(Ryman Premier League) 7th April 1998

Carshalton Athletic 2
Enfield 0

Oops - missed this game as well. Anyone who calls me a fair-weather supporter on Saturday afternoon will get his/her arse kicked.

(Middlesex Senior Cup Final) 13th April 1998 At Hendon F.C.

Enfield (1) 3 May 32; Moran 55; McGrath 90
Uxbridge (2) 2 Gill 21; Jarvis 37

A relieved Andy Pape picked up the Middlesex Senior Cup - The fourteenth such win for Enfield in the competition - on Easter Monday. Steve McGrath's last minute winner broke the hearts of Uxbridge and their supporters, who certainly were worthy opponents in this year's final.

Enfield (0) 2 Venables 75; Terry 85
Basingstoke Town (0) 1 Tydeman 64

The circus came to town today. Dean Beale to be precise. The Basingstoke Town keeper (who had not exactly endeared himself to the Enfield faithful by feigning injury earlier in the game) capped a miserable performance of shocking clearances and fumbled handling by allowing Dave Venables and then Steve Terry to quite literally head the ball from out of his grasp and into the back of the net WITH BACK HEADERS!
Tydeman had earlier given Basingstoke Town the lead on the hour. A consolation goal, as it transpired. John Morgan had his best match yet for Enfield , and was a popular choice for man of the match. This game had "End Of Season" stamped all over, until the final quarter.
Anyone who saw the World Cup Quarter Finals of 1970 will remember the first of West Germany's three goals that knocked England out. While these goals today were not from the ridiculous distance that beat Bonnetti all those years ago, they certainly were as inexcusable to concede. The first came with Enfield a goal down.
Beale challenged with Venables for a cross. Venables, more in hope than anything because he couldn't see what was behind him, got a touch and was amazed to see the ball loop over a stranded Beale for an equaliser. Not content with that, Beale came out to claim a long Pape goal kick (where was his defence again?) and Terry, again with a canny idea as to Beale's presence behind him, applied the sweetest of touches to seal the points.

(Ryman Premier League) 21st April 1998

Enfield (1) 2 May 20; Venables 80
Yeading (0) 0

Ding by name and ding by nature. The final bell will sound for Yeading this weekend; there are only two games in which to save themselves. If last Saturday's goals were straight from the circus, Enfield's second tonight was sheer Keystone Cops. May, who had netted in the first half, rounded the keeper, shimmying this way and that, and had the easiest of chances to score. However, the lad was now off balance and both he and ball were heading out of play at a pace. In desperation, May made a lunge at the ball - sending it skidding across the box where Venables applied the luckiest of finishes via his shin. Where there were cheers now remained laughter. This has already been described as the funniest Enfield goal ever seen at Southbury Road.

(Ryman Premier League) 25th April 1998

Harrow Borough (3) 5 Gavin 15; Webster (pen)24; Xavier45, 54; Tomlinson 80
Enfield (1) 2 Venables 30; Darlington 73

A match inquest to follow...

Enfield (0) 1 Hammett 83
Bromley (0) 1 Francis 48

What more can I add to the previous two home fixtures? Another fluke goal in a match that mattered little to either side. Enfield seemed unconcerned to put in any effort, save for Brian Hammett who showed his commitment as he leveled Bromley's early second half goal.
Now, this was funny... Bromley's Wieteca, who had been flapping away to crosses all evening, had the ball at his feet and was making like, to boot the ball down the field. Hammett, in the meantime, had decided to test out the keeper's dribbling skills and - well - I think you can guess the rest. Hammett charged down the upfield punt to send the ball skywards and heading back towards the goal, leaving a comical chase between the two that saw Hammett actually win the race and nigh on chest the ball home as he fell forward on his hands & knees. It has been some time since an Enfield player has looked as pumped up at the following goal celebrations; I could have sworn Hammett had bulging eyes as he demanded more support from off the pitch as returned for the restart.