Enfield Town 1 Southend Manor 1

[Gonzo]

Awful! - the game and the pitch (ref was mediocre).

 

0-0 at half-time with the game scrappy to say the least.

 

Southend went head 15mins into the second half as a defensive error allowed a through ball to be bundled home.

 

2mins later Town equalised. The Manor keeper flapped at a cross from a free-kick down the right and Billy Cove headed into the unguarded net.

 

Town then proceeded to do their best to lose the game as Manor had a couple of great chances, most notably blasting over when through with just Chopper to beat.

 

Wasn't a classic in any shape or form. Clarke didn't seem like he wanted to play in the 1st half but perked up a little in the 2nd. The midfield looked a mess - the ball was given away countless times and Riley, Quinn & Geraghty struggled to win anything in the air.

 

No surprise Quinn managed to get himself dismissed 10 mins from the end.

 

I know I'm posting in the immediate aftermarth of a disappointing game, but the squad really doesn't seem strong enough to retain the title this year. Over the past couple of seasons we've had solid foundations in ex-EFC players such as St Hilaire, Ridout, & Turner to name but a few. The problem is that their replacements aren't of the same class.

[Fruitbat]

A bit miserable Gonzo, but pretty much right on most points, I'm sorry to say !

[Pavagrotti]

I agree with gonzo and fruitbat. The potential penalty for town at the end should have been given as Clarke was grabbed around the ankle in the box but otherwise we didn't deserve to win. If Keith Egglington had given the penalty he would have been our hero. He didn't so he isn't.

 

But is does make a difference when you get 3 good ESL refs on the bounce - The town communal paranoia retreats a bit.

 

We had a minutes silence for Luke Dollemore as well.

[Pretty Vacant]

I agree, we are nowhere near as good as we were last season, and to compound matters our main rivals have all improved. Still, things could be worse, could still be following EFC, who let in another 8, this time at mighty Thame today.

[Southport - TOWNER]

we obviously love the ESL.

 

Today's performance just proves we do not have the appetite, desire or ability on the field and the lack of understanding from the bench only matches the ineptitude of the team.

 

We put a first team out against WA in a meaningless match and were poor; today we plummeted even lower.

 

I feel sorry for who ever bought the 10 year season ticket!

[lovely stuff]

Calm down Southport.....Where not performing at the moment....but didn't someone once say 'a weeks a long time in football.

 

Yes we are going to have to buy some players next season to improve the team (whether we go up or not).

 

But don't forget we have at least 10 players in our squad that WON the ESL last season.

 

Maybe its down to a lack of form or maybe tactically we are getting it wrong....But it will come good,hopefully sooner rather than latter.

 

We've only lost twice in the league this season and if we would have won a few of our drawn games(which we should of) we would be easily lying top of the league.

 

If we can get our form back quickly....i still fancy us to go up.

 

 

 

[Steph]

I thought Ian Cooper had a reasonable game.

 

I also thought that the game was better than Tuesday. The Southend centre backs showed us how to defend. They rarely let a through ball get past them as they always stuck a foot or toe out and then cleared the ball to a waiting and dynamic midfield.

 

In the first half they looked vulnerable to crosses but we didn't get enough bodies in the box to take advantage of it. In the second half they realised that there were not that many forwards to worry about and so became more adventurous. It was no accident that our goal came from a cross and there's from a defensive lapse.

 

Francis again put in a reasonable display.

[SOS]

A draw was a fair result yesterday. Referee had a good game. Possibly should have given a penalty but Keith was our saviour at Sawbo so was unlikely to happen again. Southend played well but it was disappointing to see their bench preventing a Town player collecting a ball during stoppage time.

 

I'm surprised the Concord result hasn't been mentioned so far - what a shock that was (losing 1-0 at home to Barkingside). I was downcast until I saw that result on teletext. Couple that result with Waltham Abbey thrashing Romford and it makes the title race very interesting. As has been mentioned elsewhere, Sawbo are the form team and are becoming very serious championship contenders. The ETFC v Sawbo game could be very important. However we need 3 points on Tuesday night and to achieve that a much better performance is required. I am expecting the team to do all they can to raise their game and play as if they want to win this league.

[Steph]

The bench did not deliberately prevent anything. I was next to the box at that time and the manager was not aware of what was happening. Suddenly an opposing sub starts bundling him over for a ball, which would not have been accepted as a match ball anyway.

 

It was appalling behaviour by the sub and the rest of the Enfield bench, who should have set an example and kept their discipline.

[SOS]

I disagree, someone from Southend Manor definately shielded the ball from a Town sub who was eager to resume play. It's up to the referee to decide whether the ball was match standard or not. The incident was consistent with Southend Manor's persistant time-wasting.

[essexboy04]

i'm afraid that is the way it is in this league and most others to say that. Teams like Southend Manor, Barkingside etc have nothing to play for and will raise there game against the bigger teams. Both sides will probably go out and struggle against the likes of Hullbridge or Stansted next week. Time wasting is going to happen when they have a chance of getting a result.

[lovely stuff]

Quote:

Steph said:
The bench did not deliberately prevent anything. I was next to the box at that time and the manager was not aware of what was happening. Suddenly an opposing sub starts bundling him over for a ball, which would not have been accepted as a match ball anyway.

