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Danny Clarke in Bowers action

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(League Cup Quarter Final) 2nd February 2002

Enfield Town (1) 2 Clarke 6; Ridout 80
Bowers United (0) 1 Goodwin 50

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

Enfield Town made it through to their third semi-final of the season this afternoon, following this hard-earned victory over a resolute Bowers United side. Danny Clarke gave the home side the perfect start after only six minutes when he waltzed through the United defence to clip the ball over keeper Paul Dennis from close range. With the strong, but unpredictable wind behind their backs Town looked to increase their advantage before the interval but Dennis was in fine form, as too were his defence who restricted the home side to few clear-cut chances.

Rudi Hall was replaced by Jamie Morris on 25 minutes, after picking up a knock, but the enforced change did not affect Town in any way. Danny Alleyne drove a low shot against a post on 28 minutes but Bowers also had their chances, with Town having to scramble the ball off the line following a corner kick in first-half stoppage time.

Bowers equalised on 50 minutes from an indirect free-kick, given after a high boot from David Allen had denied them a scoring opportunity. Lee Goodwin profited from a well-worked free-kick to drive the ball low into the net through a seemingly impregnable swarm of players on the line. Stuart Snowden was saved the indignity of a farcical own-goal on 53 minutes when he attempted a clearance from near the corner flag, only for the ball to hold up in the wind and be blown dangerously close to the far post.

Clarke and Alleyne were a constant threat to the visitors though, with both having shots saved by Dennis. Town regained the lead on 80 minutes when John Ridout rose highest to head home a Jamie Morris corner. Manager Jim Chandler then made a double substitution, bringing on Anayo Etumnun and Ricky Antoine for Jamie Morris and Martin St Hilaire. John Ridout went close on 86 minutes, but was beaten by Dennis to a dangerous pass into the box. Ronnie Watson had a shot saved in time added on as Town continued to press forward.

The final whistle was greeted with an ironic touch of relief from the home supporters, who well remembered the last minute goal that Bowers scored in the previous meeting between the two clubs. There was to be no repeat of this today though, and Enfield Town made it safely through to the semi-final where they will face Stansted over two legs

Enfield Town; A Hall, Allen, Brotherton, Snowden, G Hall, St Hilaire (Antoine 81), Watson (Morris 25, Etumnun 81), Ridout, Clarke, R Hall, Alleyne.

(Essex Senior League) 18th February 2002

Enfield Town (5) 6 Smith OG 4; Alleyne 21, 42 ; Allen; 24; Ridout; 40 Hall(R) 53
Woodford Town (1) 1 Pamplin 17

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

After an enforced mid-winter break Enfield Town quickly got back into their stride tonight as they continued in their quest to regain top spot. Woodford Town, lively and industrious throughout, handed the home team a goal start after only 4 minutes when defender Graham Smith diverted a scuffed Rudi Hall shot beyond his own 'keeper Steve Lawrence.

Enfield Town failed to capitalise on the early breakthrough however, and Asa Pamplin slammed home the equaliser from close range on 17 minutes. Daniel Alleyne restored the lead within 4 minutes though, running through unchallenged to fire home following a quickly taken free kick from Daniel Clarke, and 3 minutes later full-back David Allen effectively ended the contest when he too benefited from a Clarke pass to shoot home from inside the penalty area.

A two-goal burst late in the first half rubbed salt into the wounds, John Ridout tapping home following a scramble on 40 minutes, followed by Alleyne's second when he shot beyond Lawrence from the edge of the area.

Enfield Town made three substitutions at the start of the second half and made it 6-1 on 53 minutes with the best goal of the night, Rudi Hall burying his shot after an Alleyne break and clever back-heeled pass from Clarke had set him up. After the that the game became a rather tiresome affair, with neither side coming close to scoring save for two long-range attempts from the visitors that Andy Hall, in the Enfield Town goal, did well to push away. A spectacle it may not have been, but three points and a healthy boost to the goal difference were gratefully received all the same.

Enfield Town; A Hall, Allen (Morgan 50), Watson, Snowden, Brotherton, G Hall, Ridout (Antoine 45), R Hall, Clarke, St Hilaire (Harding 45), Alleyne.

(Middlesex Charity Cup) 21st February 2002

Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0
Enfield Town (1) 3 Clarke 28, 49, 90

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

Enfield Town successfully bridged the gap between the Foresters Essex Senior League and the Ryman Premier tonight as they fought their way to a well deserved victory. In fairness to the home side though, with three home games in six days they weren't expected to field a full-strength first team yet their collection of reserves, squad players and trialists certainly looked a capable bunch. It was probably only because of their lack of familiarity with each other that they failed to impress as a team. All the same, the game was there to be contested and Enfield Town, themselves making changes to their line-up, never looked like a club from many divisions below their opponents.

Collectively, Town were determined and well organised, with the midfield holding their own for long periods and a strong defensive unit restricting Hampton to few chances. Individually though, Daniel Clarke was again the hero with another hat-trick to add to his collection, while keeper Andy Hall showed his class with several fine saves and midfielder Ricky Antoine, getting a rare place in the starting line-up, impressed throughout.

After several half-chances, Town made the breakthrough on 28 minutes, Clarke picking up the ball on the right and shrugging off the close attentions of two defenders to drive home a fierce shot from inside the edge of the area. Defender Graeme Hall was injured two minutes later and although he carried on he was replaced by Anayo Etumnun at half-time. John Ridout drove in a dangerous cross on 47 minutes but David Allen was just beaten to the ball by Dominique Jean-Zephrin in the Hampton goal. It merely delayed the inevitable though for Clarke notched his second two minutes later after once again holding off the defence to get in his shot.

