Boston League Premier Division
Saturday 29th September 2018
Match report: Cameron Smith. Photos: Stuart Tree (full set here)
Despite the absence of league football for a whole fortnight, it had been a busy period for Casuals. A terrific display at Carshalton earned a 3-0 away victory and a spot in the Velocity Trophy 2nd Round on Monday whilst also being re-instated into the FA Cup despite the 2-1 loss to Whyteleafe in the Qualifying Round replay. Leafe were penalised for fielding an ineligible player earlier on in the season and upon discovery, they were expelled ahead of the fortunate Casuals. A trip to St. Albans City had to be squeezed into a tight month of fixtures- they will play on Tuesday 2nd.
Corinthians’ heads were not on the Cup game in midweek but on the task in hand on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Hakeem Adelakun slotted into left-back and there were spaces for Mu Maan and Warren Mfula in James Bracken’s starting XI. Enfield Town travelled around 60 miles to arrive in Tolworth; the North Londoners were in high spirits as they sat in 3rd place without a loss so far in the 18/19 campaign.
A yellow and red strip of Enfield stood side-by-side with the chocolate and pink attire of Casuals at an earlier kick-off time at 2pm, due to floodlight issues in the arena. From the start, Enfield seemed to have a firm grip of the game and were unwilling to let go of it. Spraying the ball across the mint surface with ease, the majority of possession was with the visitors and they nearly grabbed a few early goals thanks to the head of Billy Bricknell and creativity of Sam Youngs. Nearly turned into definitely when Jack Strange found himself backpedalling to try and keep up with Bilal Sayoud on the left flank, but it was no use as the no.7 thundered the opener into the roof of the net. Twenty-six minutes in, it was 1-0 Enfield.
Casuals supporters were in full voice behind the goal and were conned into thinking they had an equaliser when Mfula’s volley narrowly flew over the bar following Coskun Ekim’s floating free-kick. Enfield had a counter proposal to the hosts’ attacking flair as Remi Sutton skied an effort out of the ground, but the referee deemed it to have deflected over- much to the dismay of the pink and brown shirts. This dismay would increase when the corresponding corner was nodded home by Dan Rummens. Only two minutes before the break, the Towners doubled their lead.
Chips served, pints ordered and deep breaths taken- the second half began. Crucial for both sides to either start a comeback or solidify the lead, it was make or break for Casuals particularly. So it was a shame for the vocal contingent to see a third Enfield goal in such unjust circumstances. Starting with an electric attack from the home side, Odunaike, Mfula and Clarke were exchanging the ball fluidly for one of the first times in the match when the slippery no.10 Mfula was hacked down in the penalty area. Momentary hesitation from the referee before the man in black turned it down, Casuals were left appalled with the decision and Enfield used it to their advantage. A counter-attack finished off by ex-Billericay striker Bricknell made it three.
The half-chances that plagued Casuals’ first 45 were finally rewarded as Mu Maan’s fantastic ball down the middle found Odunaike, who wormed his way out of Johnson’s presence to clinically slot the ball past keeper Joe Wright. Running to grab the ball and re-start play, Odunaike notched his first of the season to inject hope back into Casuals. But, yellow no.10 Youngs made sure there wasn’t any opportunity for a comeback- a great finish saw Enfield return the lead to three goals. Minutes later, Bricknell was given an effort from twelve yards to get his brace as a penalty was given away in the 70th minute. He dispatched for 5-1 and it only took super sub Sam Chaney three minutes after the fifth to net the sixth goal for Enfield to truly make it a thrashing. The remainders of the match were broken up into spells of possession for both sides and a few chances here and there, but the officials ended the game soon after the 90th minute passed.
It was an extremely confident and smooth 6-1 victory for Enfield Town, who we wish the best of luck for the rest of the season. Casuals face a tough FA Cup fixture versus Conference team St Albans on Tuesday before Bognor Regis is raided next Saturday.