Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Enfield Borough 3 N.W.London 0

Enfield Borough secured their first victory of the season on Wednesday evening when they defeated N.W.London 3-0 at Summers Lane. Whilst the scoreline suggests that it was a comfortable win, for long spells in the first half Borough played second fiddle to a skilful N.W.London team who threatened the host’s goal on a number of occasions. What was heartening is the fact that Borough teams of the past would not have been so resolute in the circumstances.

Borough made two changes to the starting line-up with Walid Hirsi now free of suspension and Craig Nelson available and they took the places of Ikromjon Kamoliddinov and Darius Ogodon. The hosts had the perfect start as they opened the scoring in the second minute. Rinidie Lokilo held off the physical challenge of Bruno Da Silva and got in a low shot that Charlie Casey saved with his feet. The ball ran loose and with defender Aleson Sousa and Casey appearing unsure what to do next, Lokilo took advantage of the uncertainty to fire the ball into the empty net. Borough tried to extend the lead and Malachi Soile, playing in an unfamiliar right-back position, cut in from his flank on a jinking run. When tackled, the ball ran loose to Adam Al-Asfii who dragged his shot wide.

From this point on the visitors began to dominate territorially and in terms of chances. Lucas Gonzalez was particularly threatening and was involved in all the best moves. He created the first chance with a low, driven centre that was bundled goalwards at the far post and keeper Joseph Parker managed to keep the ball out of his net at the expense of a corner. Having got in behind Gideon Sarpong down the right wing, Gonzalez repeated the feat but the ball flew through the goalmouth without anyone being able to provide the crucial touch. Enfield nearly gifted their opponents a path back into the game when Parker played a rushed pass out to Brian Tshibangu who was robbed by Sam St-Mathew Daniel but Parker redeemed himself with a sharp save from the striker’s shot. Diogo Jesus’s snap shot from distance was straight at Parker who had little difficulty in dealing with a lob by Da Silva from twenty yards inside the defender’s own half just before the interval.

Parker denied St-Mathew Daniel again with his foot before Borough doubled their lead three minutes after the break. Having been given a free kick to the right of the penalty box, Darral Wopara stepped up and whipped in a shot, Casey took a step to his left and was flat-footed as the ball flew over his right shoulder and into the goal. Whilst this was a devastating blow to N.W.London, their heads did not drop and St-Mathew Daniel tested Parker with a shot on the turn. Both sides started to make substitutions as players tired, but the pace of the match was maintained. Hirsi’s centre was met by Georgi Steed at the far post but the striker could only clip the ball into the hands of the grateful keeper. Thiago Brito fired a shot just wide of the target whilst Parker and St-Mathew Daniel resumed their personal battle when the striker outpaced Waiel Hassan before getting off a low shot which Parker got down quickly to and pushed around the post with a strong hand.

Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished with fourteen minutes to go when the visitors were reduced to ten men. Wopara slipped a ball through to Lokilo who found himself in a tussle with Sousa. The defender tried a sliding tackle, but as both ball and Lokilo evaded him, he stopped the ball with his arm and was rightly dismissed. The final goal arrived eight minutes from time and was a wonderfully crafted move that carved the opposition defence open. A sweeping crossfield pass by Al-Asfii landed at the feet of Nelson who passed the ball up the right wing to Hirsi. Having taken the ball to the byeline, he spotted Soile in support, slid the ball into his path and as he approached the goal, Soile crossed to the unmarked Lokilo to tap into the vacant net. With the points in the bag, Borough made their last four substitutions. The visitor’s final chance came when Parker could only parry a cross out into the goalmouth where St-Mathew Daniel was lurking but Mitchell Goddard had got back to block his goalbound effort. Meanwhile Jonas Borges was having an immediate impact off the bench as the striker collected the ball in the centre circle and headed for goal, holding off two defenders before firing in a shot that flew narrowly wide of the angle.

A very happy Anthony McNamee spoke afterwards. “The lads promised that they would put in a better performance than Saturday and they kept their word. We were very good today, still plenty of room for improvement, but that was really encouraging. The defence and midfield were solid while Rin (Lokilo) was different class up front and posed a constant threat.”

Enfield will be hoping for another home win when they entertain unbeaten Basildon Town on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Team; Parker, Soile (Kamoliddinov), Sarpong, Al-Asfii (Goddard), Tshibangu (Rock), Hassan, Nelson, Wopara, Lokilo (Borges), Hirsi, Steed (Ogodon).