MATCH REPORT
Enfield Borough 3 North Greenford United 1
Middlesex Senior Charity Cup Round 2

Enfield Borough made a winning debut in the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup with a 3-1 win over North Greenford United at a bitterly cold Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Wednesday evening. Once again, “The Panthers” raised their game when faced with opposition whose league is one level above theirs, but no-one could have spotted a difference in standards in a match where both sides created and missed numerous chances to progress to the quarter finals to face either Southall or Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Borough made two changes from Saturday’s starting line-up with Guy Kiangebeni returning to central defence in place of Waiel Hassan and goalkeeper Elgi Fejco playing his first match since Christmas in place of Milvydas Lukosius. The home team had a great chance to open the scoring in just the first minute when Bruno Tavares found himself clean through with only the keeper to beat. His shot, though parried, was heading for the net when cleared off the line by a retreating defender. That set the tone for the contest with both teams playing an open, attacking brand of football. A Sivi Bao pass released the in-form Tage Kennedy shortly afterwards, but his shot was deflected into the grateful arms of the keeper. Even when not in possession, Borough’s forwards were working hard, closing down the visitor’s defenders in an attempt to force them into mistakes.

After this initial burst of pressure, North Greenford started to create chances of their own and Fejco had to be alert to deal with shots from Mensah, Vincent and Testolin. At the other end, Tavares held up the ball well before laying it off to Isaac Stevens but the winger’s shot lacked power. Both attacks were getting pulled up for offside as they pushed forwards relentlessly, but just before the half hour Borough gained the lead. From the second of two corner in quick succession, Jamiah Plentie-Lawrence’s delivery was met by Kiangebeni’s near post run and his header flew into the back of the net. North Greenford responded with a spell of “pinball” around the Borough goalmouth during which defenders blocked several goal bound efforts in order to hold onto the lead. After Kiangebeni was penalised for a robust tackle just outside the penalty area. Vincent’s free-kick was arrowing into the top corner of the net until Fejco produced a spectacular save to tip it around the post. Kennedy, Stevens and Plentie-Lawrence each had efforts off target before Enfield missed a golden chance just before half-time. Three players found themselves clean through with only the keeper to beat. Kennedy slotted the ball past him only to hold his head in horror as it went narrowly wide of the target.

Somehow the temperature managed to get even colder and a green pitch started to turn white as the second-half commenced, but neither side were having an issue with maintaining their footing. Solomon Nwabuokei replaced Kayne James-Thompson and he was soon in the action. His pass to Tavares saw the striker shoot from the edge of the box, but it rebounded off the post. It proved to be only a temporary reprieve for the visitors as Borough scored again in the fifty-third minute. A poor clearance fell at Nwaboukei’s feet eighteen yards from goal and he fired the ball high into the net past the keeper’s despairing dive. Nwabuokei was involved in all of Borough’s attacking forays, but defensively the team’s newly restored confidence was leading them into some careless errors. Hurde’s misjudged attempt at a header left the visitors with a 2 v 1 chance which Ellis wasted by shooting wide. Then a misplaced pass by Stevens was intercepted and Fejco had to tip over Vincent’s long range shot. From the corner, the ball was cleared, but only as far as Vincent who returned it to the goalmouth. Fejco was challenged for the cross by Ansah-Palmer and as the keeper fell to the ground empty handed, the North Greenford player was left with the easy task of knocking the loose ball home.

Debutant Jeff Okirie had already replaced Tavares in attack and manager Marvin Walker made his final substitution when Richard Ennin entered the fray in place of Stevens. North Greenford had a few long range efforts that were either off target or comfortably dealt with by Fejco, but he was also forced into a fine close range reaction save by Sinclair. Just as it seemed as if the visitors were about to make their pressure count, Borough secured the clinching goal. Nwabuokei appeared to slip, but he still managed to thread the ball through North Greenford’s back line. Kennedy’s run was timed to perfection and he danced around the keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net. Borough managed to play out the remaining minutes with little trouble other than Kennedys’ bout of cramp.

Three wins on the bounce and the transformation in the team is startling. The confidence that flowed through the team’s play earlier in the season has returned and the work rate has gone up a couple of notches from the games around Christmas and the New Year. This Saturday Borough face a difficult trip to Ampthill Town, who beat them comprehensively 3-0 in the reverse fixture back in September. “The Panthers” will be out for revenge.

Team; Fejco, Hurde, Newby-Harris, Tshibangu, Kiangebeni, James-Thompson (Nwabuokei), Tavares (Okirie), Stevens (Ennin), Bao, Plentie-Lawrence, Kennedy

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