was headed home with ten minutes remaining. Alleyne took an age to get in a shot after being presented with the ball at his feet in front of goal by Tomlinson; Morgan's shot hit a defender and was goalbound all the way before being fantastically tipped round the post by McCann - from which Cooper connected to send the ball goalbound. Yet again a defensive block on the line kept Hendon in the game. Both sides were by now looking for the winner, and it nearly came deep into injury time with a cross to the far post being smothered at the second attempt.

(Middlesex Senior Cup) 11th January 2000

Enfield (1) 2 Jones (2 pens) 45, 70? s/o Rattray
Wembley (0) 0 s/o Banks; Walters; Lindsey

Enfield returned to the borough, progressed to the third round of the Middlesex Senior Cup, ended their winless sequence of 14 matches and got the better over a lot of thoroughly unlikeable thugs all at the same go. Wembley, whose chief aim was to try and kick anything that moved AND James Bunn, were duly reduced to eight men by the final whistle as two Danny Jones penalties gave the E's the simplest of 2-0 wins.

After the start was delayed because several players, including Jerome John, were stranded on the M25, Enfield, playing their first game at Brimsdown Rovers' Goldsdown Road ground, were always in control and Glen Southam in particular had a storming first 45 minutes. Jones put Enfield 1-0 up in the 45th minute after Readings had felled Danny Clarke in the area. Clarke was then involved in a sickening collision with the Wembley keeper Bolger and went down with a head injury. He was later taken to hospital but had recovered enough to get up. After the break, Bolger made a point blank save from Jones before Bunn had a header ruled out for offside.

Then it all kicked off. Wembley's Banks stamped on Kevin Rattray and the Enfield captain responded with three or four punches to his assailant's face. A brawl erupted and Vosper sent both instigators off. Woodroffe then got nasty for the visitors and was subbed before the ref could reach for his red card. The midfielder walked to the dressing room by way of the Enfield fans behind the goal and came significantly last as he tried to instigate a slanging match with the Enfield faithful. Walters was the second Wembley player dismissed. Already booked, he said something unsavoury to Vosper and it was time to wave 'Cheerio'. Substitute Lindsay then fouled Busby Finch in the box, earning him a booking, which he unwisely followed by saying he 'didn't know you had the front, ref' or at least I think that's what he said. Seeya. Jonah made it a satisfying 2-0 from the spot. There was still time for Levene to get himself a yellow card for a borderline red challenge but all-in-all, the young side (average age after Rattray sent off - under 21) did very well.

(Ryman League Premier Division) 8th January 2000

Dulwich Hamlet 0
Enfield 0

Since Sutton United's promotion to the Conference and Bromley's relegation, games at Champion Hill are now viewed as the numbero uno opportunity for an away day drinking day out to South London. For those pie-eyed drinkers arriving at the ground minutes before the start, many could be seen scratching their heads at the announcement of Enfield's No.9. Poppiah? Offiah? Not even sure in my sober state, so let's call him Poppy for now.

Not even Poppy could raise this game from just plain average. Listening to an animated Dave Bromage trying to inject some life into a first half mobile-filed report back to the Enfield newsline was a real corker. He huffed and puffed, but more can you add to a single move by Morris in beating his man for the new boy to head over? Nice try Dave.

Hamlet created three chances of their own in a slightly better second half. Besides a blazing shot across goal that begged a final touch, the woodwork was tested and Jerome John saved low to his left. Poppy shot wide in the final moments, nearly taking the head off a couple of Enfield supporters but giving excellent opportunities for Fantasy Ballboy points in the process.

(Ryman League Premier Division) 22nd January 2000

Enfield (1) 3 Alleyne 36; Tomlinson 66; Morgan 90
Carshalton Athletic (2) 2 Elverson 13; Newbery 43

THE lowest Ryman premier division crowd of the season (114) watched Enfield record their first league win in three and a half months as John Morgan's last minute screamer saw the E's to victory after twice falling behind to bottom club Carshalton. Enfield had a major shortage of defensive players with Grant Cooper playing in a makeshift back three alongside Glen Southam and new (attacking) signing Lenny Dennis.

Athletic took advantage while the defence got to grips with one another and took the lead after 13 minutes. Matt Elverson rose to head home unchallenged from a free kick. There were chances at both ends before Enfield equalised. Danny Alleyne, who had earlier dallied too long in the area as an opportunity went begging, raced onto Sam Appiah's through ball and rolled the ball in off the post to score his first league goal for the club. More pressure from the visiting Robins before the interval brought about their second goal. Richard Newbery ran onto a long goal kick and with the defence in his wake, the striker lobbed the advancing Jerome John to put his side 2-1 ahead.

Four minutes into the second half, Carshalton almost made it 3-1 following a corner but John saved at point blank range from very youthful-looking defender Chris Currie. However, Enfield got back on level terms when Andy Tomlinson floated a free kick over from the right. Keeper Paul Smith flapped at it and it drifted into the net without anyone else getting a touch. John again saved the 'hosts' when he saved a fierce volley from ex-Enfield striker Dave Flemming 15 minutes from the end.

A minute later, Danny Clarke replaced Jamie Morris who was clearly struggling after he had blocked an attempted clearance up the line with his gonads. Dennis provided a great cross for substitute James Bunn to head goalwards but Smith dived acrobatically to tip the ball over. But the Carshalton stopper could do nothing when a cross was partially cleared to Morgan 25 yards out and the teenager thwacked it through a crowded box to send the 'crowd' into raptures. There was still time for the visitors to provide a couple of scares. First John tipped Newbery's shot around the post and from the corner, Carshalton somehow failed to tap home in a mad goalmouth melee.

The E's should have added another when Morgan broke with the ball and set Clarke free, but Clarkey, as always, blasted sadly wide. It didn't make much differnce in the end though as Enfield secured their first three-pointer in the league since they beat Walton & Hersham 4-1 - the last time they played a 'home' game at Hendon's Claremont Road stadium.

(Ryman League Premier Division) 29th January 2000

Heybridge Swifts (2) 2 Parker 26; Simpson 40
Enfield (0) 1 Jones 90 (pen)

Report coming along soon.