Enfield Town vs Grays Athletic Play off

[Enfield United]

The final hour was as immense occassion For drama and making your supporters feeling as sick as possible you could get, til it was all relieved with Noel's last Penalty save.

 

For all the front Gray's fans and officials showed last night, they were extremely gracious in their defeat, I hope and wished I could and would have been like that too should we have been beaten, I somehow don't think so for some reason, on the basis of wanting our club in the Ryman Prem at all costs.

 

For all of Gray's good football they only had 3 headers (one into the side netting 1st half and 2 straight at Noel in the 2nd) to show for their play til the penalty, which technically was as much penalty as Kirby's sending off at Potters Bar this season. Barber reached out twice and tickled the winger at best who decided to fall to the ground and claim he had been impeded. After that the same linesman gave Gray's a corner which was also debatable as I was in a far better position with 3 other Town supporters and could not see if the ball was over the line or not as Noel scrambled to save it, Gray's of course then scored from the resultant corner. With Rudi wrongly shown a red card (later rescinded) and Barber also shown red with 30 seconds left for slowing the game down, the referee and linesmen were making antagonising decisions which lacked the final unwritten laws of the game which is common sense.

 

I also felt our supporters were a big factor in turning on the heat for the Gray's players taking their penalties which allowed a focussed Noel Imber to do the rest. I felt a bit German The way our first three Pen's went in, Brilliant.

 

Now we need to break the 1,000 gate mark by bringing all friends and family to our club which plays a big part in our lives matters so much to us all so as to help push the players over that winning line. So get inviting and talking up Sunday's occassion at work, college, shopping and the school gates.

 

I felt sorry for Gray's in the manner of the loss, but rather them than us.

 

C'Mon You Town.

Edited May 4, 2012 by Enfield United

[Southport - TOWNER]

Well done Town, as usual let's make it difficult!!

 

I think the players need to be more considerate to their supporters............... sounds like poor old Happy can't take the pace!!!

 

Seriously I think our 2 games at home to Grays have been very tough, and the players gave their all last night. Great atmosphere behind the goal, but we need more noise!

 

p.s. thx for allowing the drum to make a rare appearance!

 

COME ON TOWNERS!!

[townerboy]

please can someone return my voice. i left it at the doneky dome behind the goal.

tough call of grays, they helped create the atmosphere, and especially what they have been throiugh in the last 10 years.

see you all sunday.

[The Invisible Man]

Well done everyone, fantastic effort. My spies were relaying details of the proceedings to me - you think you'er knackered, it was an emotional rollercoaster not being there there, just imagining what was happening! It sounds like a refereeing disaster.

 

Hope we have enough players fit and not suspended for the final, and not knackered after that marathon. The only consolation (apart from being in the final of course!) is that the other semi-final is a day closer to the final. Hope that goes to ET and pens also!

 

Successive promotions please, I want to see Town at Halifax, Bradford PA, York etc etc..........

 

Well done again. Come on the Town!

[Father Jack]

http://www.yourthurrock.com/2012/05/03/penalty-agony-for-grays-ath-as-they-lose-in-play-offs/

 

Two of the four goals, the whole penalty shoot-out and an interview with Hakan Hayrettin.

 

Check out Joe Sweeney's body language before he missed the last penalty - not a confident man!

[Southport - TOWNER]

Doesn't Hakan realise that its goals and not corners and possession that win games!

 

At the begining of the recording of the game you can hear their fans saying "slow it down". did they come for the draw?

 

When we played them in December they had the majority of the ball......................... and we won, its football

 

Having said that TOWN do not have enough shots on target (only 90+ goals this season!)

[townerboy]

they bought taht sweeney on with 1 minute in extra tiem left. he is obviously one of their penatly takers. am suprised he missed.

[scoopydoo]

 

 

 

 

Enfield Town (1) 2 Wallace 1, Kirby 49

Grays Athletic (0) 2 Agombar 80(p), Baker 88

 

Enfield Town win 3 -1 on penalties.

