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Enfield fixtures and match reports for 1999/2000 August 1999[Aug] [Sep] [Oct] [Nov] [Dec] [Jan] [Feb] [Mar] [Apr] [May](Ryman League Premier Division) 14th August 1999 Carshalton Athletic (1) 2 Newbury 1; Sears 51 Enfield couldn't have got off to a worse start than this, going a goal behind inside the very first minute of this new season. From the kick-off the Robins had worked the ball down the right flank and a long, hopeful cross set up a looping header that drifted into the net. Enfield found themselves struggling for a while after that, with Carshalton's experienced team keeping the game under control. Danny Alleyne was an early casualty, giving way to Richard Dunwell after some twenty minutes, and the E's started to look a bit more like a team. It was James Bunn who found the chink in Carshalton's armour though, and his dangerous dash into the penalty area caused them to resort to more 'traditional' methods and give away an obvious penalty - Danny Jones netted with ease. The second half began in much the same manner with Carshalton again taking the lead and giving Enfield a good ran around for half an hour or so. It took an error from the otherwise competent Blake in the home goal to gift Enfield an equaliser - Wayne Brown tucking away his first goal for the club with little fuss after Blake had dropped a cross at his feet. E's hung on gamely for a draw and the verdict on Chandler's new look team can only be . . . so far, so good! (Ryman League Premier Division) 17th August 1999 Enfield (2) 3 Jones (pen)10, 13; Southgate 57 A sign of the times, with only 281 attending the game. What happened to the rest? Probably got wind of the hike in admission prices to 7 quid after being promised faithfully it was going to remain at 6. But what could we really expect after so many false promises? Whilst three points are most welcome, it was the unconvincing manner in which Enfield allowed Swifts twice back into the game that worried most. Danny Jones had converted an early penalty, then swooped on a woeful defensive clearance to bang home a second in the opening quarter. Referee Ward then decided to even the penalty awards up by awarding Swifts a spot kick that went unnoticed at Enfield's end of the ground. You could hardly blame anyone for not noticing - Heybridge's traveling fans are not known to make much noise! The first and early contender for goal of the season came along on the hour mark. Southgate, lining up a free kick outside the box, struck an unstoppable shot for a 3-1 lead. Cheesewright had not been in the best of form, but even he was blameless in his efforts. Yet even with a two goal cushion Enfield still had the alarm bells ringing as Parker this time breached Enfield's defences with a goal hooked home. (Ryman League Premier Division) 21st August 1999  Enfield (0) 3 Morris 50; Bunn 63; Jones (pen) 67
s/o Rattray 66 Three goals again by Enfield, sandwiched by a couple from the visitors. Gone are the days when Enfield used to stuff this lot - no - I still remember the 8-1 win with fond memories during the championship season. Even No1 Hamlet fan Mishi looks a tougher opponent, after cutting off his famous flowing locks for something more severe. Hamlet were quick off the blocks this afternoon. There was hardly any time to greet former E Paul Harding before Dave Stevens turned in the opener off John's right hand post. A case of 'where did that one come from?'. Enfield's defence continued to wobble, with Jerome John clutching onto to a speculative shot from long range that came back off the bar, then somehow keeping out a second effort the appeared to hit the bar, bounce down on the goal line and do everything but cross the line! Clearly, Hamlet could count themselves very unfortunate not to be at least three goals to the good at the break. Enfield's best effort in the half fell to Richard Dunwell, who just failed to find the right connection to a Bunn cross from close in. Les Cleevely's first real contribution to the second half (aside from responding to some
banter from behind the goal) was to get in some pick-the-ball-out-of-the-net practice. It must
be said that Jamie Morris could never have been attempting a shot on goal from such a crazy
angle; Cleevely assumed that it was probably going over - but whatever - highly amusing to
see the ball drift over his head to bring the scores level. In a tense finish, Houghton's mazy run and goal swung the game back the visitors way. Not even his experience as a lifeguard could save his side though! (God, I hope no-one on the programme had that down as a laugh. Me gonna look real silly if it was meant as a wind up.) (Ryman League Premier Division) 24th August 1999 Harrow Borough (1) 1 Markman 38 Enfield went top of the league tonight, thanks to a fine first half display of attacking football and a controlled, well disciplined second half showing against a Harrow team that, despite their best efforts, find themselves rooted to the foot of the table. Enfield started brightly with Rattray, Jones and Bunn causing problems for the home side. The early pressure warranted a goal and it came in the twelfth minute when Morgan, unmarked in the box, successfully converted from close range after the home defence had dithered over a low cross. Harrow pressed on, using the left flank mostly, but Annon, Cooper and Brown stood firm. On the half hour mark Enfield had a scare, Jerome John thanking the crossbar for coming to his rescue, but Harrow were level eight minutes later when the E's defence was pierced by a cross from