Enfield Town vs Leiston

[seemgee]

Still 0-0 after 40 mins

Edited April 21, 2012 by seemgee

[seemgee]

Att. 602

[seemgee]

Hope penalty 90 mins 1-0 get innnnnnnn

[seemgee]

Full time 1-0 :D :D :D :D :D

[DerekR]

Great result. Well done the lads,

Thanks to Seemgee for all his postings throughout the season.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Me (and my lucky pants) take some credit for this win!

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Perhaps not surprising given the situation but I thought Leiston showed a distinct lack of ambition. They lined-up looking for a 0-0 and very nearly got it.

I thought Town looked like they might just be returning to form at the right time. It was certainly the right result given play over the 90mins. (Rudi having hit the post and a couple of good saves from Leiston's keeper).

Can anyone help with the following:

Will Micheal Ewang be suspended for the play-offs?

Is Bryan Hammatt really preferred to Neil Johnstone?

How did Liam Hope survive being jumped on by Mark Kirby after he scored? #squashedhope

[Barney]

Totally agree with you about Leiston - if they'd showed a bit more ambition in the second half, our pen might have been the equaliser rather than the winner, as we were committing lots of players forward and there were opportunities to pick us off. Loads of slowing things down as well, which is understandable, but very frustrating. I think we were worth the win purely because we showed more ambition to go out and win it.

 

Ewang I think is suspended for 3 games starting from now, which is a blow, as he's a very good player, and was deservedly MoM today. Hammatt and Johnston are very different players, and whilst I've got an opinion about the merits of both of them, I trust Steve's decision making given how this season's panned out.

 

Great work Towners!!!

[seemgee]

Ewang is suspended for the play offs but it doesnt matter we will win the league

[Southport - TOWNER]

LOL,

loved the fact they were celebrating @ 89 minutes being the CHAMPIONS, and then they were very quiet after 91st minute!

"you weren't champions very long!"

LOL

[Tom S]

Photos now loaded http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=etfc21042012%20enfieldtown

[scoopydoo]

 

 

 

 

 

Enfield Town (0) 1 Hope 90(p)

Leiston (0) 0

Attendance 602

 

A cracking game saw both teams play some good football but the stakes also had an impact. Enfield edged the first half though Leiston had good chances to go in front themselves and it would probably have killed the game if they had. They looked content for the draw and the point they needed, and when they tightened up after the break it looked as though they would succeed in their aim. The late penalty left them little time to get a goal back and they paid the price.

 

The best of the early chances fell to Walid Matata but his drilled shot drew a terrific save from Leiston keeper Louis Johnson. A shot from Bryan Hammatt was blocked and although Adam Wallace fed a number of dangerous balls in from the right, they met with little luck. Leiston’s Rhys Henry and Gareth Heath linked up well but Danny Barber cleared the danger. Craig McKay then did well to get his head to a dangerous cross in front of Michael Brothers as the game stretched. An unfortunate tangle between Adam Wallace and Jemel Fox saw the Leiston defender land awkwardly on is arm, dislocating his elbow. Following the restart Luke Hammond fired a 30 yard thunderbolt straight down the throat of Noel Imber. Jordan Lockie had an effort from the edge of the box, but the most dangerous moment for Enfield came when Brothers’ centre found Leon Ottley-Gooch unmarked but he cut the ball across the face of the Enfield goal missing the target. Enfield were more in need of the win and pushed forward more. Kirby’s nod down from a Rudi Hall free kick looked goal bound until Sheriden Driver cleared off the line. Mark Kirby then headed just over but Wallace should have found the net when picked out at the back post but failed to connect with the ball.

 

After the break Enfield struggled to make as many clear cut chances, as Leiston tightened things up at the back choking off the Enfield attack. There was a price for this though as they were reduced up front as a result and the game became less open. Enfield still had chances, a Matata shot coming back of Liam Hope, and Leiston keeper Johnson getting some luck when Hall’s shot clipped the inside of the post and bounced into his arms. Brothers remained Leiston’s main outlet narrowly failing to connect with an Ottley-Gooch cross, and then heading just over. A low shot from Blake Baker didn’t trouble Imber, and then a long range shot from Brothers drifted over but Leiston were in no hurry and as the game wore on looked like they would close the game out effectively. Then with time almost up, Wallace beat Johnson to the ball inside the box, only for the keeper to bring him down conceding a penalty. Hope converted the spot kick and Leiston were behind. They immediately reacted, Brothers sending a cross into the Enfield box only for it to be cleared and Lockie doing just enough to put off Saker in what proved to be the last chance of the game.

 

Enfield: Noel Imber, Jordan Lockie, Danny Barber, Craig McKay, Mark Kirby, Michael Ewang, Adam Wallace, Rudi Hall(Neil Johnson 85), Liam Hope, Bryan Hammatt(Leon Osei 74), Walid Matata(Tyler Campbell 65).

Subs Not Used: Dave Kendall, Dan Forward,

Booked: McKay, Ewang.

