MATCH REPORT
Enfield Borough 3 Rayners Lane 2

Enfield Borough secured their first win in six matches on Wednesday evening when the managed to overcome a very spirited Rayners Lane side at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. It was not one of Borough’s finest displays of the season and most would concede that the very least that the visitors deserved was a draw, but for once the footballing gods were smiling on “The Panthers” as they came away with the three points.

The squad rotation and experimentation with the line-up continued as Adedade Adesoye, Jamie Newby-Harris, Guy Kiangebeni and Waiel Hassan started the game in place of Dervon Hurde, Kayne James-Thompson, Kamal Creary and Jamiah Plentie-Lawrence. Hassan and Kennedy combined in the second minute to create the first chance of the game, but Hassan’s weak shot from Kennedy’s pull back was comfortably held. Bruno Tavares was in lively form as he latched onto Hassan’s pass to nick the ball past the visitor’s keeper, but he was unable to retain possession while Treon Johnson’s strong right-wing sortie ended with his centre being cut out by the keeper when it seemed destined for the unmarked Tavares. At the other end Luke Fox threatened for Rayners Lane when he received a throw-in, turned and fired a shot across the face of Elgi Fejco’s goal and narrowly wide of the far post.

If ever a team’s season could was encapsulated in just ninety seconds, it happened to Borough around the nineteen minute mark. Fejco’s steepling goal-kick headed towards Tavares wide on the halfway line. The striker took the ball out of the air with a back heel and guided it up the touchline. He outpaced his marker and nodded the ball ahead before striking a venomous shot from fully twenty-five yards across the face of the Rayners Lane goal and into the far corner of the goal. Barely had the celebrations abated when Rayners Lane won a corner. Fox’s delivery nestled momentarily in Fejco’s hands before bouncing out again and landing in the net. From the sublime to the ridiculous.

Suitably encouraged, the visitors came into the game more as the half progressed, but it was Enfield who regained the lead after thirty-two minutes. A perfectly weighted through ball released both Tavares and Tage Kennedy with only the keeper to beat. Kennedy’s lob was goal bound, but with the chance of defenders getting back to clear their lines, Tavares tapped home to make sure. On the stroke of half-time Rayners Lane spurned a chance to equalise when a low left-wing cross reached Doolan at the far post, but at full stretch he was unable to keep control of his shot.

This miss did not unduly dishearten Rayners Lane and they were back on level terms within three minutes of the resumption. Another low centre from the left was smartly turned in on the half-volley by Fox. At this point the end of season lethargy that has crept over Borough’s recent performances was evident once again as the visitors took control of the game. Borough’s build up play was too laboured and the energetic Rayners Lane players quickly got back behind the ball. They were also dangerous from dead-ball situations and wasted a couple of excellent chances to take the lead by heading wide of the target. In response a Kennedy cross-cum-shot grazed the crossbar while he was inches away from netting a rare header when the ball was returned into the penalty box.

In an attempt to rally his team, manager Marvin Walker replaced Hassan, Isaac Stevens and Kennedy with Solomon Nwabuokei, Henderson Browne and Deniz Karakaya respectively and it was two of these that combined to create Borough’s third goal. Karakaya found Browne in space twenty-five yards from goal and after steadying himself, Browne drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Four minutes left on the clock, surely Borough could not throw away another lead. In the final minute of normal time Rayners Lane right-back Djellak tumbled in the penalty box under a challenge and the referee awarded a penalty. Gurteen’s shot was fierce and straight down the middle, but it struck the crossbar and rebounded to safety. There was just time for Nwabuokei to run half the length of the pitch, open up his body and guide a shot across the face of the goal before the final whistle sounded to the immense relief of the “Borough posse”.

For all the great football that Borough have played this season, their good work has frequently been undone by needless errors that have gifted their opponents a way back into matches. Thankfully on this occasion Rayners Lane failed to capitalise on these and Borough claimed a long overdue victory. But the over-riding memory of the game will be Bruno Tavares’ wonder goal, a thing of skill, pace and sheer power. Let’s hope for another of these on Saturday afternoon when Borough entertain Bedford in their final Saturday game of the season, Kick off 3pm.

Team; Fejco, Adesoye, Newby-Harris, Kiangebeni, Sarpong, Hassan (Nwabuokei), Bao, Tavares, Johnson, Kennedy (Karakaya), Stevens (Browne)

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