(Ryman League Premier Division) 2nd January 1999

Purfleet (0) 0
Enfield (1) 1 Bentley 22

And so Enfield travelled to Purfleet - home of Bates Motel - determined to set the record straight after last season's 4-0 drubbing. Before the match, the warning was that George Georgiou was the player to beware in the opposition ranks, though Boy George would have given Pape a harder time. Georgiou's attempts on goal were greeted with derision, culminating in a simplly awful miss in front of goal in the final fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, Enfield looked sharper than last Monday. It was no real surprise when Bentley turned in Darlington's cross after some good work by Annon. This was closely followed by Dunwell's attempted lob of the keeper, which looked a suspect hand-ball as it was run out of play by a defender. Darlington was also unlucky not to have set up a second goal, as the ball was scrambled out of play for a corner with the keeper out of position. Pape caused a few flutters as he dropped a hotshot towards the end of the half, and as the supporters changed ends we could just about make out the crackled sounds of some half time scores. Purfleet's tannoy system STILL leaves a lot to be desired.

The heavens opened at the start of the second half. Southgate could and should have extended the lead when clear through, and Risley also had a decent chance as the crowd sung "singing in the rain". Georgiou had his miss and then Terry performed wonders on the goal line as he kept out a certain Purfleet equaliser with a wonder clearance. Though not a dirty match, there was plenty of injury time added on, with the final whistle being greeted with some relief. Whilst the Purfleet squad made their way back to their dressing rooms, Enfield held a hastily arranged training session straight after the game.

(Middlesex Senior Cup 2nd Round) 5th January 1999

Hayes (1) 4 Domingos 22, - ; Hodgson 54; Taylor 66
Enfield (0) 0

The defence of the MSC shuddered to a halt. An unpronouncable Hayes player injected some life into the game with some fancy flips to celebrate his goals, but that aside, there was little here for Enfield fans. Richardson missed from the penalty spot after Risley was fouled in the box. Calden also struck the underside of the bar in the second half. With the final due to be played at Southbury Road this season, we have a little photographic surprise for the club captain who happens to win the trophy this year and decides to kiss it... and no questions asked please.

(Puma Cup 3rd Round) 18th January 1999

Enfield (0) 0
Purfleet (0) 2 Oviero 51; Georgiou 57

With the F.A. Trophy game against Hitchin Town due to go ahead the following evening, this hastily arranged game saw Enfield fielding a mostly reserve side against Purfleet. Local papers suggest that Purfleet's strong side proved to be too strong opponents, though Richardson headed against the bar before Oviero scored a spectacular opener for the visitors. Georgiou followed this up with a second, which was more than he had threatened to do in the league encounter earlier in the month. Clarke hit the post in the last minute for Enfield.

(Ryman League Premier Division) 23rd January 1999

Dagenham & Redbridge (0) 3 Cobb 50, 81; Shipp 84
Enfield (1) 3 Darlington 24, 59; Penn 66

Match report by Peter Coath

With the last two Saturdays blown out by the weather it was good to see some serious action again, and the two teams served up quite a feast of entertainment. A tight first half finished with the E's one goal to the good after the Daggers hapless number six Mathews allowed Darlo a free challenge on the ever-popular (I jest!) Gothard with the ball rolling into the unguarded net. The good work was all undone after the break though when Paul Cobb took time off from his other job as Casper the Ghost's stunt-double to emulate Darlo's strike in a one-on-one with Andy Pape - Cobb made harder work of it though, but the scores were level all the same.

The Daggers defence then went back into hibernation for half an hour during which time the E's went into a two goal lead through Darlo's second and a 'thank-you-very-much' tap-in through Gothard's legs by Russell Penn after the still ineffective Mathews turned down the easier option of hoofing clear when under pressure. One would have been forgiven for thinking that victory was assured but Gary Calder elected to make three substitutions and Dagenham crept back into the game. First Cobb took full advantage of his good fortune by slamming home a loose ball after several E's defenders had unsuccessfully tried to thrash the ball clear when under pressure, and then Cobb found himself clear on the right with his cross being volleyed home in a most unnecessarily spectacular fashion by Ship. The last ten minutes saw Enfield on top, save for two or three break-outs, but the game ended on a sour note when Referee Bishop decided to save his red card for another day despite Darren Annon being sent flying as both his legs were taken from under him in a reckless, and highly dangerous, tackle from behind.

Dagenham's P.A. then crackled into life to announce Paul Cobb as the Man of the Match, which certainly raised a laugh at the away end, although the reading of the half-time scores by the same P.A. man was much funnier when he announced "Wimbledon nil, Ginola two dives".

