(Essex Senior League) 6th October 2001

Concord Rangers (1) 4 Hobden 15 (pen), Meade 47; Bolton 60; Blunden 62;
Enfield Town (1) 1 Riley 41

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer to follow.

Enfield Town finally succumbed to their first league defeat of the season after conceding three goals within a ten minute spell in the second half. They started brightly enough and the pace of top scorer Danny Clarke looked destined to bring rewards after winning two early corner kicks. Concord took the lead on 15 minutes however, after Bradley Brotherton lost possession on the edge of his own penalty area and then made a hasty attempt to recover the ball, only to give away a penalty in the process. Hobden made no mistake from the spot but Town hit back strongly with Brotherton shooting narrowly wide after Clarke had won another corner.

John Ridout went close on 18 minutes but Concord's ex-Purfleet goalkeeper Meade made a fine save. Meade was eventually beaten on 24 minutes but Clarke and Jamie Morris both saw shots rebound from the woodwork. The breakthrough eventually came on 41 minutes when Kevin Riley was on hand to head home a Morris cross. Town maintained the pressure and caused the home defence problems with four more corner kicks before the interval.

Concord swiftly took the initiative after the break and elected to use a more direct approach as the wind was now howling up the pitch and in their favour. Town strung together a few dangerous moves though and Ridout was foiled at the death by Meade before the home team regained the lead in bizarre circumstances. Meade's long clearance caused problems for Snowden and Hall and although Hobden was on hand the ball appeared to go straight into the net. Clarke was the next Town player to be foiled by Meade, the 'keeper making yet another fine save in a one-on-one situation.

Bolton extended the lead on the hour mark, benefiting from slack marking from the Town defence to tap home from close range after Hall had saved a long range effort. The game was as good as over two minutes later when full back Nick Savidge was caught out by a long ball, leaving Blunden free to drive a low shot beyond Hall. The introduction of Volkan Gundogdu moments later helped to steady Enfield Town and they began to look more like the team that had gone eight league games unbeaten. Ricky Antoine shot wide and was then beaten to a long cross by Meade. Then Meade saved point-blank from Jamie Andrews as Town sought some consolation from the game. It wasn't to be though, and Town slipped to their first defeat of the season.

Enfield Town: Hall, Negus, Savidge, Snowden, Brotherton, Antoine, Morris, Ridout, Clarke, Thomas, Riley. Subs Andrews (for Thomas HT), Gundogdu (for Savidge 64 mins), Allen (for Ridout 76 mins).

(League Cup; Group A) 10th October 2001

Enfield Town (0) 0
Eton Manor (1) 2 Franklin 13; Davidson 52

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

Enfield Town lost their unbeaten home record tonight, against a well organised and determined Eton Manor side. Fielding a weakened line-up, Town started well and a low cross was blasted into the side-netting after only 5 minutes by Bradley Poole - the subsequent repairs to the netting holding up play for a further minute or two! Danny Clarke went close soon after but the visitors grabbed a shock lead on 13 minutes when Franklin found himself unmarked at the far post to successfully convert a low cross.

Much effort came from Town after that, but Eton Manor were more than holding their own in the middle of the park and the home team's best attacks were coming on the flanks. Jamie Morris was making inroads down the right and just after the half-hour mark Town had their best opportunity so far when Kevin Riley was twice denied by 'keeper P.Tom at close range. Further goal attempts came before the interval but a combination of bad luck and poor finishing denied Town any reward for their efforts.

The second-half started in much the same fashion, culminating in Poole blasting over the bar from point-blank range after a good run and cut-back cross from Clarke. Eton Manor grabbed their second goal on 52 minutes when Tyrone Davidson eluded his marker to convert a long through ball.

The visitors then reclaimed the advantage in midfield - through Clint Sunshine-Fatt in particular - before visibly tiring in the later stages of the game. The last twenty-minutes saw Enfield Town launch wave after wave of attacks with John Ridout hitting the bar and substitute Ricky Antoine, who had replaced Poole earlier, seeing his best effort deflected behind for a corner. Despite four minutes of time added on, and a succession of corner-kicks, the visitors held on to keep a clean sheet and record their first win in the league cup this season.

Enfield Town: Hall, Allen, Gundogdu, Snowden, Brotherton, Poole, Morris, Ridout, Clarke, Riley, Andrews. Subs Antoine (for Poole 56 mins), Thomas (for Andrews 72 mins), Keegan.

