Enfield 3 – 1 Buckhurst Hill
Sat 15th Oct 2022 – Att 175
By Anthony Mercer
Buckhurst Hill suffered successive defeats to tabletop Enfield, after going into the break in front.
Buckhurst Hill started brightly with Ted Buchanan’s direct in swinging corner, being cleared off the line. On 7 the homeside’s Danny Norton was denied by a fine Dan Blockley save. Buckhurst Hill drew first blood on 13 when Tyler Dolan was brought down by the home keeper and the referee pointed to the spot. Returning Suley Zuhdu hit home.
As the half went on Enfield struggled to break down a Buckhurst Hill defence and the Stags had some good breakaways, with Nathan Sollosi causing problems.
Just before the break Kehinde saw his shot blocked, as Enfield pushed for an equaliser.
As expected the home side came out strong in the second half and within 5 minutes were on level terms. Corlett’s cross came in and Reece Conway was there to fire home. The hosts nearly went in front shortly after when Danny Norton hit over from distance.
The home side took the lead on 70 when substitute Dwade James, who had just entered the pitch headed home after a cross from the right.
Buckhurst Hill 9 minutes later were down to 10 men when captain Suley Zuhdu was shown a second yellow for a late challenge.
With 9 minutes to go, Conway played a ball through to Jeffrey Cobblah, who shrugged off a challenge from Foster to slot home to confirm the home side’s win. The result leaves Buckhurst Hill in 7th.
Manager Mark Williams said: “I wanted a reaction from last week’s poor performance against Ilford (a 3-1 defeat) and got one. It was always going to tough at top-of- the-table and title-chasing Enfield. They have an abundance of quality and it was a very tough fixture on paper but in the first half we competed and won a penalty to go in 1-0 up at half-time.
Any mistake or lack of concentration in this league will get punished and we conceded a poorly defended goal at the start of the second half which should have been cleared. We switched off again 15 minutes later and conceded a second. Winning second balls is so important at this level . We did it well in the first half but not in the second.
We then lost Suley to a soft yellow card blocking a clearance. Officiating decisions went against us but that’s football. We then should have had a penalty when Ezzie was pulled back but nothing was given. Down to ten men we tired and conceded a third goal.”
He added: “We must take the positives. We are still missing key players injured and with a small squad that’s difficult against tough opposition. It’s now the FA Vase where we enter in the First Round as we did so well last season.”
We are back at Myrak Park against old Essex Olympian League foes Basildon Town who are now plying their trade in the Thurlow Nunn South.”
Kick-off on Saturday is 3pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance online via the club website, and also on the gate on the day.
Team
Blockley, Foster, Buchanan (Halford 83) Harris, Day, Tyrell (Deaney 83), Dolan, Markatis (O Williams 83), Shilling (Badamosi 73), Zuhdu and N Sollosi
Sub unused Wynter
