F.A. Vase
Round 1
Enfield Town 3 North Leigh FC 1
Saturday, 19 October 2002
Match Report by Peter Coath, Press Officer Enfield Town FC.
The Enfield Town cup tradition continued today as the fledgling club celebrated a first-ever home tie in a national cup competition with a victory, albeit one which was not as comfortable as the final score suggests. The game pitted the Foresters Essex Senior League leaders against the leaders and reigning champions of the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League and it was difficult to separate the two teams on their early showing. Adam Hamp was the danger man up front for North Leigh and his lob over Town keeper Andy Hall on 12 minutes was destined for the back of the net until David Allen hooked the ball clear in acrobatic fashion. Hamp had two more good chances to open the scoring before Kevin Riley put Town ahead with a fortunate goal. Allen found space on the right and floated over a cross which keeper Kevin Alder came to claim confidently. Riley chased in all the same and was rewarded for his endeavour when Alder dropped the ball at his feet and was unable to stop it rolling over the line. The breakthrough lifted Town and Alder pushed a Daniel Clarke shot into the side netting on 21 minutes as the home team gained the upper hand. Gary Murphy tried his luck from long range on 31 minutes when North Leigh were awarded a free-kick but his shot sailed a few yards wide. James Bunn and Daniel Clarke were always looking dangerous up front for Town though and Bunn's persistence paid off on 39 minutes when, seemingly heading into a cul-de-sac, he nudged a pass into space for Bradley Brotherton to fire home from the edge of the area.
Two-nil at half-time was slightly unfair on the visitors but they got back into the game only seconds after the restart when Craig Pearman popped up at the far post to nod the ball beyond Hall. Hamp shot narrowly wide on 54 minutes and the game was now looking like a cup-tie at last. Allen shot over on 62 minutes in another Town attack while Hamp then saw his speculative overhead kick tipped over by Hall. The visitors continued to press and Hall did well to cut out a dangerous free-kick before riding his luck on 69 minutes when he dropped a cross but recovered quickly to claim the ball. Luck was certainly not with Alder though for he made a horrendous mistake on 71 minutes to gift Town the crucial third goal. Bunn, free on the left, side-footed the ball straight at him but somehow he allowed the shot to squirm under his body and over the line. Alder then had to suffer the banter from the crowd behind the goal but took it in good heart and went on to finish the match in safety. Town meanwhile, boosted by that stroke of luck, went on to play some neat football and retained possession long enough to take the sting out of the visitors belated fight-back. North Leigh were still fighting right at the end though and substitute Martin St Hilaire made a courageous saving tackle in front of his own goal deep into injury time.
Enfield Town; A Hall, Allen, Negus (M St Hilaire 64), Snowden, G Hall, Snowsill, Riley (R Hall 55), Brotherton (Ridout 76), Clarke, Bunn, Alleyne. Unused subs; Quinn, Jackman.
Goals; Riley 19, Brotherton 39, Bunn 71.
Booked; R Hall.
North Leigh; Alder, Murphy, M Jackson (Cross 83), Lewis, Huxley, Bott, Ellis (Maisey 76), Burnell, J Jackson (Forester 76), Hamp, Pearman. Unused sub; Panter.
Goal; Pearman 46.
Attendance; 309.
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