(Essex Senior League) 13th October 2001

Enfield Town (2) 6 Riley 15, 71; Clarke 41, 67, 83; Snowden 75
Saffron Walden Town (0) 2 Vallis 50; Green 90

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

A Danny Clarke hat-trick helped Enfield Town return to their winning ways after suffering back-to-back defeats during the past week. Clarke was a provider too, and it was from his run and low cross that Kevin Riley tapped the home side into the lead on 15 minutes. The visitors, after a bright start, suffered a blow on 24 minutes when Butchart was replaced after suffering a facial injury. They then went close to an equaliser on the half-hour mark, when an Armstrong free-kick eluded the home defence but was headed narrowly wide. Enfield Town had seen plenty of good chances of their own come to nothing though, and Clarke, Morris, Ridout and Antoine all went close to increasing the lead before Clarke scored on 41 minutes with an easy header from a Morris cross.

The visitors reduced the deficit on 50 minutes, when Hall was beaten by a free-kick from substitute Vallis, but were soon under pressure again as Enfield Town won a succession of corners - Volkan Gundogdu hitting the post direct from one of them. Clarke restored the two goal lead on 67 minutes when his low shot found its way into the back of the net via a deflection.

Riley increased the lead four minutes later when he waltzed around 'keeper Ellis and shot home into an empty net. Riley had a hand in the fifth goal on 75 minutes, when his dangerous run was unfairly halted on the edge of the area - Stuart Snowden scoring direct from the resulting free-kick.

Clarke completed his hat-trick on 83 minutes when he beat Ellis from close range after the visitors defence had again been opened up. Green hit a consolation goal for the Bloods in stoppage time. Enfield Town maintain their lead at the top of the table after this win today, and another bumper crowd - 333 - were on hand to share the experience.

Enfield Town: Hall, Allen, Gundogdu (Keegan 71 mins), Snowden, Brotherton, Antoine (Andrews 45), Morris, Ridout, Clarke, Negus, Riley (Morgan 77).

(League Cup; Group A) 18th October 2001

Enfield Town (1) 2 Clarke 13; Antoine 75
Saffron Walden Town (0) 2 Hoddle 78; Langer 86

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

Enfield Town gained the point that they needed to finish top of the group tonight, in a well fought encounter with Saffron Walden Town. Manager Jim Chandler fielded yet another different starting line-up, with Brad Quinn returning to the team and Scott Larkin, on loan, making his debut at full-back. Lee Smart and Ambrose Idaewor were also returning from injury, both being included as substitutes.

The visitors also made several changes to their team, in the wake of Saturday's clash between the two teams. Top-scorer Danny Clarke made an early breakthrough for the home team, scoring the opener on 13 minutes after taking on and beating two defenders on the edge of the box before despatching a low shot beyond 'keeper Harman's reach.

The 'Bloods' were soon on the offensive though and caused some panic in the home defence when 'keeper Hall pushed a free-kick over the bar. Enfield Town had a good chance to extend the lead on the half-hour mark but Clarke was beaten to the rebound after Harman had parried a miss-hit shot from Ricky Antoine. The visitors had another close call minutes later when Harman pulled off a fine save to deny Antoine, with Quinn seeing a bullet header saved from the resultant corner. Jamie Morris floated over a dangerous cross on 41 minutes but both Quinn and Antoine just failed to apply the finishing touch.

The second half started in much the same fashion with Clarke heading over and substitute Jamie Andrews being foiled by Harman. Danny Clarke made the second goal on 75 minutes, slipping round the defence to send in a low cross for Ricky Antoine to net his first goal for the club. The visitors pulled a goal back three minutes later when Mark Hoddle headed home from a corner kick. Then, four minutes from time, Saffron Walden equalised when Tim Langer was left unmarked in the box and given enough time to control the ball and fire beyond Hall's reach.

Deep into stoppage time the visitors could have recorded a well-deserved win but Hall made an excellent save to keep out a powerful header from Greg Strong. It was a good night's entertainment for the 159 crowd, and Enfield Town secured top spot in the group and a home draw in the quarter-finals.

