(Isthmian Premier League) Ist November 1997

Hitchin Town (0) 1 McGrath 3
Enfield (1) 1 Hall 60

A rather dodgy end to a game that had been dominated by Enfield in the first half. McGrath had used his head (quite literally) to give Enfield the lead, and for most of the first half Enfield remained in control of the game. Andy Hall was back in goal, which sparking rumours that Pape was on his way out of the club. Indeed - Carstairs, Garvey, St. Hilaire and Terry have already been placed on the transfer list.

Hitchin came out for the second half in a more determined mood. Their No.7 Rudi Hall had more than a point to prove to Enfield, seeing as he was allowed to leave after such a fine run in the reserve side last season. Here he was playing in green & yellow for Hitchin, doing rather well, and gleefully beating a despairing dive by his namesake, (there's a joke there somewhere that I am not even going to repeat), to level the scores on the hour. I have a theory that when Enfield sell players in future, there should be a clause in the contract that bans the player from ever turning out against Enfield in any competitive fixture.
The remainder of the game was not a pretty sight. Hall's crossbar and upright were tested, and Enfield's defence would probably have been unlocked by a better attack. Endersby went off to ironic jeers, and looked quite mortified by the experience.

(Ryman Premier League) I5th November 1997

Bishop's Stortford (0) 0
Enfield (0) 2 Tucker 56; McGrath 79

Okay, so I'll admit. I have no idea who or what this Ryman sponsor is about. The Stortford matchday programme appeared to be just as baffled, for they were still using Icis logos on the front cover.
It is no wonder that Enfield's gates - both home and away - are dipping. There was a lethargy in this performance, even though the side for once picked up a win bonus. Making his debut in goal for Enfield was Wells. My source tells me that this player could barely make it into Staines Town's reserve side. I remember him being beaten from some distance by John Bailey a few years back.
Stortford's tactics were obvious from the start: countless offsides, plus an annoying tendency to play on the ref's lack of a red card. That was the only assumption I could make for the amount of dirty tackles that went unpunished.
A dull and wet first half was only enlivened by the fact that the boozy Enfield support amongst us see this fixture as the opportunity to get legless. Why, I will never know. A flow of minicabs leading up to the ground shortly before kick-off announced that Fruitbat's mob had arrived. Mr. Fruit appeared a little more excitable than usual, and the ref's arse opposite the main stand could not have picked a worse time for an off day. This, plus a Darlington chance that blazed the crossbar were the highlight of an otherwise forgettable first half.

Then Enfield did the unthinkable. Ten minutes into the second half Tucker scored from the easiest of headers. This goal won a lucky Enfield fan £60 on the goal time, though he chose to go under an assumed name to avoid buying a round. Goal no2 came after more tedium, and came from the header/flick on/in at the far post route. This game was hardly worth a match report.

(Ryman Premier League) 22nd November 1997

Enfield (2) 3 May 8; McGrath 42; Darlington 85
Harrow Borough (2) 5 McGrath (OG) 12; Gavin 18; Webster 57 (pen); Xavier 63; Hurlock 65 Clarke sent off 87

This is not so much a match report as a list of goal times. Eight goals, a karate chop, and a dust up at the end of the game. When was the last time that Enfield were played off their own pitch by the visiting side in this manner? It had all looked so easy when May had given Enfield the lead after turning in a goalbound effort that had rattled the crossbar. Harrow responded with a quick response, then took the lead from a corner that was converted by Gavin.
Graham Westley, in his programme notes, had expressed the opinion that the core of a championship outfit is in place. All I can answer to that is the defence is not what the manager had in mind. Certainly not Tony Wells in the Enfield goal, who had a miserable time of it, and looked out of his depth. McGrath bought Enfield level towards the end of the half, but it certainly wasn't a half full of action that the scoreline would suggest.

