SCORELINE MAKES DEBUT ON THE COLD END

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS V ENFIELD TOWN - MATCH REPORT

Town started the game where they left off at Thamesmead, looking bright and playing the ball around with a good tempo. They gained an early stranglehold on the game and could have taken the lead on five minutes. Adam Wallace's cross found it's way through to Michael Bardle who's ferocious effort looked destined for the top corner before Swifts keeper Ollie Sanders pulled off a magnificent save, palming the ball away for a corner.

It wasn't all one way traffic though and Swifts were creating space in the Town half but were let down with some very wayward shooting.

Town deservedly took the lead after 18 minutes. Liam Hope proving again what a great finisher he is, getting to a Ben Hammond cross first and steering the ball into the net.

With confidence high Town kept pressing but couldn't create any more clear cut chances in what was a very promising first half.

Heybridge came out in the second half with far more purpose and could have equalised shortly after the restart. Rob Blackburne alert to the danger as the Swifts forward went through one on one and the Town keeper smothered the effort.

With most of the pressure coming from the home side, the Town back four of Blower, McKay, Kirby and Bastian again looked solid and it was in fact up the other end where the next good chance was carved out. Adam Wallace sliding the ball across the six yard box and with the goal at his mercy Paul Marks was denied a chance to continue his goalscoring streak by an outstanding saving tackle.

Despite this scare Heybridge continued to threaten and with substitute Fiston Manuella pulling the strings an equaliser came with 20 minutes left. A ball to the back post left Blackburne stranded and as the shot was fired in, Swifts' Russell Malton was on hand to score from close range.

Town freshened things up with Stuart Blackburne and Sam Byfield replacing Ben Hammond and Liam Hopes but couldn't force a late winner and a very entertaining game finished 1-1.

Special mention to larger than life keeper Ollie Sanders who was playing his last game for Swifts before a move to Aveley. A more jovial stopper you'd struggle to meet and his first half save was as good as any seen this season.

Town: R. Blackburne, Blower, McKay, M. Kirby, Bastian, Hammond, Hall, Marks, Bardle, Wallace, Hope
Subs: S. Blackburne (for Hammond), Byfield (for Hopes), Holmes, Smith, Morton.

Reporter: Scoreline

Thanks to Scoreline for providing a report for Saturday's match. TOP MAN!!!!!