(Puma Cup) 1st December 1998

Enfield (1) 2 Piper OG 19; Southgate 60
St. Albans City (0) 0

St. Albans City knew it wasn't going to be their day after conceeding an own goal in the first half of this match. Bloody cold, no fans cheering them on, and then one of their players gifts the opposition an easy start. No happy Howells to cheer the players up on the way home either. Forgettable - so I was told.

(Ryman League Premier Division) 5th December 1998

Gravesend & Northfleet (0) 0
Enfield (1) 3 Deadman 32; Penn 46; Dunwell (pen) 80

Ah, a return to the Enfield of old. This past week has seen the side record three victories, scoring nine in the process with none against. Whilst the St. Albans cup tie can be swiftly dismissed as nothing more than a training run for the reserves, it did introduce us to Glen Southgate. The lad must have impressed (I would not know - I have an apathy for meaningless cup games), for he was swiftly included in the starting eleven for this afternoon.

Enfield started brightly. Bentley connected with a crossfield pass that would have been the goal of the season had it gone in. Dunwell was also in the thick of the action, going on a mazy run that ended with a wild shot at goal when Bentley looked to be a wiser option, unmarked in acres of space. Gravesend had little to offer, and Pape was there to deal with what little came his way.

The referee picked up some abuse for allowing encroachment at a free kick early on. The next time Enfield found themselves within shooting range, Ref Lee was let known in no uncertain terms what he should do with the defensive wall. From the free kick, Deadman beat a statuesque Brown - on loan from Tottenham - for a deserved Enfield lead. Darlington was causing the opposition defence trouble all afternoon with his pace, and the half closed with a typical mazy run and shot on goal that tested Brown.

The second half opened to a real freaky goal. Brown, in attempting to make an upfield clearance, saw his punt charged down by Penn and loop back over the goalies head towards an unguarded net. Both players then raced to reach the ball first, with Brown somehow managing to save at the foot of his post. Penn somehow turned the ball over the line for a second goal before being mobbed by his teammates.

With Enfield now in total control, a passing Gravesend fan suggested that his side needed our support more than Enfield, so we gave a few choruses of Andy Ford's red and white army before going on to wish Gary Calder a happy birthday for yesterday, and then cheer some more when Southgate earned Enfield a penalty. Don't know about you, but the words "Southgate" and "penalty" always spook me... but Dunwell stepped up to blast past Brown down the centre as the keeper dived right. The fat lady was singing WELL before the end

(Ryman League Premier Division) 12th December 1998

Enfield (1) 2 Dunwell 18; Darlington 90
Bishops Stortford (0) 1 Green 70

A late goal by Darlington secured the points in a game that looked to have passed Enfield by. After leading for half the match with a Dunwell goal, and seeing off the referee, who looked to be trying his best to give the game to the visitors, Enfield fell for the usual "let one in from a corner" routine, allowing Green to turn in the equaliser with twenty minutes to go on the clock. This served to liven up the action behind the goal. With seconds remaining on the clock, Darlington connected with a near post header to send the visitors home empty handed, and me, to return to a wonky computer that was to give me a nightmare weekend.

(Puma Cup) 15th December 1998

Enfield (1) 1 Southgate 30
Bishops Stortford (0) 0 Sent off: Snowden 29; Honeyball 85