What was in the half time coffee? Bromide, judging by the inexplicable defensive lapses. Firstly, a penalty conceeded (converted: 2-3); a corner fluffed at the near post by Wells (converted: 2-4); then another just after the hour mark. Poor Wells - ironic jeering at completed crosses. Endersby knows all about that. This was an unbelievably dire twenty minutes of football, and things could have been worse, with a disallowed Harrow effort right at the end. Steve Darlington signed off the scoring for the day, converting a third for Enfield after a decent enough save from a free kick. Harrow's David Clarke was sent off too late to make much of a difference - quite rightly for what appeared to be a blow aimed at the throat of an opponent. Another bust up followed as the players made their exit from the pitch.

(Ryman Premier League) 25th November 1997

Aylesbury United (1) 1 Moran 2
Enfield (1) 1 Meara 36 Hunter sent off 78

This was slightly better than last Saturday. At least Wells looked more at home between the sticks. Enfield hung out for the last twenty minutes and came close to taking all three points in the dying seconds.
The game could not have got off to a better start. Moran beat ex-Barnet and Enfield keeper Gary Phillips low to his right - not too difficult a task, some would say - at least not according to a number of Enfield supporters who stood right up against the advertising boards just to have a chat about old times. Phillips, to give him his due, at least has a sense of humour - giving back as good as he got. That's what makes this fixture what it is.
Aylesbury got back into the game from a Cooper challenge that was deemed harsh enough to be given as a penalty. It's not easy to give an unbiased opinion, even considering the event being100 yards away and with Aylesbury's floodlights seeming even dimmer than usual. But a penalty it was, and Meara stuck it away to take the sides in level at the break.

Aylesbury's defence had some work to do straight after the break, Enfield forcing a number of corners the culminated in a goalline clearance by Skinner (did he once play for Fulham?).
What Aylesbury-Enfield fixture would be the same without a little controversy? Cooper then had the misfortune to have a second yellow card branded in front of his face, so off he went. Apparently it was a case of mistaken identity, but Cooper threw his shirt down after walking off and did not exactly gain favour from either sets of fans for doing so.
Aylesbury might have won this game with Hercules; Enfield might have wound up the home side with a Bailey or a Pape. When all was said and done, this was a poor match in terms of atmosphere and tension. It just remained for Phillips to do what he should have done in the first couple of minutes, clawing out what could have been an unfortunate own goal in the dying seconds.

(Ryman Premier League) 29th November 1997

Enfield (0) 1 Moran 75
Gravesend & Northfleet (1) 2 Portway 5, 50

This game was always going to be a good gauge as to how well the new management team have fared in nearly three months in charge. Earlier in the season, Enfield had won 3-1 at Stonebridge Road under the previous management and looked impressive. This afternoon the sides met again, and Enfield looked poor for at least eighty minutes - other than a consolation goal and a couple of efforts at the end.
Steve Portway came to Enfield after setting Gravesend's goalscoring record this season. He was not listed in the visitors team line up, which probably accounted for the fact that he was allowed to cheekily score for the visitors from a quickly-taken free kick as Wells was still arranging the wall. Five minutes gone and a goal down - not an auspicious start for an Enfield side who are looking more and more uncomfortable at playing at home.
Quite why this game was arranged is anyone's guess. I can understand getting in a game when the side is playing well, but in this current form? And why play when Leroy May had already fixed up a date to get married? So we were a striker missing from the off. Gravesend were made to look quite impressive, and had the better of an ordinary first half.

It was deja vu five minutes into the second half as Portway increased the visitors lead. I cannot comment on the matter because I was, to be honest, switching off like the Enfield defence. Moran gave us something to cheer as he narrowly failed to score with a diving header, then Endersby rattled the crossbar to the amazement of the boo boys. Moran then applied the finishing touch to a cross from the left to give some hope.
With eight minutes to go the Gravesend keeper was pulled up for picking up a back pass to set up a crazy couple of minutes. An indirect free kick that was blasted into the net by Moran. Was he hoping for a deflection, I wonder? whatever - referee Styles was surrounded by a mass of Enfield players who quite clearly were suggesting the ball had come off the wall. It was all too much for some, who walked out in despair well before the end.