[OS] REPORT: United 2 – 1 Enfield
Posted: 10 Aug 2024, 18:46
United 2 (Carson 15′, Ash 28′) Enfield Town 1 (Taaffe 4′) There was opening day joy at Plainmoor on Saturday, as United’s new era kicked off with a 2-1 victory over Enfield Town. After Enfield’s Lewis Taafe drew first blood for the visitors, United responded swiftly through Matt Carson, and things got even better before the break, with Brad Ash sending The Gulls into the break 2-1 up. Chances came and went in the second period, but with the Yellow Army backing them every step of the way, The Gulls saw the result through. Town, savouring the opportunity to be party-poopers on their opponent’s big day, struck after just four minutes. Having already enjoyed a couple of promising forays into United territory, it was a cross from the left flank that undid Paul Wotton’s side, as a whipped delivery into the penalty found Taaffe, who gleefully steered home a glancing header inside the far-post. That certainly woke Torquay up, and they went within a whisker of drawing level on twelve minutes. 
With the second of two Omar Mussa corners drawing everyone deep inside the box, the loose ball was directed back into the path of skipper Oscar Threlkeld, who steered a fine volley back towards goal, only to see his effort skim the crossbar. Parity wasn’t far away though. Another Mussa delivery – this time from a left-sided free-kick level with the 18-yard line – was pumped into the box, and with attackers and defenders once again drawn to the dangerous cross, Carson was well-placed to drill his effort into the net, via a deflection, from just inside the area. Plainmoor was bouncing now, and The Gulls were well and truly on top. Sam Dreyer, gambling on another ball from the left flank, was just unable to steer home a close-range effort at the back post in the 19th minute, before Cody Cooke followed suit from a more central position two minutes later. In the 28th minute, United were ahead. With the left wing proving particularly productive for Wotton’s side, this time it was Ash who profited, as he steered home the second glancing header of the game to make it 2-1. 
The Gulls’ dominance didn’t stop there. Enfield were now struggling to get out of their half, and seven minutes later, Ash outmuscled a retreating Town defender, before sending a low shot narrowly past the far-post from a tight angle. Mussa, having provided plenty of ammunition for his attacking comrades, then had a go himself, however his 22-yarder was straight down the throat of visiting glovesman Rhys Forster. Plenty of action in the first 45, and there was plenty more after the restart, too. The Towners were doing just what they did at the start of the game – taking the game to United, but this time, the men in yellow handled the threat better. Once again, United were enjoying themselves down the left, with Dreyer’s near-post ball diverted off a defender’s boot straight into the path of Cody Cooke, but his goal-bound effort from eight yards was bravely blocked by an Enfield defender at point-blank range. Clear-cut chances weren’t flowing quite so freely for a period thereafter, although the territorial advantage remained with the hosts. 
A marvellous passing move nearly brought a third midway through the second period, with substitute Lirak Hasani’s clever pass found Ash tearing into space, however his diagonal strike was smothered by Forster. Enfield remained a threat on the break though, and it took a sublime sliding tackle from Dreyer to prevent Town replacement striker Hisham Kasimu testing James Hamon following a strong run into the box. After an Assistant’s flag ruled out Ben Seymour’s ‘goal’ with seven to spare, it looked like the result would be based as much on The Gulls’ ability to maintain their one-goal advantage, as it would on their ambition to extend it. A Dan Hayfield free-kick from 20 yards went close to bringing the house down until it cleared the woodwork, before Seymour saw another effort deflected wide from 18 yards. A goalmouth scramble saw a number of United players just unable to steer the ball home – it looked like Dreyer struck the bar – as Torquay’s pursuit for a third continued to be foiled. Deep into injury-time, Enfield had their chance to take a point. A heroic save from Hamon, followed swiftly by a last-gasp interception from Dyer kept the ball out when an equaliser seemed certain, and both were greeted with huge cheers from the Yellow Army. That was that, with the referee blowing up shortly after. The joy that greeted the final whistle made it hard to believe that only a few months ago, TUFC’s very existence was in serious doubt. Although this is only three points, there’s now every hope this could be the start of something special. Very special. UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3 Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 10. Omar Mussa (7. Lirak Hasani, 57′), 11. Brad Ash (9. Ben Seymour, 71′), 14. Matt Carson, 17. Finn Tonks, 18. Oscar Threlkeld (c) (8. Roddy Collins, 82′), 19. Cody Cooke (15. Jadyn Crosbie, 82′), 20. Dan Hayfield. SUBS NOT USED: 16. Ed Palmer. Booking: Tonks 56′ ENFIELD TOWN: 1. Rhys Forster, 2. Bernanrd Tanner, 3. Jospeh Payne, 4. Scott Thomas (c) (19. Hirsham Kasimu, 73′), 5. Joash Nembhard, 7. Oliver Knight, 8. Sam Youngs (16. Herson Alves, 87′), 10. Michael Folivi (15. Reece Beckles-Richards, 82′), 11. Lewis Taafe (17. Dylan Adjey-Hersey, 61′), 14. Ernaldo Krasniqi, 18. John Oyenuga (20. Mickey Parcell, 87′). Booking: Krasniqi 26′ Attendance: 3,837 (214 away)The post REPORT: United 2 – 1 Enfield first appeared on Torquay United.