(F.A.Trophy Third Round) 25th January 1999

Hitchin Town (1) 3 Parker 21, 57; Dixon 66
Enfield (2) 3 Terry 30; Dunwell (pen) 30; Calden 90

Enfield's clung to their one chance of cup glory with this - a last gasp draw when it looked as though lower league opposition in the form of Hitchin Town were going to pull off a shock. Enfield's equaliser with the last kick of the game came from substitute Gary Calden, back from injury. So it's back to Southbury Road in two days time.

Top Field - a muddy Top Field devoid of grass - represented just about the worst conditions imaginable for a game of football. Covered in sand, and cutting quite considerably as the game progressed. Truly a great leveller, and it was Hitchin who took the lead through Adam Parker, who converted Abbey's square pass.

Steve Terry was to equalise in controversial curcumstances soon after, handling the ball into the back of the net as Jones swung a free kick into the box. Amazingly it was allowed to stand, leading to Terry aquiring a brand new "diego" nickname! Shortly before half time Dunwell was hauled down by Burke, picking himself up to convert the resultant spot kick.

Adam Parker pulled the game back Hitchin's way with a far post header from a free kick after forcing Pape into an excellent save moments earlier. And with the home side now holding the initiative, Dixon found time and space to beat Pape to his right for a 3-2 lead.

Calden came off the bench with little more than fifteen minutes remaining and looked to have blown any chance of Enfield getting back into the game as he missed an open goal with five minutes remaining. But with six minutes of extra time added on by the referee, Calden connected with Terry's flick on to take the tie back to Enfield.

(F.A.Trophy Third Round replay) 27th January 1999

Enfield 0
Hitchin Town 1 Parker 19

I'm often asked why my match reports make little or no reference to the games they refer to. "who set up the winning goal?" they ask. "Who got booked and in what minute?" Well, for one I do not go to the games with a stopwatch, and as for the other, Enfield are served better than most by the TOTE fanzine, which deals with the statistical side of the games.

A series of postponments and hastily arranged cup games served to catch out a lot of people tonight. Indeed, until yesterday I thought the game was on Thursday. Still - the crowd of 302 meant that yours truly got a share of the "guess the crowd" funds. Not enough for a shout at the bar though!

The emergence of London Kiwi's on the Southbury Road scene means that once again there are three teams using the pitch on a regular basis. After playing on the beach that is Hitchin FC's ground, tonight it was mud, mud, mud. Enfield's bright start by gaining a succession of corners soon ground to a halt as the visitors adapted to the conditions. Parker seized on the first real chance of the game, beating Pape from close range midway through the first half. Pape was called into action soon after; smothering a close range shot as he raced out to intercept a Hitchin forward.

The only clear chance for an equaliser came as Dunwell, then Darlington in turn forced excellent saves from Darren Bonfield in the Town goal. Bonfield had been given a lot of stick in the first game for his performance, though tonight he was near faultless. Steve Terry did not get a chance to live up to his "Diego" performance from two days previously. Methinks that someone would've had a word in the referee's ear on that score. Darren Annon kept us in the game for a little while longer with a goal line clearance, but the game was up this time. There was going to be no late, late saver. All credit to Hitchin Town on this performance. They were the more determined and thoroughly deserved this win.

(Ryman League Premier Division) 30th January 1999

Enfield (0) 2 Darlington 76; Dunwell 90
Chesham United (1) 2 McAree 16; Hutchins 54

Pants for the first eighty minutes, and brilliance for the last ten. When Dunwell and Darlington came on together for the last fifteen minutes, Enfield trailed 2-0 and frankly, were just dire. Within minutes, Darlington was heading past Pat Jennings (more on that in a minute) to set up a barnstorming end to the game. Bentley (scuffed shot), Dunwell and Darlington caused countless panic in the Chesham defence before Annon found himself free of his marker to roll the ball across the box to Dunwell, who could not miss as Jennings made a valiant attempt to keep the shot out.

And about Jennings. Son of Pat, the former Tottenham, Arsenal and Ireland International. Pat Jennings MK2 joined Chesham United from Wimbledon soon after the departure of Bruce Grobbelaar and then Graham Roberts. An interesting quiz question now is of course, 'name two internationals to play in goal for Chesham United in one season?'! Jennings had an excellent game and could hardly have been blamed for the winner. With his father watching from the Starlight Suite, the young goalkeeper kept Enfield at bay with a variety of saves - though not so much with his father's trademark "legblocks".

Chesham established a two goal lead on the back of McAree's fine shot from distance that beat Andy Hall (playing his first league game since the opening day loss to Chesham United as it happens) and cannoned in off the bar despite an attempted clearance on the line. Otis Hutchins added a second from a free kick that was expertly headed back into his path.

On a non football matter, The Bank of Green Lights presented the Kid E's supporters club with a cheque for 212 pounds, raised from the Hitchin Town charity match last Saturday. Thanks to Hitchin's supporters for helping with the raising of these funds.