How are the nerves then, Blues?
After a rollercoaster of a season, one that finished with us taking 4th spot in a very competitive Isthmian Premier Division, we move into the playoffs to decide who will accompany champions Hornchurch in the National League South next season.
Saturday’s result and celebrations were the culmination of 8 months of hard work from the playing staff and the club as a whole, and they give us the right to battle local rivals Enfield Town for a spot in Monday’s playoff final. And with around 2,000 fans expected at the Dave Bryant Stadium, it’s expected to be a fantastic evening.
Our Opponents
Enfield will need no introduction, after two games against them already this season. They are perennial promotion and playoff candidates and this season finished the season in 3rd, one point in front of the Blues in 4th, and two behind Chatham in 2nd.
They have playoff experience at this level, having lost out to Hornchurch at home in the 21/22 season. They were winning 2-1 in the 87th minute on that occasion, eventually going down to two late goals. Blues fans will recognise the Cheshunt player who scored the winning goal in the final that year: our very own Zack Newton.
Before losing to Whitehawk last Tuesday, Enfield had won their previous five games, scoring seventeen and conceding just three in the process; it’s fair to say then that they’re hot right now.
Head To Head
This season has not been pretty reading for the Blues against Enfield. After a 4-1 defeat at home in October, we managed to get a point at their place in February, with Zack Newton and Anointed Chukwu putting us 2-0 up at half time, before the home side’s comeback.
The point secured that day was valuable in the final run in, but it means that Enfield remain the only side in the top 9 of the league that we failed to beat this season. In fact the last time we beat them was two seasons ago, running out 4-1 victors at home on a cold Tuesday night in February. Antonis Vasiliou had two goals that night.
Last Time Out
You won’t need reminding of the Blues’ victory on Saturday, putting three goals past Carshalton to guarantee our shot against Enfield. The scenes after the final whistle were fantastic for everyone involved, and it will sure be a day that lives long in the memory for the almost 400 fans who were there.
Enfield, for their part, had already qualified, and so rested a few key players for their game against second placed Chatham. The game finished 2-2, and was a good chance to witness what could well be a preview of the final on Bank Holiday Monday. The Chats’ win means that they will have guaranteed home advantage for the whole playoff run, while the winner of this game would be the home team in the final, should Horsham beat Chatham in Kent.
Players to Watch
Enfield have two of the top four goal scorers from the division this season, with Marcus Wyllie taking home the Golden Boot after bagging 30 goals. Sam Youngs finished fourth with 23. There’s no doubt they’ll be key to everything that Enfield do going forward, and their threat is obvious for everyone to see.
The likes of Bernard Tanner and Joshua Okotcha have been very important players for Town at the back, and so they come into this fixture with a well set and very capable squad.
For the Blues, it will be a chance for Players’ Player Elliot Long, and Supporters’ Player Ruben Carvalho to stamp their mark on the playoffs. They have scored 43 league goals between them this year, and will want to finish the season in the fine form that has accompanied them and the side from the very start.
And while this is a young side, there is playoff experience with Zack Newton, who has been promoted via this route with Cheshunt two years ago.
Whatever happens in Enfield, it promises to be a fantastic night for the club in front of a very large crowd. You can be there to join the large contingent of Blues making the journey by picking up your tickets here, so make sure you join us to celebrate a fantastic season, and to get behind the team.
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