Enfield Town banished the memories of the two disappointing defeats at home to Burgess Hill Town and away at Metropolitan Police in their most recent games today with a stylish and comprehensive victory at their North London rival's Wingate and Finchley today.
The home side were in great form going into the eagerly awaited game being unbeaten in 12 league and cup games.
Town included new signing Karl Oliyide in their starting XI - The forward had joined in midweek from Hendon and counts Wingate and Finchley as one of his former sides.
Oliyide combined well in a front three with Harry Ottaway and Bobby Devyne as Town produced a blistering first half of football scoring three well taken goals on a quality pitch at The Maurice Rebak Stadium. Devyne scored the first after only seven minutes when he hit a great shot from outside of the box past Wingate keeper Shane Gore. It was 0-2 on 12 minutes when Oliyide chased the ball down the into the left hand corner and beat the Wingate defender to square across to Ottaway who passed the ball into the net to the delight of the large travelling support. Just past the 30 minute mark Oliyide got the goal he deserved when Ottaway returned the favour setting him up to make it 0-3. It could of been more goals for Town with Mark Kirby's close range shot well saved by Gore at his near post and Oliyide finishing well after being flagged just offside.
Wingate came back into things having a good spell of play after the break with Ben Pattie making it 1-3. The game was well and truly over on 66 minutes when Ottaway's through ball put Oliyide in front of goal only to be fouled by ex Enfield Town defender Claudiu Vilcu just inside the box - Billy Crook's resulting penalty kick made it 1-4.
The entertainment wasn't over for the fans who made the trip from Donkey Lane as the fifth goal was truly amazing. After a period of keep ball by Town the ball broke to Ottway in the box who completed a brilliant step over (which had a real touch of quality to it) taking Gore out of the play allowing him to hit the ball into net.
MIDDLE - WINGATE FANS BEHIND THE GOAL DURING THE SECOND HALF
BOTTOM - WINGATE FANS BEHIND THE GOAL IN THE FIRST HALF
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTOS ENFIELD TOWN'S SUPPORTERS MADE UP A LARGE NUMBER OF THE 365 CROWD TODAY WHICH IS WINGATE'S HIGHEST ATTENDANCE SO FAR FOR THE 2016/17 CAMPAIGN. THEIR PREVIOUS BEST IN THE LEAGUE WAS 170 AGAINST BOTH HENDON AND STAINES TOWN. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE A FEW MORE LOCAL PEOPLE GIVE THEIR TEAM SOME SUPPORT
It was an afternoon to forget for Wingate & Finchley who get a chance to get back to winning ways when they host Metropolitan Police in the London Senior Cup on Tuesday evening. Enfield Town's next game is at home to Merstham in the Ryman Premier Division next Saturday.
RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS
SATURDAY 4th FEBRUARY
Burgess Hill Town 2-0 AFC Sudbury
Canvey Island 0-1 Tonbridge Angels
Grays Athletic 1-2 Hendon
Harrow Borough 0-1 Bognor Regis Town
Havant & Waterlooville 1-2 Billericay Town
Kingstonian 2-2 Folkestone Invicta
Lowestoft Town 0-1 Metropolitan Police
Merstham v Leiston - postponed due to waterlogged pitch
Staines Town 0-2 Harlow Town
Wingate & Finchley 1-5 Enfield Town
Worthing 4-3 Needham Market
It was a great day for table topper's Bognor Regis Town who recorded an important 0-1 victory at Harrow Borough and would of been pleased in seeing title rival's Needham Market and Havant & Waterlooville both losing.
RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION
CURRENT TABLE - TOP TWELVE ONLY
PP denotes possible points
18 denotes points won from last eighteen on offer
| POS | TEAM | P | GD | PTS | PP | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOGNOR REGIS TOWN | 31 | +25 | 63 | 108 | 13 |
| 2 | NEEDHAM MARKET | 32 | +9 | 59 | 101 | 10 |
| 3 | HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE | 30 | +25 | 58 | 106 | 12 |
| 4 | LEISTON | 28 | +38 | 55 | 109 | 13 |
| 5 | TONBRIDGE ANGELS | 31 | +8 | 52 | 97 | 11 |
| 6 | ENFIELD TOWN | 32 | +22 | 50 | 92 | 10 |
| 7 | HARLOW TOWN | 32 | +3 | 50 | 92 | 13 |
| 8 | WINGATE AND FINCHLEY | 30 | -1 | 48 | 96 | 15 |
| 9 | DULWICH HAMLET | 30 | +13 | 47 | 95 | 11 |
| 10 | WORTHING | 30 | +4 | 46 | 94 | 10 |
| 11 | KINGSTONIAN | 33 | -1 | 43 | 82 | 7 |
| 12 | BILLERICAY TOWN | 30 | +1 | 41 | 89 | 10 |
Taking a glance at the league table and current form its now looking like three of the top four will be involved in the play-offs (finishing in 2nd, 3rd and 4th) with one being crowned champions in top spot. Then I think it's a straight battle between Tonbridge Angels, Enfield Town, Harlow Town, Wingate and Finchley, Dulwich Hamlet and Worthing for the fourth and final play-off spot.
MIDWEEK FIXTURES
TUESDAY
Burgess Hill Town v Harlow Town
Hendon v Bognor Regis Town
WEDNESDAY
Grays Athletic v Harrow Borough
Leatherhead v AFC Sudbury
Leiston v Tonbridge Angels
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