(Middlesex Senior Cup 2nd Round) 3rd December 2001

Ruislip Manor (0) 1 Asambang 76
Enfield Town (2) 3 Everritt 26; Clarke 40; Morris 53

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

A well-deserved away win tonight set Enfield Town up for a big third round tie at home to Ryman League Wealdstone. Town started strongly and both Jamie Morris and Danny Clarke kept the Manor defence busy. Volkan Gundogdu pressed forward whenever possible too, and the home defence was stretched on 9 minutes but Danny Alleyne shot wide.

Kevin Riley blasted a half-chance into the side netting on 16 minutes, following an Alleyne shot that wasn't properly cleared. A free-kick on the edge of the Ruislip Manor box caused problems for the home team on 23 minutes but Stuart Snowden shot wide. John Everritt put Town in front on 26 minutes, pouncing on the loose ball after the home defence once again failed to clear the danger.

Ruislip Manor had a good chance to reduce the defect on 35 minutes but Victor Asambang shot wide. Clarke extended the lead on 40 minutes with a typical solo goal, shaking off the attentions of two defenders on the edge of the penalty area before firing low and hard beyond the reach of Matt Ward in the Ruislip goal. Asambang again went close on 43 minutes but Town finished the half on the attack.

Morris grabbed Town's third goal on 53 minutes, cutting in from the right flank to plant a shot beyond Ward with the help of a slight deflection. The three goal cushion was enough and despite a late surge by the home team Town looked likely to hang on in comfort. Andy Hall pulled off a spectacular diving save on 66 minutes to deny Martin Layzell but Asambang finally got the better of him on 76 minutes with a fine goal, easing past David Allen and belting a shot home from the edge of the box.

This was Ruislip Manor's best spell of the game and they were given a golden opportunity to get back in contention on 83 minutes when the Referee awarded them a penalty following a hard challenge on Asambang. Daryl King struck the spot kick too close to Hall though, and the Enfield Town keeper completed a comfortable save.

The game drifted into stoppage time without any further chances of note, until Town substitute Ricky Antoine turned and fired a low shot into Ward's grasp some 7 minutes into stoppage time. All in all, good away win for Enfield Town with the well-deserved prize of a big draw in the next round to look forward too.

Enfield Town; Hall, Allen, Gundogdu (Henderson 77), Snowden, Brotherton, Everritt, Morris (Antoine 88), Ridout, Clarke, Riley (Morgan 70), Alleyne. Sub not used, Idaewor.

John Everritt (center) wheels away after equalising at White Notley

(Cherry Red Books Trophy 3rd Round) 8th December 2001

White Notley (2) 3 Davies 12, 37; (unknown scorer) 89
Enfield Town (2) 4 Everritt 22; Clarke 40, 52; Alleyne 46

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

Enfield Town survived a late fight-back from Essex Intermediate League outfit White Notley to book their place in the fourth round this afternoon. After a cagey start Town suffered a setback on 9 minutes when key defender Stuart Snowden twisted an ankle and had to leave the pitch. Within three minutes White Notley had capitalised on the resultant gap in the Town rearguard to take the lead - Stacey Davies running unchallenged onto a long clearance from keeper Jon Laidlaw to calmly lob the ball over Andy Hall.

Nicky Morgan replaced Snowden before the game restarted but any efforts from Town to get back into the game were thwarted by some rather uncompromising challenges. After Micky Henderson and John Everritt had both been felled the Referee stepped in and booked Darren Grace. Everritt then received a yellow card for a foul on Jamie Turner but he made amends on 22 minutes, heading home the equaliser from a Jamie Morris corner.

A good spell of Town pressure followed, but they were caught on the break on 37 minutes when Davies scored his second goal following a fine cross from the right by the pony-tailed Neil Twinn. The lead lasted for only three minutes though, as Danny Clarke ran on to an excellent though ball from Henderson to calmly slot the ball beyond Laidlaw's reach for a well deserved equaliser.

White Notley got off to a bad start in the second half, going behind on 46 minutes. With both Clarke and Kevin Riley being denied in a goalmouth scramble, Danny Alleyne seized upon the stray ball to blast an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Clarke made it four on 52 minutes with another calm finish when through on goal.

Town had further chances to extend the lead, notably when second-half substitute Ricky Antoine narrowly missed with a long range effort while the keeper was off his line, and a close-range effort from Alleyne that was deflected wide, but the game looked as good as won until White Notley pulled a goal back on 89 minutes with arguably the goal of the game. Town held firm in stoppage time, restricting the home team to one long range effort from a free-kick, to progress to the fourth round of this competition. The attendance, given as 202, is the highest ever recorded by White Notley for a home game.

Enfield Town; Hall, Allen, Henderson, Snowden (Morgan 12), Brotherton, Everritt, Morris (Idaewor 77), Negus, Clarke, Riley (Antoine 62), Alleyne.

(Essex Senior League) 22nd December 2001

Enfield Town (2) 4 Clarke 3, 28, 80 (pen); Alleyne 62
Burnham Ramblers (0) 0

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

It was business as usual at Goldsdown Road this afternoon as Enfield Town swept back to the top of the league table thanks to a Danny Clarke hat-trick. Town fielded new signing Graham Hall at centre-back and Ronnie Watson, returning from long-term injury, was included on the subs bench. Midfielder John Ridout was omitted from the squad however, due to injury.