Source: https://torquayunited.com/report-united-2-1-enfield/
With the second of two Omar Mussa corners drawing everyone deep inside the box, the loose ball was directed back into the path of skipper Oscar Threlkeld, who steered a fine volley back towards goal, only to see his effort skim the crossbar. Parity wasn’t far away though. Another Mussa delivery – this time from a left-sided free-kick level with the 18-yard line – was pumped into the box, and with attackers and defenders once again drawn to the dangerous cross, Carson was well-placed to drill his effort into the net, via a deflection, from just inside the area. Plainmoor was bouncing now, and The Gulls were well and truly on top. Sam Dreyer, gambling on another ball from the left flank, was just unable to steer home a close-range effort at the back post in the 19th minute, before Cody Cooke followed suit from a more central position two minutes later. In the 28th minute, United were ahead. With the left wing proving particularly productive for Wotton’s side, this time it was Ash who profited, as he steered home the second glancing header of the game to make it 2-1. The Gulls’ dominance didn’t stop there. Enfield were now struggling to get out of their half, and seven minutes later, Ash outmuscled a retreating Town defender, before sending a low shot narrowly past the far-post from a tight angle. Mussa, having provided plenty of ammunition for his attacking comrades, then had a go himself, however his 22-yarder was straight down the throat of visiting glovesman Rhys Forster. Plenty of action in the first 45, and there was plenty more after the restart, too. The Towners were doing just what they did at the start of the game – taking the game to United, but this time, the men in yellow handled the threat better. Once again, United were enjoying themselves down the left, with Dreyer’s near-post ball diverted off a defender’s boot straight into the path of Cody Cooke, but his goal-bound effort from eight yards was bravely blocked by an Enfield defender at point-blank range. Clear-cut chances weren’t flowing quite so freely for a period thereafter, although the territorial advantage remained with the hosts. A marvellous passing move nearly brought a third midway through the second period, with substitute Lirak Hasani’s clever pass found Ash tearing into space, however his diagonal strike was smothered by Forster. Enfield remained a threat on the break though, and it took a sublime sliding tackle from Dreyer to prevent Town replacement striker Hisham Kasimu testing James Hamon following a strong run into the box. After an Assistant’s flag ruled out Ben Seymour’s ‘goal’ with seven to spare, it looked like the result would be based as much on The Gulls’ ability to maintain their one-goal advantage, as it would on their ambition to extend it. A Dan Hayfield free-kick from 20 yards went close to bringing the house down until it cleared the woodwork, before Seymour saw another effort deflected wide from 18 yards. A goalmouth scramble saw a number of United players just unable to steer the ball home – it looked like Dreyer struck the bar – as Torquay’s pursuit for a third continued to be foiled. Deep into injury-time, Enfield had their chance to take a point. A heroic save from Hamon, followed swiftly by a last-gasp interception from Dyer kept the ball out when an equaliser seemed certain, and both were greeted with huge cheers from the Yellow Army. That was that, with the referee blowing up shortly after. The joy that greeted the final whistle made it hard to believe that only a few months ago, TUFC’s very existence was in serious doubt. Although this is only three points, there’s now every hope this could be the start of something special. Very special. UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3 Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 10. Omar Mussa (7. Lirak Hasani, 57′), 11. Brad Ash (9. Ben Seymour, 71′), 14. Matt Carson, 17. Finn Tonks, 18. Oscar Threlkeld (c) (8. Roddy Collins, 82′), 19. Cody Cooke (15. Jadyn Crosbie, 82′), 20. Dan Hayfield. SUBS NOT USED: 16. Ed Palmer. Booking: Tonks 56′ ENFIELD TOWN: 1. Rhys Forster, 2. Bernanrd Tanner, 3. Jospeh Payne, 4. Scott Thomas (c) (19. Hirsham Kasimu, 73′), 5. Joash Nembhard, 7. Oliver Knight, 8. Sam Youngs (16. Herson Alves, 87′), 10. Michael Folivi (15. Reece Beckles-Richards, 82′), 11. Lewis Taafe (17. Dylan Adjey-Hersey, 61′), 14. Ernaldo Krasniqi, 18. John Oyenuga (20. Mickey Parcell, 87′). Booking: Krasniqi 26′ Attendance: 3,837 (214 away)The post REPORT: United 2 – 1 Enfield first appeared on Torquay United.Source: https://torquayunited.com/report-united-2-1-enfield/