It was appalling behaviour by the sub and the rest of the Enfield bench, who should have set an example and kept their discipline.

Steph...As i've said many a time,you do seem to get a unique perspective from your vantage point.

I know you were closer than me,but from where i was...This is my take on the incident:

Southend were blatently time wasting in the second half...every time they had a free kick,a throw-on or a goal kick,it took about two minutes for them to get the ball back in play.

Enfield Town were getting increasing frustrated with this.

With Enfield pressing hard with about 20 minutes to go,both the yellow balls were cleared out of the ground in quick succession.

The white ball (which had previously been used in the first half-if i'm not mistaken)was near the Southend dug-out.

The southend bench showed no sign of kicking that spare ball into play,so an Enfield sub (Baldwin-i think)trotted over and went to retrieve the ball....at this stage one of the Southend blokes picked the ball up and refused to hand it over.(Ashley Cole style').

A tussle for the ball followed with the Enfield sub being surrounded by most of the southend bench.

The Enfield bench saw what was happening and ONE of our coaching staff ran over to join in the
melee.(whether he was trying to pull the southend blokes away from Baldwin or retrieve the ball,i don't know.

Clarkey did well to defuse the situation.

I know for a fact that the Enfield coaching staff were very unhappy about the incident.

[Steph]

Well you must all have had a better view than me after all I was only 2 yards from the incident. Didn't see anyone between me and the manager though.

 

As far as time wasting is concerned I dont agree. The wind was blowing the ball all over the place when it was put down for a free kick. I thought the game flowed and Southend stood just as much chance (and were hungry for it) as the Town.

 

There are some supporters that need to take the chip off their shoulder. The game was played in good spirit and controlled by the ref fairly well. The manager was NOT LOOKING AT THE BALL WHEN HE WAS JOSTLED BY THE SUB HE WAS STANDING THERE MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS. Of course the sub was going to be jostled by the Southend bench he had just pushed the manager out of the way!!!

 

The Enfield Coaching staff were further away than me.

[lovely stuff]

Steph....i bow to your better view,regarding the 'melee'.

 

But you are being very niave if you believe Southend wern't time wasting during the second half.

 

If you added the time-up that the ball was actively in play second half....I would be suprised if it was more than 50% of the time.

 

 

[SOS]

A member of the Southend bench definately prevented Baldwin from collecting a ball. That's a fact. Whether it was the manager or not I don't know but does it matter who it was?

 

Southend WERE guilty of time-wasting. Take the substitutions for example. All three substitutes weren't ready to enter the field of play when the ref stopped the game (tracksuits to come off and shirts to go on). You could understand this happening once but on three separate occaisons? In addition, the time it took to take free kicks/goal kicks was excessive towards the end of the game. However, I believe the referee did add on the correct amount of time which isn't always the case.

[Gonzo]

The Southend bench clearly held on to the ball when the Town sub tried to retrieve it. It was deliberate time-wasting and trouble-making.

 

So, worst case - we don't win the league or gain promotion as runners up or gain promotion via restructuring. What then? It will have been a disasterous season against our own high expectations. So, do we head back to essex with the same old squad next season? Or how about the rather controversial idea of freshening-up the management - has Jim done all he can do with the squad? Afterall, most of the players he's brought in this season simply haven't been up to our own high standards (the Acquah brothers, wayne grant...). Jim intially did well as he was able to bring in players he'd worked with in the ryman premier. This source of quality players seems to have dried up this season. Add to this the fact that some very useful players keep moving on 'under a cloud' (James Bunn, Rudi Hall, Ronnie Watson, Dave Allen, Jamie Morris...). The season's not over yet, but I really think it's time we moved onwards and upwards (and I don't fancy visiting Concord's sewage works again!).

[lovely stuff]

Come to think of it steph....when Baldwin bent down to pick the ball up,you had the WORST view in the stadium because the dug-out was blocking your view.

 

Anyway onto more serious matters.

 

I think it's far too early to talk about changing Jim.

 

Yes ,the players he brought in at the start of the season wern't good enough....but Smith,cove,and Cooper have all been good signings.

 

Admitedly,tactically we havn't been 'on-the-ball' as much as previous seasons.

 

I also think Jim has been over loyal to players that are not performing,players such as Snowden,who's game i believe would benifit from a spell out of the side.........But when players have done so much for you and a such great characters ,its hard to drop them.

 

I also think we have lost some good players due to 'disagreements' with Jim.

 

 

But don't forget Jim turned it around mid-season when all looked doom and gloom,and i've got a sneaky feeling he might well turn around our current lack of form,and nick the title.

 

You heard it hear first folks !!

 

 

[lanceyboyuk]

Ithink you have been a bit sritical of snowdens season after all has been said he still scoring goals by central defender which isnt hbad

[Southport - TOWNER]

Gonzo - calm down, we are all miffed at the recent poor performances; but Jim is doing a good job and it is far too soon to think of him movin on.

 

We will be in the ESL next year, unless we start winning our home games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pavagrotti]

Quote:

Southport - TOWNER said:
Gonzo - calm down, we are all miffed at the recent poor performances; but Jim is doing a good job and it is far too soon to think of him movin on.

Agreed. Let's not scalp hunt at this point in the season. Jim still has time to win this promotion place. And we still have time to have the ground ready, so let's do what is in our power to help him and the team. Let's keep moving onward and upward together.