 

Leiston: Louis Johnson, Sheriden Driver, Jemel Fox(Blake Saker 27), David Head, Joe Jefford, Luke Hammond, Rhys Henry(Stuart Boardley 55), Gareth Heath, Michael brothers, Leon Ottley-Gooch, Patrick Brothers(Danny Smy 45).

Subs Not Used: Shane Wardley, Nathan Munson.

Booked: Fox, Head, Ottley-Gooch.

[MbrunoB]

From the Leiston website.

 

 

Enfield Town 1 Leiston 0

Leiston were quite literally seconds from clinching the Ryman North Division title before a 90th minute penalty broke their hearts. In truth Leiston were holding on before a last minute piece of indecision resulted in a penalty that the League's leading scorer Liam Hope expertly dispatched. The Blues must now defeat Potters Bar Town at Victory Road next week to be certain of clinching the title.

The Blues strode onto the Queen Elizabeth Stadium pitch knowing a point would guarantee a maiden title at Step Four and welcomed back Pat Brothers with Blake Saker relegated to the bench. The Towners welcomed their biggest gate of the season (602) with over a 100 supporting the Suffolk visitors. In glorious sunshine the game kicked off and after a tentative start the home side forged the first opening. Barber was allowed to gallivant down the left and his low centre was met by Matata but Johnson made a great block but the ball fell to Hall but with the goal at his mercy he blazed over. The home side were starting to ask some early questions and Hammatt smacked a shot against the post after Fox had needlessly conceded a free kick on his own by line. It was a torrid start for the young Leiston left back as he was cautioned for a rash challenge on Wallace and then he fell awkwardly, dislocating his elbow in the process so was replaced by Saker with 27 minutes gone. After the four minute delay Hammond sent a rasping drive straight at Imber in the home goal and then a great ball from M Brothers set up Ottley-Gooch but after timing his run well he sliced his shot with just Imber to beat. This was the visitors best chance for the remainder of the half as the North London side should have gone into the break ahead. First Johnson made a great save to deny Hammatt, Driver cleared Hope’s goal bound shot off the line then Wallace somehow missed the target from Matata’s cross with the goal beckoning. Leiston were grateful for half time but were dealt a further blow with P Brothers forced to retire after a rash challenge from McKay, Smy replaced him. Early in the second half Imber was forced to save Saker’s long range effort as the leaders attacked the goal with their noisy fans behind it. But the respite didn’t last as Enfield began to force the visitors deeper into their own half. Ten minutes into the half Johnson’s goal had another let off as Hall’s half volley rattled against the post and then into the midriff of the grateful Johnson. Leiston were struggling to get out of their own half with the home pressure increasing. Johnson denied Hammatt for the third time in the game but the visitors rearguard stance looked to be working. Offensively Leiston offered little and with the clock ticking down seemed content to hang on for a draw. But that decision proved their undoing with just thirty seconds of normal time remaining. Ewang’s ball towards the box should have been dealt with by Saker but he called for Johnson to come and with Wallace racing onto the loose ball the Leiston stopper brought down the Enfield midfielder just inside the box for a clear penalty. The League’s leading marksmen Hope confidently stroked home the penalty. There were three minutes of added time but Leiston failed to threaten in this period.

So the title race goes to the final game with the Blues holding a one point advantage. Enfield were strong and deserved their win albeit with a rather subdued Leiston performance. We now turn our attentions to Potters Bar Town at home next Saturday and hopefully we can clinch the title at the third time of asking.

Enfield Town: Imber, Lockie, Barber, McKay, Kirby, Ewang, Wallace, Hall (Johnston 86 mins), Hope, Hammatt (Osei 75 mins), Matata (Campbell 65 mins). Subs not used: Forward and Kendall

Leiston: Johnson, Driver, Fox (Saker 27 mins), Head, Jefford, Hammond, Henry (Boardley 65 mins), Heath, M Brothers, Ottley-Gooch, P Brothers (Smy 45 mins). Subs not used: Munson and Wardley

Man of the Match: Louis Johnson

[The Crowing Cockerel]

A balanced report from our friends out east.

[OldTowner]

Amazed to read this from the Leiston Forum.........

 

"Brilliant Support - out-sang the 450+ home support for 89 mins"

 

I must have missed something as I did not see 150+ Leiston suporters, nor did I hear much from them until the 89th min, which lasted about 30 seconds !!

 

Oh well, we all have our own view.

[StoneCold]

I have to say that was a very fair match report and credit to them for that. Normally you read a visiting teams match report with much bias towards there own team but this was not the case.

 

Leiston probably had around the 80-100 mark and they did sing for spells throughout the match but to say they out sang us is a little bit off the mark but then I guess if your in amongst the band of singers you will sound louder than the band of singers at the opposite end of the ground.

[andyetfc]

I would rather have three points than be able to sing a song.

[Papworth Towner]

I'd rather have no points than to hear you sing!!

[thecoldend]

FOURTEEN MINUTES OF MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccPeJc72Xvc&feature=youtu.be