On a cold, hard pitch Town swiftly got into their stride and Ramblers 'keeper John Folkard was called into action on 2 minutes to push away a Danny Alleyne cross. From the resultant corner Bradley Brotherton headed the ball back into the danger zone and Clarke was in position to profit from Folkard's miss-handling to give Town an early lead. Kevin Riley and Mathew Negus both had chances to increase the lead while Graham Hall was narrowly beaten to a Jamie Morris corner by Folkard.

Andy Hall in the Town goal was called into action on 19 minutes saving well from Danny Greaves. Folkard, meanwhile, was entertaining the home supporters at the other end of the pitch by blasting a young spectator's plastic football into the back of his own net and jokingly punching the air in delight. Jamie Morris had cause to claim a penalty on 25 minutes, going down in the box after a strong challenge, but Referee Gee was not impressed. Clarke grabbed his second on 28 minutes, firing in an accurate shot from the edge of the box after good work by Negus.

Town continued to press forward and Folkard was called into further action, saving well from Riley before snuffing out the danger when Clarke was through on goal. Ramblers' David Marchant tried his luck from a free-kick some twenty-five yards out on 41 minutes but Andy Hall saved comfortably.

The early exchanges of the second-half went mostly in Town's favour, with a Morris cross skidding dangerously across the face of the goal. Danny Alleyne netted Town's third goal, on 62 minutes, tapping home a Clarke cross from six yards out to finish off a fine move in some style. Ronnie Watson made his return to action on 63 minutes, replacing Micky Henderson, and was soon in action, being denied by a brave dive from Folkard who was now showing his worth.

Full-back David Allen caused more danger for the Ramblers on 70 minutes, running unchallenged to the edge of the box and firing in a cross-come-shot that Clarke narrowly failed to convert. Town's leading marksman completed his hat-trick on 80 minutes, converting a penalty kick given after he was fouled just inside the edge of the area.

Folkard stole the honours in the remainder of the game, palming away a fierce shot from Watson and confidently claiming a succession of high crosses despite considerable pressure. The win not only took Town back to the top of the table but it also put some distance between themselves and third-placed Ramblers.

Enfield Town; Hall (A), Allen, Henderson (Watson), Hall (G), Brotherton, Negus, Morris, Riley, Clarke, (Antoine), Everritt (Morgan), Alleyne

Goalmouth action at Bowers

(Essex Senior League) 29th December 2001

Bowers United (0) 1 Warner 90
Enfield Town (0) 0

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

It was bitter disappointment for Enfield Town this afternoon as they were beaten by a late goal from ten-man Bowers. Steve Warner delivered the fatal blow on 90 minutes, finding time and space in which to drill a powerful volley beyond the reach of Andy Hall in the Town goal, while the home side had battled doggedly since the sending off of Mark Barry on 70 minutes. Town again started minus the injured John Ridout but included ex-Enfield Diadora League Championship winner Martin St Hilaire in their line-up and the 'Saint' had a steady debut, using his experience to cause Bowers problems along the left flank.

It was on the opposite wing that Town's best moves came from though, and Jamie Morris, superbly backed up by David Allen, was giving the home defence a stern test. For all that though, chances were few and far between in the first half. Bowers, when they did get forward, found Brad Brotherton and Graham Hall to be an impregnable barrier while up front for Town, Danny Clarke and Danny Alleyne saw several half-chances snuffed out by a solid home defence.

Town took a firm hold on the game in the second half and John Everritt had a shot charged down on 46 minutes as they started to create some chances. Morris went close on 58 minutes and by now substitute Ronnie Watson was in action and making an impact. The defining moment of the second half came on 67 minutes when Clarke was fouled and received a booking for his part in the resultant scuffle. It took a few minutes before the Referee restored some sense of order but then, most curiously, he restarted the game with a drop-ball rather than the free-kick that the Town players and supporters had expected. Everritt and Barry lined up to contest the 'bounce-up' with Barry strangely electing to go for the player rather than the ball. Everritt found himself booked this time, while Barry headed for an early bath and the crowd sat back to await the expected onslaught.

Kevin Riley went close to scoring on 74 minutes, seeing the keeper off the line and attempting a chip from distance. With the ball drifting wide Watson appeared from nowhere to hook the ball back across the face of the open goal, but Bowers had time to clear their lines. Alleyne had a good chance on 76 minutes, from a long cross-field pass by Watson, but the keeper pulled off his best save of the game. Clarke pulled up with bad cramp on 77 minutes and was replaced soon after by Stuart Snowden.

The closing stages of the game were dominated by Town, with Morris getting in more telling crosses and Riley, on the receiving end of most of them, narrowly failing to find the final touch. Then came the cruel blow, and Warner's late winning goal. In the remaining stoppage time Town created one more good chance but Watson's free-kick was headed over and the final whistle went soon after. The defeat sees Enfield Town slip back to second spot in the table with Bowers closing the gap in third place. The attendance, on a bitterly cold day, a creditable 240.

Enfield Town; A Hall, Allen, Negus (Watson 56), G Hall, Brotherton, Everritt, Morris, St Hilaire, Clarke (Snowden 82), Riley, Alleyne. Unused sub; Antoine. Booked; Clarke (65), Everritt (67).