the left and an unmarked Forward tucked it away with little fuss. Enfield looked slightly rocked by that, but within four minutes Morris had restored the lead, sneaking in at the far post to slot home what turned out to be the winner. Enfield should have made it three before the break but Hook, in the home goal, had a charmed life as several shots flashed inches wide. Harrow got their act together after the break, peppering John's goal for a while. Rattray picked up a booking as Enfield battled to keep Harrow at bay, and Chandler made two substitutions - Clarke for Dunwell and Tomlinson for Morris - in an attempt to tighten things up. Clarke in particular livened things up and Harrow had to keep their wits about them as he and Bunn began to carve some openings. It was Glenn Southgate who caused the biggest problem though, with a surging run from deep only coming to nothing when he failed to get the ball on his favoured left foot. The Referee added on the obligatory ten minutes of stoppage time but Enfield stood firm to go top of the league. It may be a long way to go yet, but bearing in mind the club's plight off the pitch it is good to see something positive on it. (Ryman League Premier Division) 26th August 1999 Fanborough Town (0) 1 Warner 68 Enfield's stay at the top of the division was brief, but this was a well earned point from a side expected to be in the running for Isthmian Championship. Also, a chance for the first proper outing of the supporters/players team coach. Apart from some very strange dance music being put on to 'gee the players up' as we were informed, most of the bunch played cards or talked amongst themselves. None of the heated tactical discussions on the return journey that I expected. Farnborough had the better of the opening exchanges in the first half and Jerome John and the Enfield defence had to be on their toes to deal with the subtle probings of an attack now led by Steve Darlington. Enfield had little to offer, other than a Richard Dunwell header from after good work on the right flank to set up the chance. James Bunn's first meaningful effort on goal came in the 50th minute and should have been the opening score for Enfield. In a one against one versus MacKenzie, Bunn fired low to the keeper's right but the keeper somehow blocked the shot to safety. The same players then featured in the first debatable decision of the game when Bunn, attempting to go round the keeper was adjudged to have been bought down. The penalty decision was a tad harsh, but Dearing proceeded to yellow card the player and the penalty was stuck away by Jones with ease. However, within three minutes the scores were level when the linesman deemed that a goal line clearance had actually crossed the line. A check in the social club after the game was indecisive, but the quick call by the linesman probably swayed if for the ref. The last quarter of the game belonged to Farnborough Town, including an offside decision which Enfield survived. But John dealt with what was thrown at him and so the E's good run continues. (Ryman League Premier Division) 30th August 1999 Enfield 3 Bunn 38;Jones (pen) 40; Annon 66 Enfield went back to the top of the table with another enjoyable win over the Ducks. Jim Chandler reverted to a 5-3-2 formation, sacrificing wingers John Morgan and Jamie Morris for Lee Protheroe and Andy Tomlinson. This led to a nervous start from the hosts and Aylesbury, having had a terrible start to the season, looked the more likely to score, although Jerome John was equal to everything they could throw at him. At the other end, Richard Dunwell, who has been criticised for being lazy recently, looked as though he'd been given a good hard kick up the backside, but chances were few and far between before the opening goal on 38 minutes. A Tomlinson corner was flicked on by Grant Cooper and in the ensuing scramble, Dunwell and then Wayne Brown both swung and missed at the ball. As the ball ran loose, James Bunn arrived from nowhere to slam home into the roof of the net off Stevenage reject Des Gallagher in the visitors' goal. Two minutes later, it was 2-0. Darren Annon's ball into the box hit the arm of United's Jon Underwood and referee Mr Melin pointed to the spot. A bit debatable that one, but not as dodgy as Saturday's. Danny Jones stepped up and scored once again (his sixth goal, and fifth penalty, of the season). So the E's went in at half time two-up and could be congratulated on gaining such a good advantage after such a nondescript performance. However, this all went to pot straight from the restart when a break down the left allowed Aylesbury's Neil Selby to slot home unmarked from six yards. But after some concerted Aylesbury pressure, the hosts secured victory in the 66th minute with another contender for goal of the season. Dunwell won a tackle deep in his own half (yes, really), and ran forward until he was 25 yards from goal. He tried to play in Jones but the ball was behind the midfield maestro. Jonah reacted magnificently, backheeling the ball back to Dunwell who fed Annon on the right. Mr Annon controlled the awkwardly bouncing ball and then curled it into Gallagher's top left hand corner. The last major incident came in the 89th minute when Jones put in a through ball for sub Danny Clarke to chase. A panicked Gallagher raced from his goal and handled the ball, prompting the red card from Mr Melin, much to the delight of the home fans. A two-goal cushion at last and E's go back to the summit following Aldershot's 2-0 defeat at home to St Albans, and Billericay's 4-0 drubbing at Slough. |
