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[1997/98] [1998/99] [1999/2000][2000/01]
Enfield fixtures and match reports for 1998/1999

September 1998

[Friendlies] [Aug] [Oct] [Nov] [Dec] [Jan] [Feb] [Mar] [Apr] [May]

Basingstoke Town vs. Enfield Tue 1st September
Bromley vs. Enfield Sat 5th September
Boreham Wood vs. Enfield 8th September League Cup
Enfield vs. Gravesend & Northfleet Sat 12th September
Bishops Stortford vs. Enfield Tue 15th September At Boreham Wood
Enfield vs. Walton & Hersham Sat 19th September
Enfield vs. Heybridge Swifts Tue 22nd September
Harrow Borough vs. Enfield Sat 26th September

(Ryman Premier League) Ist September 1998

Basingstoke (0) 1 Mancy 81
Enfield (0) 0

The facts from this midweek game are that Enfield were supposedly poor. Enfield had three chances by way of Sammy Cooper; a defensive slip that the opposition keeper just managed to keep out, and in the last minute of play Dunwell forced a save, only for Sammy Cooper to hoof the rebound high, wide and not so handsome. Andy Pape set an Enfield appearance record for this game, though even he could not stop Mancy's unopposed header in the final ten minutes. The only moment of humour came from the opposition supporters who thought their side had taken the lead at the end of the first half, and refused to believe that Mancy's goal was the winner.

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(Ryman Premier League) 5th September 1998

Bromley (1) 2Gray 5; Zahhna-Oni 87 Sent off: Coles 83
Enfield (1) 1 Naylor (pen) 45

Well now, this is unfamiliar territory to say the least! The novelty value at being at the bottom of the league is giving way to the first signs of uncertainty amongst the supporters. The one question on everyone's mind was how Bromley were going to compare to last week's Aylesbury performance. Were they leading by right, or was it a fluke? Today's performance was inconclusive - sides are beating Enfield in the final ten minutes of the half which suggests inexperience/lack of fitness/inconsistency. I will wait for a few more months at least before suggesting that Bromley are going to maintain this form.

Bromley dominated for long periods of the first half. David Gray's 5th minute opener did wonders to their confidence. Stange goal - it appeared to come off the player's knee quite unintentionally. Absolutely pissed down during this time - lots of spectators on the sidelines under umbrellas. Why? A better view over there perhaps? Enfield were probably getting used to a debut for their yellow/sky blue kit. Yes, that's probably the reason for the elbow that led to Naylor scoring from the spot. "Bromley defender in kit rage" is going to be the headline in the Enfield Gazette this coming week. I'm not going to enjoy watching my team play in such a revolting kit. There - I am the first to admit publicly that the new away kit stinks. And will have to put up with it for two years at least.

Second half now, and Enfield looked a much better side. Dunwell could and should have scored on a couple of occasions, and poor old Annon took a number of knocks between troubling the Bromley defence. Coles for Bromley picked up two yellow cards which of course led to an early bath. Moments later Zahhna-Oni sealed the points for Bromley for Enfield's third straight defeat.

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(League cup) 8th September 1998

Boreham Wood (0) 2 Shaw 80; Dixon 89
Enfield (0) 0

Kerry Dixon came off the bench to settle this match with the killer second goal after Enfield had suggested enough to hold out for the draw. Both of Wood's goals came in the final quarter of an hour. The game was described by a witness as "speed football" - whatever that is. I think it was a reference to the pace of the game, and not that all players were partaking in some kind of banned (or otherwise) substances, though the alarming capitulations of this season would point otherwise!

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(Ryman Premier League) 12th September 1998

Enfield (0) 0
Gravesend & Northfleet (0) 2 Edwards 51, 66

Double vision. Beer and football do not mix!

Now, I'm not saying that these latest Enfield performances are best viewed from the bottom of a glass, but for today's match I topped myself up for three hours before hitting the terraces. An hour in the Southbury Hotel was followed by two more in Enfield social club, and by then I was unable (and unwilling) to write much on today's events. Finally deciding to write a few notes at the end of the game, I dropped my bookies pen - you know, one of those cheapo cheapo inch long freebies that can be seen in any betting shop, and some miserable sod stood on it. Cheers mate!
I would also like to thank the person who decided to decorate the gents toilet in the social club for not putting any "wet paint" signs up. Surely it stands to reason that the majority of us using the facilities would have had a few to drink? I must have been walking about with a Father Ted blob of white before it was respectfully pointed out to me. Anyone seeing yours truly with a bottle of white spirit could have been forgiven for thinking that I have bypassed alcohol for something stronger.

