Enfield welcomed Saffron Walden Town for a home Essex Senior League game last night. The visitors still have a chance of winning the title so a victory was a necessity for them especially as they had lost 4-0 away at fellow challenger's Takeley on Saturday. It was Enfield who started the better - they had Neil 'Razor' Ruddock who is part of their coaching staff in their dug out. Amin Benyoucef sitting in between the midfield and forward areas looks a very good player. He showed some great touches, good close control and was the most technically gifted player on the pitch in my opinion. He's definitely a player who will entertain the fans wherever he plays.
It was no surprise to me to read he came through the Leyton Orient academy and played in their EFL Youth Alliance Merit Division 2 title winning side last season. This was his fourth start for Matt Hanning's side - I think he could easily play at a higher level.
Former Hullbridge Sports striker James Cox continued his scoring form (he had scored a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Woodford Town on Saturday) when he made it 1-0 to Enfield in the first half with a decent curling up and under shot from just inside the left hand side of the penalty box.
The half-time score was 1-0 and on the balance of play this was deserved by the home side.
Saffron Walden Town came back into things in the second half and equalised from the penalty spot via Scott Pethers after a player was nudged in the back in the box. It was 1-1 when substitute Lewis Francis headed home when unmarked at the far post from a cross from the right hand side. It could of been 2-2 when Ayo Odukoya stretched his leg to connect with the ball from close range only for the cross bar to help out Saffron Walden.
Saffron Walden Town made the game safe late on when Ollie Emsden scored after a quick break away to make the score 1-3 to delight of their travelling fans. Enfield had a player sent off for a second bookable offence after the goal.
The victory put them three points behind leader's Stansted but they had a decent 0-2 victory at Sporting Bengal United tonight which has put them six points clear of Saffron Walden and four points clear of Hullbrdige Sports.
MINI MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
LONGER MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
The defeat leaves Enfield twelfth in the Essex Senior League - I think on this showing, especially their first half performance, they will finish higher in the table and win a good number of their remaining seven league games. They travel to Ilford on Saturday before welcoming another title challenger in Hullbridge Sports to Harlow next Tuesday. Looking at the league table the fixture between Stansted and Hullbridge Sports on Saturday 30th March stands out as a potential title decider.
Essex Senior League
Current Table - Top Four Only
PP denotes possible points
| POS | TEAM | P | GD | PTS | FORM | PP |
| 1 | STANSTED | 31 | +41 | 69 | DWWLWW | 90 |
| 2 | HULLBRIDGE SPORTS | 29 | +34 | 65 | WWDWWW | 92 |
| 3 | SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN | 31 | +50 | 63 | WLWWLW | 84 |
| 4 | TAKELEY | 31 | +22 | 61 | DWLDLW | 82 |
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES FOR TOP FOUR
| DATE | STANSTED | HULLBRIDGE SPORTS | SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN | TAKELEY |
| 9/3 | SOUTHEND MANOR | HODDESDON TOWN | Sawbridgeworth Town | SPORTING BENGAL UNITED |
| 12/3 | - | Enfield | - | - |
| 16/3 | Hoddesdon Town | SOUTHEND MANOR | ENFIELD | - |
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