Enfield Town - Hope, Hall, Kirby

Grays Athletic - Bunce

 

 

Attendance: 627

 

An epic encounter saw two evenly matched sides fight this one out to the bitter end. A dream start for Enfield came following a mistake from Junior Baker and his keeper Tony Tucker which allowed Adam Wallace to fire into an empty net with only a minute on the clock. Grays immediately fought back and Enfield defended well, Mark Kirby clearing a corner and Craig McKay clearing off the line. Joao Carlos then had a chance but his effort lacked power and was straight at Noel Imber. Leon Osei picked up an early injury to be replaced by Walid Matata, as Enfield were soaking up some early Grays pressure. They gradually got back on the offensive, and a dangerous ball through the middle from Jordan Lockie could have proved costly for Grays as they failed to deal with it. Kirby’s nod down was then driven just wide by Liam Hope and Tucker was fortunate when he left his box to challenge Matata, and had to rely on a defender to clear a ball into his six yard box as Wallace was lurking. A mistake from Grant Cooper was pounced on by Lockie and his cross was punched by Grays’ keeper Tucker, but would not come down for Hope in time to shoot. Carlos was proving a handful on the left and after some good possession from, Grays Harry Agombar tried his luck, his shot kicking up just in front of Imber who did well to hold it. There were concerns for the Grays keeper after he collided with Kirby on the edge of his own area, but both players were ok after treatment. In injury time Nathan Gordon evaded Lockie to get a good shot off, but Imber was in the way.

 

The second half saw Enfield start well. Tucker tipped behind a shot from Wallace. Then Kirby connected with Rudi Hall’s corner, heading home at the back post. Again Grays came back. Imber punched clear from a corner almost immediately, but Enfield still had the upper hand. Matata almost caught Tucker in two minds and then Wallace forced an error from Craig Pope to put in a good centre to Hope. Matata repeated the move from the other wing as Grays appeared to be rattled by the second goal. Nathan Gordon did well to evade several challenges in midfield but his ball in to the box ended in off side. Agombar tried but could not get past Kirby, and Danny Bunce did well down the left skipping away from Hall but could not get past Craig McKay. A flurry of substitutions were then made, but the real change in the game came from a penalty. Danny Barber was judged to have fouled Joao Carlos and Agombar made no mistake from the spot. Inspired by the goal, Grays built up a head of steam. Cooper played in Agombar but he was held up on the edge of the box. Imber punched clear a corner and then Pope saw a shot glanced wide. From the corner Baker popped up at the back post to head home a late equaliser and suddenly the tables were turned. Enfield’s Neil Johnston and Matata both had late chances to regain the lead but in the end had to settle for Extra Time.

 

The late equaliser gave Grays the advantage mentally, and physically they also had the edge. Jordan Lockie remained on the pitch with no substitutions available, but his injury meant he was reduced to a spectator for the rest of the game. Grays smelt blood and went for it right from the restart. An effort from Bunce, numerous shots from Carlos and Enfield were on the back foot. They had a let off when the ball passed inches in front of Jean-Michel Sigere’s outstretched boot on the six yard line. Enfield’s Matata and Campbell both had runs at goal, but lacked the energy to pose a serious threat.

 

The final fifteen minutes saw an immense performance from the Enfield defence and Kirby and McKay in particular, as they had to deal with corner after corner. A rare breakout from Enfield saw Matata burst down the right squaring to Campbell, but an interception cut the ball out and sent it onto the arms of Tucker. Fears were raised when Rudi Hall was shown a yellow card followed by a red, but he remained on the pitch as he had not previously been booked. Wave after wave of Grays attack broke on the rocks of McKay and Kirby as Grays kept pushing to find a winning goal, but both sides were tired now. Barber picked up a second booking in the last seconds of the game for time wasting and moments later we were at penalties, both sides exhausted.

 

It’s impossible to capture the tension, hope and anguish that is a penalty shoot out, but with Hope, Hall and Kirby all finding the back of the net Enfield kept the pressure on. Grays Danny Bunce opened the scoring, but they were then denied by the cross bar and two good saves from Noel Imber.

