Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Southall 6 Enfield Borough 0

Given the toughest of draws in the Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup, Enfield Borough bowed out of the competition at the first round stage with a comprehensive six goal defeat at the hands of Southall on Wednesday evening. Their opponents play the division above Borough and are currently second in the league table and the gulf in class was clearly evident from the moment that the hosts took the lead.

Unfortunately, Enfield were missing two of their most experienced players in Craig Nelson and Gavin Hinds-Cadette whilst Rinidie Lokilo started from the bench. They were replaced by Kevin Mussunda, Noor Mbaza and Felix Udoji respectively. The first chance came for the visitors after eight minutes when Simon Offei met Micah Jackson’s corner with a first time shot that was wide of the target. But that was as good as it got as Southall took a grip of the game that they never relinquished. They opened the scoring in the eleventh minute when Luke Henneghan’s left wing cross was met at the far post by Lewis Putman who forced the ball home despite the best efforts of keeper Dragos Stefanoaica. The lead was increased just before the twenty minute mark when Putman’s curling shot drew a diving save from Stefanoaica but the loose ball dropped perfectly for Lenny Farhall who shot home on the turn.
The game developed into a one-sided contest with Stefanoaica being the main obstacle to Southall reaching double figures. He foiled Putman with his feet after a slick passing move then managed to get a palm to a dangerous right wing cross from Darreon Mark, Gideon Sarpong completing the clearance. In the twenty- fifth minute Nathan Dennis found James McCluskey on the edge of the box and his forceful drive appeared to go straight through Stefanoaica as the net bulged behind the keeper. Offei offered a brief respite for “The Panthers” as they mounted a rare attack but his shot barely tested keeper Koju Abayomi. With eight minutes to go until the break, Frankie Taylor surged into the Enfield penalty box only to be pulled back by Mbaza. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a spot kick which was converted by Henneghan. Borough did better in the closing five minutes of the half - Jackson had a free-kick well within his range but the shot lacked power while Carl Adiku produced the best moment of the half with a low drive that drew a full-length save from Abayomi. But this was countered by substitute Anthony O’Connor blazing over the bar, Farhall netting at the second attempt only to be ruled offside and Stefanoaica producing a fine save to deny the same player.

The second half continued in a similar vein. Stefanoaica dived bravely at Farhall’s feet when the striker momentarily lost control of the ball and Hamidou Wane brought down Farhall when the striker was through but was only booked as another defender was within range to cover. Around the hour mark Southall made their remaining four changes, allowing some players who will be needed at the weekend the chance to rest whilst Borough brought on Lokilo and Otis Lawson for his debut in place of Udoji and Adiku. The intensity had dropped from the first half, but the hosts got a break when Dennis’s driven centre struck Wane and deflected past Stefanoaica into the Borough net. Enfield’s luck changed for the better when O’Connor beat Stefanoaica with a shot that crashed against the crossbar and bounced away to safety and soon after Farhall collected a loose ball on the edge of the box and fired in an effort that hit the post and rebounded into the keeper’s welcoming arms. The final goal arrived in the seventy eighth minute when Dennis’s right wing cross was tapped home by O’Connor. Wane had to come off with an injury and having used all their outfield substitutes Borough had to see out the contest with ten men, but apart from Stefanoaica foiling O’Connor with his feet, they were not overworked as Southall eased off, content with a job well done.

“This gives the players an idea of the standards they have to attain if we do manage to gain promotion.” said manager Anthony McNamee post match. “They are the best team we have faced so far this season by some distance and this is a reality check. Some of these lads have been used to being the best players in their age groups. But in this match they were up against men who are experienced semi-professional players and that is a much higher standard altogether. There are a lot of very disappointed lads in our changing room right now but providing they take on board these lessons, it will only benefit them in the long term.”

Enfield have a weekend off due to pitch maintenance work being carried out by Wingate & Finchley, but they return to action on November 13th when they visit AFC Aldermaston.
Team; Stefanoaica, Mbaza, Wopara (Soile), Sarpong, Wane, Mussunda, Offei, Adiku (Lawson), Udoji (Alamyar), Jackson, Akande (Lokilo).