(Icis Premier League) 5th September 1997

Gravesend & Northfleet (1) 1 Newbery 29
Enfield (3) 3 West 6, 8; Moran (pen) 19

Match report by Peter Coath
Stonebridge Road, home of "the Fleet", clearly shows its Southern League heritage and the vastness of the stadium, coupled with an electric atmosphere inside, was just what the visitors needed. Enfield have always coped well with intimidation away from home and, on this occasion, silenced the home support within the first ten minutes by racing into a two-goal lead
It was marksman Steve West, with a brace, that gave Enfield such a dream start, getting a toe-end to a Leroy May header to send the ball spinning high above the diminutive home keeper and into the net. Within minutes West was at it again, climbing high to head home a long searching cross from the left - finding no notable resistance from Gravesend's defence.
To their credit the home side came right back into the game and made a real fight of it - pulling a goal back on the half hour mark - but Enfield still looked threatening with Steve Terry seeing a header not far wide and Leroy May coming close on another occasion. Any hopes of a Gravesend fightback were well and truly scuppered when the referees assistant spotted an infringement on the edge of the penalty area and indicated a penalty to referee Joe Ross. 'Handball' was his brief post-match explanation. Paul Moran netted the spot kick, despite a good attempt at a save by the opposition keeper, and the teams turned round at 3-1 to the visitors.

The second half was a predictable stalemate as Enfield held firm, not sitting on their lead, yet neither appearing anxious to extend it at all. For a team with Championship aspirations it was an exellent away performance. For the home side however, it saw a continuation of their poor start to the season, and the decision to switch to the Icis League may look, with hindsight, to be something of a mistake. It is still early days though, and on tonight's showing there is little to suggest that Gravesend will be struggling at the season's end. Enfield, however, hope to be right up at the top by then. This performance did little to suggest otherwise.

(League Cup) 9th September 1997

Enfield (0) 0 1 West 116
St. Albans City (0) 0 2 Gentle 103; Haworth 120

A break from the Icis League as Enfield took on St. Albans in the Guardian Insurance Cup. I never made the game so I can only relay the facts as they were told to me by phone. I doubt that going out of this competition will bother George Borg and co, and most of Enfield's loyal supporters would look upon this fixture as of little importance to the main objective - winning the league. No goals in the first ninety minutes, the action all came in the extra half hour with the visitors (plus their jovial keeper) moving into the next round with a Justin Gentle assisted win.

(Icis Premier League) 13th September 1997

Enfield (0) 1 West 63
Dagenham & Redbridge (1) 2 Cash (OG) 8; Cobb 61

Losing at home to Dagenham & Redbridge in the league is a habit that is getting hard to break. This is the third in succession, including THAT title decider which saw today's opponents taking residence in the Conference. (Just a second while I take out my frustration on a pillow)...
Paul Cobb - top goalscorer in the Icis League last season after leaving Enfield for Purfleet - had good reason to curse his luck, with Andy Pape being awarded Man of the Match afterwards for his outstanding performance in denying the visitors a more convincing scoreline. Dagenham were ahead after only eight minutes - sloppy defending being the excuse - though I was absent at the time and have to rely on a couple of drunken accounts of what actually occurred at the time. I'll write a personal memo not to switch off when the ball is at the other end of the ground in future. The response from the Enfield end was to bait the opposition goalkeeper or at least, distract him to the point of making an error, but Gothard must have been used to this by now, and was that a grin he flashed after one goal kick?
George Borg, in his programme notes, bemoaned the fact that Enfield's home support were sadly lacking in terms of getting behind the side when things are not going well. Playing at home is not the pleasurable experience it should be, according to George. With the away record currently standing at (I'm banned from telling you the exact figure) over a season without loss, why is it so difficult to maintain the same form at home? George must have been going ballistic after a first half of very little entertainment, and must have wished for ear muffs to block the noise from the moaners and whinges from behind the dugout.
The second half took an even worse turn, with Cobb adding a second for the visitors to completely silence the last of Enfield's resistance. Then West did the unthinkable, finishing off a mazy run by Endersby with a low shot to Gothard's right (the ball - not Endersby) to set up a noisy finish. The final stages of the game saw both sides just unable to finish excellent opportunities, with Gothard tipping one shot round the post and then following up by tipping the corner over the bar. No excuses for this performance - Enfield were sadly lacking for the first hour. Dagenham & Redbridge, looked organised and efficient, and were well worthy of their win.

