Enfield in the F. A. Trophy
The 1981/82 Trophy winning season

Weymouth (away) won 1-0 FA Trophy 1st Round
report from the Southgate Gazette

Only Weymouth keeper Keiron Baker stood between Enfield and a landslike victory in Saturday's FA Trophy First Round in Dorset. The snow lay thick on the hills around the seaside town, but the only threatened avalanche was at the recreation ground where effervescent Enfield turned on a sparkling display. Baker denied Enfield on a dozen occasions - including a 33rd minute penalty save from Steve King - but was eventually beaten by a cruel deflection three minutes into the second half.

The decisive goal finally arrived just after the crowd were settling back into their seats after the break. Steve King crossed dangerously from the left and Baker, going to the far post to collect the ball, was left stranded by a deflection from the head of full-back Bryan Lawrence. Confusion reigned in the home defence and a jubilant Nicky Ironton snapped up the chance from close range.

Merthyr Tydfil (away) won 6-1 FA Trophy 2nd Round
report from the Weekly Herald

SIX-GOAL Enfield surged into the last 16 of the FA Trophy on a wet and windy afternoon in South Wales. And, by thrashing the Southern League menace of Merthyr Tydfil, Eddie McCluskey's men made a mockery of last season's prolonged and unsuccessful struggle against Aylesbury United. Wheras Aylesbury won through at the third attempt, Enfield did not give Merthyr a single realistic chance once they had withstood the Welshmen's fervent but brief opening burst.

An early save by John Jacobs, who dived to his left to push around a snap shot by Paul Morris, was hardly a serious portent for 88 minutes. Taylor gave Enfield the lead after 15 minutes when Steve King's cross had brushed a defender's head and the ball had been laid back by Nicky Ironton for Taylor to crack home a first-time shot via Meacham's body. Lee Holmes rapped in the second after Taylor's shot from King's low corner had not been cleared; and then Noel Ashford dived to head home a third after King had harried Cosslett into losing possession in the penalty area.

The second half was 12 minutes old when King's right hand corner - the third in rapid succession - was cleared to Steve Oliver, who rammed a right-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area, through the keeper and out the back of the net. Substitute Steve Flint was the next to strike after 73 minutes, then Morris nodded past Jacobs for a consolation goal. With just three minutes remaining, Flint crossed from the left, Holvey headed up but not away and King's right foot volley squirmed under Meacham to complete a thoroughly miserable (or memorable) afternoon, subject to your persuation.

Telford United (away) won 1-0 FA Trophy 3rd Round
report from the Weekly Herald

Scarborough (home) won 4-2 FA Trophy Quarter Final
report from the Weekly Herald (Tim Drew)

A magnificent hat-trick by Noel Ashford inspired Enfield into the semi-finals of the FA Trophy and swept away Alliance League rivals Scarborough at the Stadium on Saturday. Ashford thus became the second Enfield player in 28 days to see off the Yorkshire side almost singlehanded - Dave Flint hit a match-winning treble in the 4-1 league win at Seamer Road last month.

Ashford, 14 goals to the good this season, could not have chosen a more opportune occasion to end his six-week famine. He last scored in the 6-1 win at Merthyr Tydfil in the second round of the Trophy. It took him just 13 minutes to re-open his account - firing a low, right foot shot past the Boro keeper Mark Broughton fron the edge of the penalty area after Steve King's lob had dropped into his path off the back of Paul Taylor.

And had Lee Holmes' low cross gone in six minutes later instead of rebounding back off the post it is unlikely that the visitors would havebeen given a chance for the remaining 70 minutes. The game was in danger of drifting into a series of aimless moves when it was bought back to life by the 38th minute penalty which provided Boro with the equaliser. Enfield felt that Ian Smith was offside before he darted into the penalty area. There was no doubt that Smith was bundled over by Holmes, Colin Williams, the APL's leading marksman, who missed from the spot during Boro's 4-1 win at Enfield in September, made no mistake on this occasion.

Boro, three times winners and four times finalists between 1973 and 1977, must have fancied their chances of reaching yet another semi final - or at least, of clinching a home replay - and nothing happened in the opening exchanges of the second half to alter that view. So it was somewhat unexpected when Enfield - and Ashford, embarked upon the explosive and decisive burst of three goals in 11 minutes.

