Harrow Borough v Enfield Town

[littlehampton]

Despite heavy rain, after a mid-morning pitch inspection, todays League fixture against Harrow Borough at Earlsmead Stadium, is expected to go ahead, subject to there not being a deluge before kick off.

Town have already played Harrow twice this season at the QE2 Stadium, beating their Middlesex rivals 2-1 in the Emirates FA Cup, and 3-0 in the League on New Year's Day.

Todays third encounter will be far from a pushover, and Town will need to build on their recent improved performances and results, if we are to collect maximum points on this wet Bank Holiday afternoon. Good luck to Andy and the boys!  COYT



 

[seemgee]

Team

 

Wright, Parcell, Greene, Martin, Mitchel-King, Johnson Blackman, Youngs, Blake, Campbell, Wadkins

 

Subs

 

Thomas, Bihmoutine, Mubiayi, Wynter, Hope

[seemgee]

HT 0-0

[seemgee]

Harrow lead 1-0 47 mins

[seemgee]

2-0 54 mins

[seemgee]

3-0 57 mins

[DerekR]

78 mins:  HBFC 4-0 ETFC

[old towner]

not the result we needed

[seemgee]

5-0 90 mins

[Big J R]

Not a good day at the office, then !!

 

[seemgee]

not the result we needed

At least we cannot be relegated. Tooting can only get  a max of 12 more points and they are 13 behind!

[andyetfc]

And that’s the good news of the day?

[littlehampton]

Hmmm! There are good days and bad days in football, and this was definitely one of the latter. Having held the hosts to 0-0 at the interval, and created a number of chances in the first half, it is very disappointing to concede five second half goals to another team in the lower half of the table.

Where did it all go so badly wrong? Was it down to woeful defending in tricky conditions, or did we simply lose our focus in the second half, ending up out-fought, out-thought, and by the finish out-played?

Frustrating for everyone, particularly the loyal Town faithful who witnessed this unexpected heavy defeat. It happens, but we will certainly need to dust ourselves down very quickly, and respond with improvement against Dorking on Thursday evening, and promotion-chasing Billericay at the QE2 Stadium next Saturday.



 

[4wembleyfinals]

Unfortunately, I had hoped to get back to seeing at least one game this weekend but because of the weather I thought it better to leave it a bit longer. Saturday's result was encouraging but I have to agree with AndyE, it says something that we greet a 5-0 defeat with " We can't be relegated" although as things currently stand it is thankfully true.

 

Of course, based on previous experience, we must still wait and see what changes those running the new leagues try to make. The lawyers are no doubt already preparing their briefs for the numerous appeals for submission to the FA. Hardly a year goes by when this doesn't happen.  

 

Getting back to the game, I was surprised to see that again Hope didn't make the starting line-up after what CD wrote about his performance when he came on Saturday. Also that  Quarrington-Carter did not make  the bench after all he was brought back by AL from Cheshunt for a reason. Presumably, AL played Martin in the Central Defence. I bet that added to it's mobility.

 

It would be helpful to read answers to the questions raised by LHampton.

They would be interesting to hear as it will shed a light as to whether AL has in fact got to grips with what is required so that the club can go forward next year. 

Edited April 2, 2018 by 4wembleyfinals

[Castorman]

Oh dear:( Agree Littlehampton, this can’t be dwelled on for to long, need to accept it and move on. However they do need to recognise whatever went wrong and not repeat it! What was the difference between this game and the previous more promising games? Players? Formations?

Don’t lose heart people, I’ve been enjoying the more positive forum recently, so let’s just hope they return to how they’ve been playing recently and put this down to a game we will forget and never repeat!!

[old towner]

one thing you cannot blame the pitch / weather conditions both teams played out there today  

[townendleftside]

What a bizarre game. I thought we look bright in the first half; played with lots of width and sadly failed to finish. I thought we were unlucky not to turnaround 2 up.. then conceded 5 goals in a half ! I am assuming that was the first time that has happened since Runcorn away !

[MbrunoB]

What a bizarre game. I thought we look bright in the first half; played with lots of width and sadly failed to finish. I thought we were unlucky not to turnaround 2 up.. then conceded 5 goals in a half ! I am assuming that was the first time that has happened since Runcorn away !

 

 

Enfield Town have NEVER played Runcorn.

Edited April 3, 2018 by MbrunoB

[MbrunoB]

And that’s the good news of the day?

As other clubs were throwing away money we couldn't afford and we had a new manager and a quickly built new squad for the season our aim was to stay in this league plus a cup run. Job done and next season we can move on which we need to.

[CD Towner]

I really did not see that coming after our first half performance which was bright and positive. We just lacked the finishing touch (again). The second half was atrocious. A rare mistake from Joe Wright for the first goal but after that the team folded completely.

 

I fail to see what Bradley Wadkins is offering the team currently? He missed 2 guilt edged chances along with Ryan Blake who should also have scored.