(Isthmian Premier League) 20th September 1997

Enfield (0) 0
Sutton United (1) 2Vansittart 24; Clark 55

A snotty-nosed kid summed this game up as he made a quick exit after the final whistle sounded: Flippin' hell. I'm glad that I don't go there every week!' And who could blame him? It may have been the events of the past week or the distinct lack of passion on the terraces, but this Enfield side looked positively end of season material and not up for a challenge.
I'm not altogether sure why there was a large police presence. Sure - emotions were running high after the sacking of George Borg, but Enfield's supporters are not generally known to be violent, even when faced with aggro head-on (Yeovil being a good example). But no, I was told that the club had been warned by the league that if there was any trouble then the club would be docked points. Must be some ruling that says "except for Yeovil" I suppose. The mood was somber (even in the social club) and the sides emerged to a smattering of applause. None of the big build up that comes with new personnel.
Sutton's top of the table side would appear not to have caused a great deal of interest in Surrey, for it was the usual old faces in the crowd, along with their No.4, Gwynne Berry, who attracted the usual amount of laughter for his dodgy haircut. Only Les Cleevely in the visitors goal gave his hairstyle any kind of credibility!
Sutton United created a number of half chances before Enfield tested Cleevely, a header from West on the half hour. Vansittart had in the meantime scored at the Town End of the ground to give the visitors the lead. The game sparked into life however, when Cleevely bought May down when through on goal. 'A sending off!' screamed Enfield fans. Referee Bone thought otherwise, and showed the yellow card to howls of abuse - players and supporters having their say on the matter. More pushing in the box after the free kick, and the ref must have been relieved to get to the safety of his own dressing room at half time.

The pep talk by the new management team of Westley & Pearce was obviously still being digested when Clark tucked away the visitors second. By now there was a falling out behind the goal: the anti vs. the pro George's. One side wanted to protest and the others agreed that no one man is bigger than the club. Actually, I was wondering if some of those involved were Enfield supporters at all.
Vansittart shaved the post with another effort, then May turned his marker inside out to get at least one more effort on target for Enfield. The biggest clue to the mood on the terrace was that my ticket for Tuesday night's coach to Chesham United reads 20. Not even half full.

(Isthmian Premier League) 23rd September 1997

Chesham United (0) 1 Lawford 70
Enfield (1) 2 West 23; Peirson (OG) 83

Enfield's long unbeaten run was nearly laid to rest on the night that Dave Venables made his Enfield debut. The new management team wasted no time in acquiring the services of Venables from Kettering Town, and other new faces are expected to follow.
There have been a number of changes at Chesham since the sides met last season in the Full Members Cup. At long last there is cover behind one goal. This was most welcome - not just for the fact that there is now shelter from the elements. It is a commonly known fact that grounds with cover generate noise. Just think what Southbury Road would be like without shelter! Whilst Premiership grounds spend their multi-millions on brand new stands, the Isthmian league sides are investing a few thousand pounds to bring their grounds up to at least some level of comfort, no doubt fueled in the knowledge that they will "do a Molesey" and get kicked out for not being up to standard. I'm not suggesting that this is the case with our hosts.
Another change is the new Chesham United kit. Gone are the claret and blue... to be replaced by what can only be described as the "Terry's Chocolate Orange" look. I hope they revert to their more traditional colours now that the Icis sponsorship has fallen through.

