AFC Dunstable 4 - 2 ENFIELD FC
AFC Dunstable 4 - 2 Enfield FC
5th October 2024
A really hard fought and competitive game – the first ever meeting between the two sides - in some delightful early September weather saw AFC deservedly bring home maximum points for the third game running.
AFC took the game to the visitors and the first 5 minutes were spent almost entirely in the visitors half – and often in the danger areas. Perhaps it was the elation of getting the ball upfield that saw the Enfield centre forward put in an awful challenge on Max that on another day could have snapped his leg. A definite red card if ever there was one, but the referee decided to only give a yellow in spite of his linesman insisting it should have been red – a very lucky man to stay on the pitch.
With 6 minutes of the game gone the referee decided that there was too much of a colour clash – AFC in their light blue and Enfield in white, so AFC had to change their shirts to the red away kit.
AFC deservedly went in front on 13 minutes but perhaps a little fortuitously. Some good work on the right from Bruce saw him take on his full back and play the ball in to Tommy who smacked the ball home. The linesman on that side flagged for a foul but the linesman over-ruled him and allowed the goal – much to the annoyance of our visitors. (Referee 2 linesmen 0?)
Seven minutes later, the game was level as the Enfield number 18, Nyanja Fahad hit a very well taken shot past Seb in the home goal – game on. Enfield were now in the ascendency and only a superb defensive header from Max stopped Enfield from taking the lead from a well struck free kick out on the right. AFC continued to press and there was a penalty shout on 28 minutes when Bruce went down in the area but the ref waved the appeals away. With half time fast approaching Sean chased down a through ball as the keeper came rushing out to make a clearance. The keeper got there first but the ball cannoned off Sean who took advantage by then following the ball in to the unguarded net giving AFC a 2-1 half time lead.
Within 10 minutes of the second half, Enfield were level again. A high ball lofted in to the box from the left evaded everyone except for Ben Wyss who slid in to score at the far post. Enfield’s tails were up and they followed up the goal with a couple of half chances – one that sailed well wide and a free kick that was gathered easily by Seb.
Half way through the half, a double substitution saw Rico and Archie take the field – an inspired change as the game really went AFCs way from then on. Within 3 minutes of his introduction, Rico had a shot that the keeper did really well to get down to by the post. There was another flowing move soon after that when Rico played a superb ball out to George who was unlucky not to score.
Cometh the hour (well 77 minutes to be more precise), cometh the man. Russell came on as sub for Sean and within 6 minutes he put us back in front when he dribbled the ball past 2 or 3 defenders and forced the ball home from a tight angle. He followed that up with another superbly taken goal in the last minute – an excellent through ball sent Russell scampering through on goal with just the keeper to beat which he did with great confidence and technique to place the ball in the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Five minutes of added time were played during which Enfield had another couple of half chances but nothing to worry Seb in the home goal.
Man of the match as voted by the committee went to Russell.
Team: Seb Stacey, Harry Riley, Kayan Frazer-Williams, Kyle Lynch, Ben Lynch, Max Rosner, George Joyce, Bruce Ovbiye-Nsang, Sean Duodu, Tommy Blennerhassett, Kyle Brooks
Subs: Hayden Beadle, Rico Greco, Archie Long, Russell Berko, Dan Tagoe
