Team Line Up
1. Rob Blackburne
2. Dave Blower
3. Lee Marshall
4. Craig McKay
5. Chris Wild
6. Ross Edwards
7. Paul Marks
8. Andy Jones (Captain)
9. Stuart Blackburne
10. Fabio Valenti
11. Rudi Hall
SUBS
12. Mark Blackburne (on for Lee Marshall in 2nd Half)
14. Matt Thomson
15. Super Sammy Winston (on for Fabio Valenti in 2nd Half)
16. Billy Healy
17. Vince Rispoli (on for Ross Edwards in 2nd Half)
Enfield Town claimed the glory of winning the 9th George Ruffell Memorial Shield in a goal-fest against AFC Hayes tonight. On a very warm night the pitch at Farm Park looked in good condition with Town playing up the Underhillesque slope in the 1st Half. The Brook House Grape Vine was buzzing before the match that the current team had been somewhat 'thrown together' after their previous season's manager had left to go to Beaconsfield SYCOB. This was sort of confirmed when one of their supporters asked their goalkeeper what his name was.
AFC had the better of the opening 15 minutes with two shots of target that never really troubled Rob who saved well. Then the fun began with a ball over the top from midfield which Fabio took and lobbed the keeper with a well taken goal from the edge of the box.
Ten minutes later Rudi showed his strength by holding off the challenge of an AFC Hayes defender to once again lob the unfortunate keeper with Town's second goal.
Town were on top from then and nearly made it three when a great Luke Marshall cross from the left was headed against the crossbar by Stuart Blackburne.
Stuart made the 3rd laying the ball across from the right to Fabio who couldn't miss and tapped the ball into the net.
HALF TIME - 3-0. Three chances and three goals.
Stuart Blackburne was very unlucky not to gain a penalty when through on goal. The AFC defender took him out and then part of the ball with the referee waiving away the claims.
Town went 4-0 when Fabio ran into the box and laid it back to Rudi (after a shout of 'RUDI'S ON') whose shot went into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.
Within a few minutes it was 4-1 with AFC scoring a great goal which Rob had no chance of saving.
Super Sub Sammy then made it 5-1 with a crisp finish in front of goal.
Stuart Blackburne then got the goal he deserved by making it 6-1 after rounding the keeper and passing the ball into the net.
AFC got a late consolation penalty given away by Town with a foul on the edge of the box following a defensive mix-up at the back.
FULL TIME - 6-2
A very satisfying performance from Town tonight and things are looking good for the season proper. It was nice to see all the team playing with spirit and smiles on their faces.
AFC Hayes as the result suggests were slightly suspect at the back but going forward they didn't look too bad, certainly not 'thrown together'... With a little bit of hard work Dave Welch's side will do okay in the league this year.
Chris Wild and Ross Edwards look to be forging a good partnership at the back. TCE notes that Aveley had two big centre-backs last year and that all the successful teams seen in the Ryman North always seem to have two good strong centre backs.
Stuart Blackburne (who was named man of the match) and Fabio Valenti look good up-front.
With Rudi and Andy in Midfield the team already looks like it has a nice balance to it.
TCE doesn't like to get carried away, but like many supporters is really looking forward to the big K.O on 15th against Brentwood Town.
Anything will be better than last season.
FC SHERIFF TIRASPOL THROUGH TO NEXT ROUND
TCE finally won a bet tonight (a nice one at 7/1) with the 1-1 scoreline between Slavia Prauge and FC Sherriff Tirapsol. The Moldovan champions left it late though scoring in the dying seconds through Brazilian defender Jose Nadson. Sheriff qualified for the next round on away goals. Leonid Koutchouk's side are now two games away from being the first Moldovan team to qualify for the Champions League group stages.
Match report - http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000026/match=2000333/index.html
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