 

Towards the end it appeared that we were so disjointed it was far too easy for HB. Another 10 minutes and I have no doubt it would have gone on to become 6 or 7.

 

Positives? Not many although Aaron Greene again looked assured at left back.

[3spirit]

I really did not see that coming after our first half performance which was bright and positive. We just lacked the finishing touch (again). The second half was atrocious. A rare mistake from Joe Wright for the first goal but after that the team folded completely.

 

I fail to see what Bradley Wadkins is offering the team currently? He missed 2 guilt edged chances along with Ryan Blake who should also have scored.

 

Towards the end it appeared that we were so disjointed it was far too easy for HB. Another 10 minutes and I have no doubt it would have gone on to become 6 or 7.

 

Positives? Not many although Aaron Greene again looked assured at left back.

 

It's funny you mention Brad Wadkins and Ryan Blake.  When they were both playing for Chesham under Andy Leese, they were both recognised as quality players, and were very much sought after by other clubs.

The trouble is, players get injuries and get older and lose their edge, and time catches up with them.

 

I was hoping for big things from Brad for Slough this season. He started the season well but seemed to lose focus and enthusiasm, with what our managers wanted him to do.

He has been carrying an injury but I wonder if he's got a mental issue about it, thus affecting his game and holding him back from being the class footballer he can be.

 

I think Andy Leese will change players, if he cannot get them back to their former glories.

I think Enfield fans will need to be patient on this, this season.  

 

Although a 5-0 drubbing to any side is galling, because of Enfield's indifferent form, it's hardly shocking.

What will be more worrying, is the lack of fight, consdering Harrow are hardly the best team in town.

Ryan Blake will score goals and create opportunities. Is he really the player to blame for this defeat?

 

I would be looking at other areas in your team, to see why goals came to Harrow so readily.

[4wembleyfinals]

Oh dear MbB,  your quite right but many of us still have a nostalgia for the past and do not shy away from the fact that we also supported the "E's"from which ETFC blossomed. However, you obviously have a acute dislike for owner financed clubs. May I remind you that ETFC was reorganised in the main by Board members who served their apprenticeship within such a system. Should we hold that against them.

 

I sympathise with your general view CD but can't comment on what went on, as again I could not be there. As MbB says we have stayed (just) within this league and had another cup run. Although I understand from what has been said that our budget commitments ate up any financial benefit. I was also under the impression we were told that the managers ambition was to be at least mid-table and that by the end of the season we should have the nucleus of a squad going forward to next year. With a fair proportion of the team still in place since the beginning does that mean they will form part of the nucleus of next years team. If so who is throwing money away.

 

IT was interesting to read 3Spirits comments especially his remarks about AL making changes. I hope he is proved right but the manager will have to widen his horizons for new players beyond the "Old Southern League". There are plenty of good young players out there but he must be willing to give them a try. I say this as a very OAP. There is an age limit when a player's ability begins to leaves him quickly, mine came in 1967 at age 30 and I retired to watch Enfield FC on a more regularly. 

Edited April 3, 2018 by 4wembleyfinals

[CD Towner]

I’m not blaming the management for players performance necessarily and I don’t dispute that at the time certain signings may have been regarded as a positive signing (and may still yet become so). My issue with the management is the apparent acceptance and tolerance of poor performances by those players by then picking the same players week after week. It appears to be a stubbornness to address it. Would Mark Kirby had been so easily released had he been with Chesham the past few seasons? Would lacklustre performances in attack have been accepted so regularly earlier in the season if they were from players AL didn’t trust so well?

 

We may well be creeping back in to the Southern vs Bostik argument again but I think it is a valid one. I’m unable to make Thursdays match but I expect there to be changes in the team, we shall see if there are though.

[4wembleyfinals]

Again I agree CD. Nor am I blaming the players because if picked one must accept they play as best they can. But it does appear that management has a blind spot when comes to recognising whether certain players still have the ability to play at this level. It seems they continue to be judged on what they were able to do in the past.

 

Of course a loyalty to some previous working relationships is hard to disregard, but that is regrettably part of being a manager, in any form of life. 

 

However, I don't think that it is purely a matter of Southern v Bostic but rather than an apparent inability to accept that the Non-League has a much wider horizon than those two leagues. There are plenty of good players, with ability, playing at lower levels, at little or no cost, if you are willing to find them instead of ex 3/4 div. players who never made the grade and are now past their prime.

 

The next few games will prove tough but no doubt interesting.  As I said several months ago "it's going to be a bumpy ride."!!!

Edited April 3, 2018 by 4wembleyfinals

[Theodopolous]

Funny how the recent signings ... Mitchell king .. Johnson... Wadkins... Campbell ...and more ...were all described as good additions by the club and a number of forum members are now not good enough... maybe our judgement is not that good either or maybe these players are good enough but the manager is not getting the best out of them through tactics and motivation....