Enfield Town: Hall, Allen, Larkin, Snowden, Brotherton, Antoine, Morris, Snowsill, Clarke (Smart 86 mins), Quinn (Andrews 59 mins), Riley (Idaewor 76 mins)

Ridout in the process of making it 2-0. Clarke looks on

(Essex Senior League) 20th October 2001

Enfield Town (1) 4 Clarke 23, 83, 87 (pen); Ridout 63
Basildon United (0) 0

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

Goal-machine Danny Clarke scored his third hat-trick of the season today, taking his personal tally to twenty goals so far this season and helping Enfield Town to a comfortable win. Clarke created his own opening goal on 23 minutes, cutting inside the defence and firing past 'keeper Wright from a tight angle.

The visitors had been enjoying an equal share of possession up until then, with Andrew Woolley most influential, but gradually found themselves pegged back as Clarke, supported by Jamie Morris and Dave Allen, continued to cause problems. Clarke created the second goal on 63 minutes through sheer persistence, when he successfully challenged Wright to a loose ball which John Ridout gratefully slid home.

Town suffered a double injury blow on 68 minutes with both Snowden and Morris went down and needing treatment. Snowden's ankle injury saw him immediately replaced by Scott Larkin, whereas Morris continued for another 5 minutes before Ambrose Idaewor came on. Basildon came their closest to a goal on 75 minutes when Micky Waite saw his header rebound from the bar, but was then flagged for offside when the ball was played back in.

Enfield Town went further in front on 83 minutes when Clarke, having been pulled to the ground inside the area, successfully converted the resultant spot-kick. Clarke completed his hat-trick on 87 minutes when he was left unmarked at the far post and able to beat Wright with a low shot. Basildon were denied some consolation on 89 minutes when Hall saved from Waite, while Larkin cleared a dangerous cross over his own bar a minute later to finally secure the clean-sheet.

Enfield Town; Hall, Allen, Gundogdu (Antoine 86), Snowden (Larkin 68), Brotherton, Quinn, Morris (Idaewor 74), Snowsill, Clarke, Ridout, Negus.

(Essex Senior League) 30th October 2001

Enfield Town (0) 0
Stansted (2) 3 Thomas 1, 42, 72 (all pens)

Match Report by Peter Coath, Enfield Town FC Press Officer

The tables were turned on 'Town's leading scorer Danny Clarke tonight, as he received his marching orders in the second half after Thomas had netted a hat-trick of penalties for the visitors. Stansted took the lead in the first minute, with a penalty awarded for a foul. Andy Hall in the Town goal got a hand to the spot-kick but Thomas had hit it firmly enough. Brad Quinn was booked for a foul on 6 minutes and shortly after Stansted created their only chance of the evening from open play, when Miles tried a speculative hooked shot from a tight angle.

Enfield Town failed to penetrate the visitors defence during this period, with long-range free-kicks giving them their only attempts on goal. Danny Alleyne was back in the side tonight, after serving a suspension, but he was nowhere near his usual form. A foul on Danny Clarke on 20 minutes caused the home bench to erupt in protest, but Referee Clarke failed to treat the incident with the seriousness that it deserved.

Thomas converted his second spot-kick on 42 minutes after the Referee deemed Brotherton's headed challenge to be a foul. Hall guessed the right way again but, once more, Thomas planted his kick with deft precision. Danny Alleyne registered the first on-target effort for the home side in first-half stoppage time, but powered his far-post header straight into keeper Jackman's clutches.

It was a lacklustre second-half showing from Town, brightened only by a Volkan Gundogdu effort that Jackman palmed away for a corner. Thomas netted his third spot-kick on 72 minutes after Brotherton had committed a handball offence. The evening exploded in controversial circumstances five minutes later when Clarke showed obvious dissent at yet another off-side decision and threw the ball away in disgust. A series of arguments then sprang up across the pitch after two Stansted players appeared to be celebrating Clarke's imminent dismissal with some rather tactless dancing. Kevin Riley was booked on 89 minutes for an off the ball offence that saw Stansted's Embleton carried off on the stretcher.

In fairness, the Enfield Town players allowed themselves to be unsettled by their opponents tonight and never really got into gear.

Enfield Town; Hall, Allen, Gundogdu, Snowden (Larkin 68 mins), Brotherton, Quinn, Morris, Snowsill, Clarke, Riley, Alleyne (Antoine 64 mins). Unused sub, Morgan.