ENFIELD BOROUGH WIN A NINE GOAL THRILLER AGAINST SOUTHEND MANOR

AS USUAL THE PLAYING SURFACE AT WINGATE & FINCHLEY LOOKED IN GREAT CONDITION

The Maurice Rebak Stadium is just a stone's throw for Alexandra Palace where Luke Humphries made headlines by winning The 2024 PDC World Darts Championship last week beating Luke Littler in the final. The famous North London landmark features a Television tower which is visible from the home of Wingate and Finchley where Enfield Borough currently ground share and their Thurlow Nunn First Division South game against Southend Manor most certainly hit the bullseye for entertainment with an incredible nine goals scored and a red card incident that has caused quite a stir on social media! 

As usual Borough had a number of very talented young players in their squad with three under 18s in their starting XI and a further two more coming off the bench in the second half. Their has been a recent managerial change with Andi Hoxha (who had been Assistant Manager) coming in to replace Malik Yansaneh who had left prior to Christmas. 

His first game in charge had been a 2-2 draw at home to title challenger's Clapton Community who came back from 2-0 down to equalise in the 95th minute! 

Southend Manor, who were relegated from the Essex Senior League last season, came to North London in mid-table. They had lost their last game 0-1 at home to Barkingside but also won 7-2 and 4-2 at home to Tower Hamlets and Newbury Forest in December. 

It was the home side who had the best of things in the first half going 1-0 up via Marco Magunga goal. After around half an hour it was the talking point of the game as Caleb Mpoy was red carded for a challenge in which he had his studs up - the amount of contact he made can't be confirmed via my camera angle - I'm sure he made the challenge with no intent to endanger the Southend Manor player. The referee who was about two steps away gave a straight red card almost immediately. 

THE REFEREE IN PRIME POSITITON TO SEE THE CHALLENGE

As I've said the clip has caused quite a stir on social media with alot of criticism aimed at the official - I would say the angle of the footage in inconclusive and the referee was in a brilliant position to see what occurred. 

The ten men didn't sit back though and it was amazingly 3-0 at half time as former London Colney, Brentwood Town and Charlton Athletic professional Wilberforce Ocran scored twice with a close range header and a finish from the edge of the box following a near inter-change of passing. 

The Second Half will live long in the memory as Manor brough the game back to 3-3. The game had been delayed for around 10 minutes with the score at 3-2 due to two of the floodlights not working.

Shemarie Perkins-Palmer (Header), George Hart (free-kick) and Jack Harris were the scorers. They then had a goal chalked off for offside which looking at the replay was a great decision by the Assistant Referee. 

On 85 minutes Borough broke up field with substitute Sachon Lawrence-Edwards showing great pace to run with the ball and get a shot on target which was only parried into the Magunga who slotted the ball into the net. 

Only two minutes later Suhail Yasin scored an incredible goal from the edge of the box (it did get a slight deflection) to make it 4-4! 

The drama wasn't over as Borough netted a winner in added time when Lawrence-Edwards was able to poke the ball over the line from close range after a free-kick lifted in from the edge of the box. 

It was truly amazing game that will live long in the memory. Both teams will take pros and cons form the match as they look to move forward in January and February. 

Manor's management team of Nick Wibrow and Mark Royal have been in  place since early November. They  are thirteen points away from the play-off zone so if they can put a few wins in a row together who knows? 

Borough will continue to develop young players and given them a chance in Senior Football which is fantastic to see for local non-league football. 

Harry Cooke, Harry Phantis, Rory Connolly-Harding, Cian Jelly and Kyle Finlayter-Lynch were all included in the match day squad - All have played for Borough's under 18 side in the Eastern Junior Alliance League this season. 

Several of their players stood out including Phantis in defence and Connolly-Harding who is a very hard working box-to-box type midfielder with a good range of passing. They are definitely two names to look out for in the future. 

Borough entertain Newbury Forest tonight before four away trips in a row to Dunmow Town, Hoddesdon Town, May & Baker and Benfleet. 

Manor have two home games scheduled next with Brimsdown coming to Southchurch Park on Saturday and Wormley Rovers visiting the seaside on Saturday 20th January. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS - FIRST HALF 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS - SECOND HALF 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS - GOALS ONLY 

RED CARD INCIDENT 

YELLOW CARDS INCIDENT