So with a thick head, I can recall these sizzling moments from today's game:

Andy Pape's Enfield appearances record being given due recognition before the game - G&N keeper booting the ball up the backside of his defender at a clearance, and attempting to pick the ball up from a rebound, realising he was out of his area - Edwards gaining a lucky deflection for the visitors off an unfortunate Enfield defender to beat Pape - Edwards repeating his goalscoring feat via the post for a second - Clarke rolling the ball the wrong side of the post in the last minute

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(Ryman Premier League) I5th September 1998

Bishop's Stortford (0) 1 Clifford 55
Enfield (1) 2 Morgan 33; Richardson 78

The tannoy guy made a right mess of the team line ups just before the players came out for the match:

Enfield at 4 is G. Cooper, 5 is a change from the programme and is now S. Cooper... (silent scribbling of fans)...(silence)... sorry, 5 is still Terry. 9 is a change with Penn replacing Dunwell... and the subs are Deadman, Penn and err... sorry... (long silence) ...Naylor is still at number 10 and Richardson replaces Dunwell.

Cue the sight of furious scribbling on programmes and laughter.

Carrying on from last Saturday's non football observations, I would tonight like to add to the unofficial Hendon homepage and their Mr Kebab Man, which is basically a review of the Kebab houses of the Ryman League. Now, I'm not saying that Boreham Wood is poor on the kebab front, but I saw an Enfield supporter tonight with a veggie version. No meat, just salad inside.

Not a deliberate link, but Enfield had a little more meat on them tonight in the shape of John Richardson, who has rejoined the club. (If I had wanted to overdo the meat I would have mentioned the joke about Carl Hoddle and the rump steak). Once the depressed tannoy announcer had somehow managed to get through the line ups, and once the bloody annoying Grease megamix had stopped spinning, Enfield trotted out onto the park in their by now familiar horrid away kit to take an early control of this fixture. However, it was not until midway through the first half that Enfield created their first clear cut shot on goal when a Naylor shot hit the post. This was closely followed by Sammy Cooper placing a free kick on top of the bar. Enfield finally broke the deadlock when Morgan cut in from the left and fired past Atherton lookalike Gavin King low to his left.

The teams emerged after the break, but not before those present were subjected to the Grease megamix no less than another four times. I suspect that the Boreham Wood announcer locked all his records away. I can imagine the panic when Stortford arrived at the ground to find just one CD next to the mike.'whats this?';'who cares - put it on autoplay - nobody will notice.'

And then the unthinkable happened, with Stortford equalising. Silence at both ends of the ground actually, for very few souls had made the journey south. Rather than inspire the *home* side, Stortford more than anything settled for a draw, which is not surprising considering their record of five draws out of six. Richardson tested King on the hour, and having got his eye in, restored Enfield's lead with ten minutes to go with a little help from Jones. Worrying sight of the night was of Bentley and Jones nigh on fighting each other to get in a shot on goal when either could have stepped back to let the other score.

On the way out of the ground somebody pointed out the bizzare antics of a fiendish mind - some subtle fiddling with a notice board filled with adhesive letters had left what was an announcement regarding the New Hertsmere Centre Pool in something a little more amusing. So at least the Enfield sense of humour is still intact.

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(Ryman Premier League) 19th September 1998

Enfield (3) 3 Dunwell 27, 34; Penn 42
Walton & Hersham (0) 2 Johnson 49; bloke with a funny name 77

20/20 vision had returned for this, what was labelled a six-pointer during a conversation with a total stranger in the social club before the game. Well, that may be overstating the current league position of this club, but the team still needed to get their finger out - so to speak - and get a few points on the board.

Enfield got off to the best of starts, with the returning John Richardson coming close to executing the perfect lob over the advancing Preddie as both sets of supporters changed to their respective ends. And that was the mood for the first half, with Enfield dominating for long periods but with little to show for their efforts. At least, that was until Preddie came out to collect a through ball with Dunwell closing in. Fumbling the ball horribly, Dunwell was quick to latch on to the opportunity to flick the ball with his back to goal over his right shoulder and into the net. Soon after, Andy Pape started off the move which resulted in Dunwell adding a second after finding himself clear of his marker and with only the keeper to stop him.