On 65 minutes Martin St Hilaire saw his powerful drive excellently pushed away by the 'keeper. Hampton had a good spell after that, with one goal-scoring opportunity only denied after three Town defenders slid in simultaneously to clear the danger, and Andy Hall then making a fine save on 72 minutes. Clarke completed his hat-trick in stoppage time, reaping the benefit of a fine tackle and pass from substitute Jamie Morris to run into the box and beat Jean-Zephrin from close range. Town then had a worrying moment when Clarke, whilst contesting a loose ball on the touchline, ran into the perimeter fencing and collapsed clutching his chest. No real damage was done though and he returned to the pitch just in time for the final whistle.

Enfield Town: A Hall, Allen (Poole 90), Watson (Morris 56), G Hall (Etumnun 45), Brotherton, Snowden, St Hilaire, Ridout, Clarke, Antoine, Alleyne.

(Essex Senior League) 23rd February 2002

Enfield Town (1) 4 Alleyne 24, 71; Clarke 73,90
Southend Manor (0) 1 Evans 49

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

Enfield Town ground out a result today against a well organised Southend Manor side. The first half commenced shortly after a blizzard had passed over the area, but the strong winds remained and made the high ball a pointless tactical ploy. Exchanges were even for the first fifteen minutes but Town started to get on top and Ronnie Watson, on the right flank, was involved in most of the better moves.

Town had a penalty shout turned down on 23 minutes when Rudi Hall was toppled in the area. Mathew Negus then won a free-kick on the left but John Ridout and Graeme Hall both failed to get in a clean header. It was only a brief respite for the visitors though for Daniel Clarke intercepted the attempted clearance and fed Daniel Alleyne.

Ollie Evans then had two good opportunities for the Manor, shooting wide on 27 minutes then heading over from a corner on the half-hour mark. In first half stoppage time Southend's keeper Lewis Green failed to collect a through ball and Alleyne appeared to score from an acute angle. The Assistant Referee thought otherwise though and gave a goal-kick, Clarke being subsequently booked for dissent.

The visitors drew level on 49 minutes when Ollie Evans danced through the Town rearguard to bury an accurate shot beyond Andy Hall. Southend Manor had a chance to take the lead on the hour, but Ben Coleman blasted his free-kick over the bar. Dean Harding had replaced the injured Rudi Hall at half-time but it didn't change Town's pattern of play. John Ridout and Martin St Hilaire were winning the midfield battle and David Allen, Bradley Brotherton and Graeme Hall were proving to be an impassable defensive unit.

Up front, the direct approach was proving effective and it eventually paid dividends on 71 minutes when Negus won possession on the edge of the Manor penalty area and fed Alleyne who scored from a tight angle. Alleyne turned provider two minutes later to set up Daniel Clarke for the third. Lewis Green managed to block Clarke's first effort but Town's leading marksman was left with a simple tap-in.

Jamie Morris replaced St Hilaire on 76 minutes and Ridout was replaced by Ricky Antoine 3 minutes later. These substitutions nearly backfired on Town though, when Dean Harding had to leave the field with an ankle injury. He returned soon after and performed admirably despite limping throughout the rest of the game.

Clarke topped off a fine performance 3 minutes into time added on with a carbon-copy of his first goal, Green saving his first shot but being unable to stop the tap-in from the rebound. It was rather unjust on the visitors to concede a fourth, and the Referee blew the final whistle before Clarke could even begin celebrating. For Town though it was a well deserved three points and a further boost to their goal difference and points tally.

Enfield Town: A Hall, Watson, Negus, Allen, Brotherton, G Hall, St Hilaire (Morris 76), Ridout (Antoine 79), Clarke, R Hall (Harding 45), Alleyne.

(Essex Senior League) 25th February 2002

Ilford (0) 0
Enfield Town (1) 1 Clarke 38

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

A 38th minute goal from Daniel Clarke was all that separated two industrious and hard working teams tonight, as Enfield Town completed the league double over Ilford. On a wet and windy night at the Cricklefield Stadium, Town kicked with the wind behind them in the first half but never really took full advantage of the situation. Ricky Antoine had the first shot of the match, hitting the ball over the bar from long range after Ilford 'keeper Daley had hit a poor clearance. Antoine had another attempt on 7 minutes, but once again the wind lifted his shot high over the bar.

Daniel Alleyne then tried his luck on 12 minutes with the same result. Ilford had a good spell after that, but failed to really threaten the Town goal. The breakthrough came after Martin St Hilaire won possession in midfield and threaded a precision pass through to Clarke. The Enfield Town striker then outwitted his marker and raced into the penalty area to neatly tuck away his shot. John Ridout had Town's next effort on goal but his shot was deflected away for a corner.

Ilford came out fighting for the second half and made life difficult for the visitors. A succession of hefty challenges went unpunished by the Referee and with the rain driving across the stadium players were sliding in to make some rather dangerous challenges. Enfield Town's David Allen was on the receiving end of one challenge, which went unpunished, as too was second half substitute Graeme Hall, who lay motionless on the pitch for some time before recovering.

Ilford, playing with the wind, had caused Town plenty of problems but were always susceptible to the break-away counter attack and Antoine nearly scored from one such attack only to be denied at the death by good goalkeeping. Clarke then found himself facing just the keeper on 88 minutes but again Daley rose to the challenge.

It all kicked-off in stoppage time when David Allen was once again on the receiving end of some rough treatment and a mass brawl was only narrowly averted. The final whistle came after some 6 minutes were added on but Town played it cautiously and kept the ball as long as possible to try and kill the game off. A good result in the end and although the game was no classic encounter it was still an enthralling contest.