They regained the lead in the 65th minute when Keith Barrett won the ball inside Enfield's half. For once, possession was not wasted as Taylor's through ball sliced open the Boro defence and Ashford rounded Broughton to slot home a fine goal. Even better was to folow. Six minutes later Steve King cut off a defensive clearance and Ashford was left with time and space to send a delightful, diagonal chip over Broughton.

Boro's desperation showed as Bryan Magee was booked for a high tackle on Taylor and soon afterwards Enfield delivered the crowning blow with one of their favourite set pieces. King floated over Enfield's first and only corner of the match, Dave Waite headed goalwards and Nicky Ironton turned the ball over the line from a few feet. Boro pulled one back with eight minutes to go when Smith was presented with a simple opportunity after Jacobs could not hold a fierce shot from Neil Sellars - but Enfield should have scored twice more in the dying minutes.

Northwich Victoria (away) drawn 0-0 FA Trophy Semi Final 1st leg
report from the Weekly Herald

Northwich Victoria (home) won 1-0 FA Trophy Semi Final 2nd leg (1-0 agg)
report from the Weekly Herald (Tim Drew)

No doubt there will be many tales to tell - of delight and woe - and for Enfield it was a day to remember, a result to relish. Lee Holmes in particular, was able to rest on the laurels of his match-winning goal - only his 19th since he was signed as a striker from Brentford in the summer of 1980.

John Tone, however, must have left the field with mixed feelings. Enfield's second longest serving player's joy could not be shared by his father, who died on Friday. Emotionally then, it was quite an afternoon at Southbury Road. The game did not scale the heights - and that was not unexpected. It was a typically tense semi-final with too much at stake. Four bookings adequately summed up the nervousness on both sides. Northwich accounted for three of the four cautions - Jeff Forshaw for bringing a rare break by Noel Ashford to an unceremonious end, Mark Ward for a late challenge on Steve Oliver and Tony Murphy for a foul on Steve King.

Tone was Enfield's solitary sinner, and, ironically it was directly after he had been booked for throwing the ball at referee Denis Hedges that Enfield struck the decisive blow. Tones rash action was in protest at Mr Hedges' refusal to award a penalty after Paul Taylor had been held back by Forshaw. Moments later kind was fouled to the left of the penalty area and Enfield were awarded a free kick. King's cross was headed out but only as far as Holmes and the former Haringey Borough forward, who has played in midfield for Enfield, took the ball on his chest before planting a right-foot shot to perfection inside goalkeeper John Ryan's right hand post.

There were still 19 minutes remaining and Northwich had just one chance to redeem themselves. With three minutes to go, John Anderson saw his close-range volley fly straight at the grateful John Jacobs. Minutes later Enfield were flinging their arms in the air and the hugging began. Holmes had much to celebrate... so did Tone whose characteristic performance was full of commitment.

Altrincham (Wembley) won 1-0 FA Trophy Final
report from the Southgate Gazette

A marvellously outlandish goal from Paul Taylor - so often the unsung hero - won Enfield the FA Trophy before their delerious fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. And it was certainly a stich in time from the aptly-named Taylor. There were just six minutes of extra time remaining when the little midfield player swung a hopeful boot at the ball some 30 yards from goal and stared in disbelief as it sailed like a guided missile into the top corner of the net.

Wembley has seen some masterful moments in its 58 year history, but few can surely compare with the sheer beauty of Taylor's goal. Enfield's delighted players knew then they had won the trophy. They ran from all corners of the field to pile on top of the cavorting Taylor, and it was several moments before the distinctively permed head reappeared under a mass of bodies... still wearing a huge grin!

'I couldn't believe it. I've never scored a goal like that before,' said the 21 year old who joined Enfield from Barking last season. 'My first thought when the ball ran to me was "go on, hit it first time."
'But when I realised how far out I was I almost changed my mind. In the end, I just hit it with all I've got - and I've never seen a prettier sight.'

On a normal pitch I would estimate Taylor to have been 30 yards from goal. On the wide open spaces of Wembley it must have been nearer 35. Even Bobby Charlton in his heyday would have been overjoyed at scoring from that distance. For plain ordinairy Paul Taylor it was a spectacularly improbable achievement that will long be remembered by every one of the 17,500 crowd.

As a spectacle, however, the 13th FA Trophy final fell a long way short of the 'classic' forecast in last week's Gazette. Eddie McCluskey's prediction of a 'cat and mouse' first half was spot on - but this tentative approach continued well into the second half with the crowd getting steadily more restless. It was only a spate of goalmouth incidents in extra time that saved this final from being branded a non event.