Pick an Enfield player to score from a corner and the obvious choice would be Steve Terry. So what was Russell Penn doing, getting on the end of a corner in Terry territory? so 3-0 it was. After last Saturday's disaster with the paint in the social club gents I took my business elsewhere, so off I wobbled to make use of the school end facilities. But what was this? sober and aware of my surroundings I discovered that there were no wash facilities. Must have had something to do with the fact that after Saracens left the big toilet was cut into two and the ladies got custody of the sinks.

The teams turned round at 3-0 with Walton & Hersham looked quite ragged and prone to the cheap chant ('you're not Ajax in disguise'). So it was a surprise... no... it was A MIRACLE when Johnson converted at the school end of the ground on 49 minutes. Dunwell had a couple of chances to complete his second home hat trick of the season before being substituted (not sure why). Soon after there was another wobble in the Enfield defence and only the post halted the Hersham boys' comeback.
The mutterings of discontent that greeted the arrival of Courtney Naylor grew as Walton & Hersham continued to grow in confidence. Naylor is the current boo boy for the team's form, but whilst his performance was scrutinised and torn to pieces, I wondered if those that judged would like it if Naylor turned up at their workplace and give them a bit of jib for a bad days work. Ten minutes of ridicule over stacked shelves or illegible paperwork would be enough I think.

With all this negitivity flying around, Hersham pinched another goal late on to send their eight (yes, I counted them) fans wild with delight, and make the final ten minutes very uncomfortable indeed. Penn had an exellent chance to put the win beyond doubt after a mazy run had taken him into the box. With Preddie to beat he shot wide to the right. A late final penalty appeal at the other end of the ground had the Hersham boys rather animated, though the best the referee could offer was a tip to watch the lottery draw tonight for a glimpse of Dolly Parton's cleavage.

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(Ryman Premier League) 23rd September 1998

Enfield (2) 4 Jones 28; Bentley 37; Penn 48; Naylor 79
Heybridge Swifts (0) 1 Reeve 85

Lessons were heeded as Enfield established a three goal lead early in the second half and retained it to the end. Heybridge Swifts - with probably the smallest ever following of travelling supporters ever to be seen at Southbury Road - did not represent much of a threat once Danny Jones had converted a Morgan cross on the half hour. Shortly afterwards, Bentley squeezed a second past the *popular* figure of Kingsley Banks in the Swifts goal for a second. Swifts were also playing a man short for the best part of an hour, the departure of the villian of the piece being a popular decision. Dunwell's quick reaction from an instinct save from Banks fizzed wide in the dying moments of the half.

Unlike the previous Saturday, Enfield took the initiative in the opening stages of the second half to extend their lead. After Richardson had forced Banks into making a fine block save at the base of his post, the resulting corner was headed on, and Penn had the easiest of chances to score at the near post.

Courtney Naylor made the field of play as a second-half substitute, and was slightly chuffed to make the scoresheet via his head. Swift's consolation goal hardly created a ripple of applause, save for some ironic cheering from the home end. At this stage the anti-Essex jokes bought about a confused statement from a passer by, who told all who would listen that his favourite 70's film was Stardust, and that he thought Gonna Make You A Star was his favourite record of all time. Oh yeah, Y..A..W..N.. that was really funny mate.

And what of Kingsley Banks after match celebrations this time? Our ex stirred it up last season after that 'orrible loss in Essex by 4-1. For those at the match, the celebrations in front of the home fans were just a little bit extreme. Banks left the field of play after a barrage of abuse tonight, and will not be doing any repeat performances in a hurry.

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(Ryman Premier League) 26th September 1998

Harrow Borough 0
Enfield 0

After conceeding ten goals to the Boro last season, one point looks good on paper. Those who complained that our opponents are currently hovering on the relegation zone, and should have been beaten would take heart in the fact that Harrow are surely going to recover their form soon, so we caught them at the right time.

The first half I would just rather forget about. From the spectator's point of view there was nothing at all to get excited about, save for John Lawford's booking that had the visiting supporters calling for red. Things would get better in the second half.

With the weather looking as if it was about to close in I took shelter under the covered touchline shelter. After spending a lifetime watching Enfield from behind the goal my eyes have been opened as I was able to see a lot more action that I ever would from my usual position. Standout players from the half were John Morgan and Danny Jones. Morgan was in the thick of the action down the right, but had the annoying habit of falling over the ball a lot. Jones gave Annon a chance for the opening goal, which the player just managed to screw wide. Bentley tested Hook with a long range attempt, as Pape bought off a magnificent save to deny Gavin giving Harrow an undeserved lead, then saved low to his left in the last few minutes.

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