Enfield - fired on by an over-fed support who were making full use of DECENT catering facilities - were eager to show that last week was just a temporary blip, and on this showing, normal service has been resumed. No one side dominated the early stages and real chances were few and far between. Enfield opened the scoring at the halfway stage with Endersby's teasing little run on the left (I believe the phrase used is "done the defence like a kipper") before crossing for West to fire in off the underside of the bar.
Chesham United it has to be said, were not totally convincing in the first half. There was not a hint of what was to come later in the match. Danny Adams tested their keeper from 25 yards, and any kind of lead seemed acceptable at the break

Chesham played up the slope for the second half. Dunno what was said in their dressing room at the break, but for fully fifteen minutes it was "backs to the wall and kick the ball as far as you can into the other half" for Enfield. Chesham, during this spell, were dominant - I'll admit that - and the hope was for a quick breakaway to seal the win. During this spell of pressure Pape must have saved Enfield on at least four occasions. Two goal line clearances in succession and saving at the feet of a hungry forward. On the one occasion that Enfield got out of their half, Venables rattled the crossbar and we all groaned. Moments later Lawford equalised, and I have to say that it was fully deserved.
At this stage a point would have been gratefully accepted. Twenty minutes was a long time to hold on against relentless pressure. And yet, once Chesham were level it was as if they eased off, giving Enfield an opportunity to mount some pressure of their own. West thought he was about to score the winner, but contrived to head wide with a free header. More groans.
The Saint was bought on, and instantly found some joy down the right. Twisting, teasing - like Saint of old. With five minutes left on the clock he bamboozled his marker (or in this case, whoever happened to be challenging him) and sent over a cross that was in all probability not going to amount to much. Chesham's Peirson could do little to stop connecting with the ball as it cannoned off his left leg and past a bemused keeper. Cue wild celebrations behind the goal and abject misery from the men in orange in blue. Five minutes later the final whistle blew. Lucky? You bet. This could prove to be a turning point for the season - already!

(Isthmian Premier League) 27th September 1997

Enfield (0) 0
St. Albans City (0) 2 Haworth 64; Daly 84 Polston sent off 67; Haworth sent off 68

Match report by Peter Coath

Enfield's woeful home record continues. Notwithstanding the recent change of management, this was always going to be a tough game for the E's. St. Albans rarely come to Southbury Road with survival in mind yet it was plain for all to see that Westley and Pearce have yet to instill any fire in the bellies of their inherited squad. Once referee Ebbage had reduced the visitors to nine men - two players sent off for two bookable offences each - one would have expected Enfield to claw themselves back into the game but the visitors held firm and waited patiently for the Enfield fightback to blow itself out before settling matters with a screamer of a second goal.

The first half was a monotonous affair with scarcely any action of note but St. Albans got themselves on top after 64 minutes when Haworth succeeded with an opportunist strike from inside the box as Enfield's defence went AWOL Mr Ebbage then stepped in with a flurry of yellow and red cards to give the home side a numerical advantage and for a while it looked as though the E's may perform a fortunate rescue act. The visitors held out though and all Enfield had to offer in the end were hopeful passes out to Endersby - wide on the left - with all hopes riding on him achieving some sort of breakthrough. It was not to be though and when Daly thumped in a long range shot with six minutes left to play after the home defence had once again lost possession unnecessarily, the result was settled.

Quite where Enfield go from here one wonders. The return of Moran from injury may provide the spark that is currently missing from the heart of the team but the problems are far too complex to be solved so easily. They have gone from a good team to a bad one overnight. The same players that showed such commitment under Borg's leadership now look muddled and confused. Messrs Westley and Pearce may strive to solve the crisis by bringing in some new faces but it would be better for all concerned if they learned how to handle the present ones first. Claims that it is still early days seem to hold little credibility as the stark reality of the situation is thus - it takes a poor team to lose at home to nine men!

(Full Members Cup) 30th September 1997

St. Albans City (2) 5 Deleon 16; Foley 18, 62, 67; Cobb 82
Enfield (0) 1 Mernagh 76

Losing to the same club for the third time in a month must be some kind of a record. This must have been pretty dire. Sources tell me that Westley did not even know that Steve West had been sold to Woking until he was told after giving in the team sheet to the referee. Apparently, Creamer in goal is to be reported to the F.A. for failing to wear a goalkeepers jersey for the match - probably was so shocked to be in the side for Andy Pape that he failed to pack his No.1 shirt in the kit bag. Extremely unprofessional-like