 

Enfield Town: Noel Imber, Jordan Lockie, Danny Barber, Craig McKay, Mark Kirby, Dean Pennant, Adam Wallace(Tyler Campbell 70), Rudi Hall, Liam Hope, Bryan Hammatt(Neil Johnston 78), Leon Osei(Walid Matata 16).

Subs Not Used: Dave Kendall, Rob Blackburn.

Booked: Barber, Pennant, Hall, Wallace

Sent Off : Barber

 

Grays Athletic: Tony Tucker, Craig Pope, Lee Flynn, Junior Baker, Nathan Gordon(Jean-Michel Sigere 74), Grant Cooper, Danny Bunce, Kenny Beaney, James Bunn(Danny Charge 61)(Joe Sweeney 118), Harry Agombar, Joao Carlos.

Subs Not Used: Jason Fontaine

Booked: Pope, Flynn, Beaney, Agombar

[OldTowner]

Having read some of the Grays Forum comments I am amazed that they state they had "fantastic support" last night.

Yes they were good and noisy, but, only after 80 minutes.

Where were they before they got the pen ?

 

Good side, well played in a good cup tie, but, you need to put the ball in the net, which is what Town MUST do on Sunday.

[MaldonBlue(GAFC)]

It must be something to do with the design of your ground? I was speaking to my dad today about last nights game and he said he couldn't hear your lot at all? I was too busy singing myself, so I suppose when you are singing yourself, you probably don't pay much attention to the other end of the ground and miss what the other teams fans are shouting etc.

 

Enjoyed my 2 visits this season to the Donkey Dome, hope for your sakes I will not be visiting again next season!

[Enfield United]

A lot is said about Gray's by almost all the club's supporters i've come across this season and it's not normally pleasant comments, But to be honest Gray's and their supporters were beacon class examples of how to support your team and then accept defeat admirably in such a harsh manner. I'm beginning to like them.

 

Hakan's comments are not too much off the mark, but his teams downfall were their inability to rip us apart once extra time started and they had half an hour to score a goal with us down to 10 men (Lockie) and Rudi at right back (allegedly). I think team spirit won the game in the end where one team with Gio and Kirb's along with Johnson, Pennant and Hope working their three piece sweets off which restricted Grays to a speculative effort which hit the post in ET.

 

Anyway the game can be analysed in every shape or form, Steve's team selection, format and decision making proved the right one's and the team responded.

 

Here's wishing Tilbury and Needham the best of luck tonight and may the best team win after ET, pen's and bloodbath .

Edited May 4, 2012 by Enfield United

[MaldonBlue(GAFC)]

A lot is said about Gray's by almost all the club's supporters i've come across this season and it's not normally pleasant comments, But to be honest Gray's and their supporters were beacon class examples of how to support your team and then accept defeat admirably in such a harsh manner. I'm beginning to like them.

 

Hakan's comments are not too much off the mark, but his teams downfall were their inability to rip us apart once extra time started and they had half an hour to score a goal with us down to 10 men (Lockie) and Rudi at right back (allegedly). I think team spirit won the game in the end where one team with Gio and Kirb's along with Johnson, Pennant and Hope working their three piece sweets off which restricted Grays to a speculative effort which hit the post in ET.

 

Anyway the game can be analysed in every shape or form, Steve's team selection, format and decision making proved the right one's and the team responded.

 

Here's wishing Tilbury and Needham the best of luck tonight and may the best team win after ET, pen's and bloodbath .

 

To be fair down the years we have had plenty of practice, especially against Enfield FC Enjoy the final.

[townerboy]

yeah the ground makes it hard to hear the opposition fans, the sounds disappears down the sides sadly

[Southport - TOWNER]

To be fair Grays did make noise as did TOWN, the noise does get lost, so you need to make MORE NOISE!

 

Maybe we should complain to the council and ask for a decent ground!!! LOL