Broxbourne Borough v Enfield Borough

MATCH REPORT
F.C.Broxbourne Borough 3 Enfield Borough 4.

Enfield Borough got back to winning ways on Saturday with a remarkable second half comeback to bring a run of five successive defeats to an end. Any win would have been welcome, but the manner of the victory will have lifted spirits within the club.

Enfield made several enforced changes from their defeat at Hillingdon Borough two weeks ago. Jamie Newby-Harris, Henderson Browne and Richard Ennin were all anticipated alterations but the late arrival of Guy Kiangebeni forced coach Ade Wale into service in the unfamiliar role of central defender. Bruno Tavares, Isaac Stevens and the now rested Tage Kennedy were the other additions to the line-up.

Reduced to desperately trying to fit square pegs into round holes, Enfield adopted an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation, but they were behind in only the fifth minute. A right-wing corner was met by the unmarked Okirie whose header found its way through a forest of Enfield defenders before nestling in the back of the net. This was Broxbourne’s first game under a new manager and they seemed intent on impressing him with a fine first half performance. Midway through the half they extended the lead. This time a left-wing corner was flicked on and Wells running in at the far post was credited with the goal, though it appeared that the final touch may have come off an Enfield defender. As often happens when in a club is in a poor run of form Enfield were holding their own in terms of territory and possession, but were being severely punished for their mistakes and just before the interval they fell further into arrears. Keeper Milvydas Lukosius managed to push a goal bound effort to one side but when it was returned into the goalmouth the in-running Brandon, who was not picked up at the far post, calmly slotted home, much to the delight of the home support.

At half-time manager Marvin Walker introduced Kiangebeni in place of Wale. What else he did in the dressing room remains a mystery, but it certainly had the desired effect. The vital thing was to get back into the game as soon as possible and Kennedy was the man to give them a foothold. Seizing on a long pass out of defence, Kennedy ran clear and as the goalkeeper came out to narrow the angle he side-footed the ball between the keepers legs. Top score with fifteen goals prior to this game, Kennedy had not scored since November 18th. However he was now showing glimpses of his best form from earlier in the season and given any half chance he was likely to score. His second goal came when he pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the Broxbourne penalty box and fired home low to the keeper’s left.

The heavens opened. Enfield introduced substitutes Berhane Joseph and debutant Deniz Karakaya in place of James-Thompson and Stevens respectively and Broxbourne, who have been stranded towards the foot of the table all season, began to look nervous as the whole momentum of the match swung completely in the visitor’s favour, so it came as no surprise when Enfield levelled the scores. A Broxbourne defender, attempting to clear Kiangebeni’s ball into the box, only succeeded in slicing his clearance high into the air and as it dropped Kennedy reacted quickest to sublimely volley the ball home and complete his hat-trick. The stage was set for a dramatic winner which arrived a couple of minutes before the end of normal time. A free kick from wide on the right was lofted into the box by Jamiah Plentie-Lawrence. The Broxbourne keeper, misjudging the flight of the centre, could barely get his fingertips to the ball as it sailed over his head and into the back of the net.

Given the circumstances, it was a great result for Enfield. The spirit shown by the players in the second-half bodes well for the future. However the table would suggest that Broxbourne are one of the weaker teams in the division and Enfield need to show the same will to win and determination against fellow promotion candidates if they are to stand any chance of progressing. In the meantime they go up to seventh place in the table and this Saturday they play host to an in form Hatfield Town team that have won five of their last seven games. Kick off at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium is 3pm.

Team; Lukosius, Hurde, Bao, Wale, Hassan (Kiangebeni), James-Thompson (Joseph), Plentie-Lawrence, Stevens (Karakaya), Tavares, Opoku, Kennedy