Enfield Sport
Enfield Town boss delighted with home record in Ryman Division One North
4:43pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012
Victory for Enfield Town on Saturday saw Steve Newing’s side record their 11th consecutive home win in the league, and the manager moved to praise the impact of the record.
After two weeks away from competitive action due to the elements, Town continued their promotion charge by beating Heybridge Swifts 3-1 to keep up the pressure on Leiston.
Prior to entertaining Chatham Town last night in their rearranged contest (a match which Enfield won 3-0), the Towners’ phenomenal home run stretched back to before their move to the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
The last time Newing’s side failed to pick up three points on their own patch was September 24 against then-landlords Cheshunt, leaving the manager to describe the run as “brilliant”, as they look to enjoy a similarly strong end to the season.
“That is 11 league games we have won on the bounce at home. The run goes back to three games while we were at Cheshunt,” he explained on Monday.
“The home run has been brilliant. You cannot say any more than that. It has given everyone a lift.
“We have had attendances near the 500 mark. Thirty-three points out of 33 is a good run. Every three points we pick up is another game gone. All we can do is focus on ourselves.”
Enfield currently sit second in the Ryman Division One North table, still two points shy of leaders Leiston.
With only 12 games to go, Town are well-placed to challenge right to the end but Newing offered a word of caution in that regard.
The manager is looking for his side first and foremost to cement a play-off berth but pointed to the example of Needham Market, who last year finished second but still failed to achieve promotion.
With that in mind, Newing is looking for his squad to maintain their good form as the division starts to take the shape he predicted at the beginning of the campaign.
“If you look at the top seven, there are seven of the nine teams who I thought would be up there,” he continued.
“There are a lot of teams battling for play-off places. I would be surprised if the top seven didn’t finish as the current top seven. In what order, I don’t know.”
He added: “We haven’t won anything yet.”
Saturday’s victory was only secured late on after Enfield had been pegged back with just eight minutes to play.
Liam Hope’s penalty had given the hosts a half time lead which Newing described as a “bonus” after a lacklustre display in the opening period.
Luke Callander equalised for Swifts but Michael Ewang restored Enfield’s lead within a minute.
Any home nerves were settled by Hope’s second in the dying minutes, but although Newing was pleased to see his side claim the victory, he was not impressed by the first half performance.
“It was a bit of a bonus to be 1-0 up at half time because I wouldn’t say it was really deserved. We weren’t energetic enough and we didn’t force the issue enough.
“They gave it a go at the start of the second half and it opened the game up. That meant we were able to find holes and had a couple of chances,” said the manager.
“I thought if we could get the second goal, they would just give up the ghost but we didn’t get it and we failed to deal with a routine ball into the box.
“You thought we were going to get caught out but within a minute we regained the lead and that was a bit of a slap in the face for them.”
He continued: “I don’t necessarily think it was rustiness. I think it was a case of us thinking the game was a bit too easy and that something would happen eventually.
“Maybe it was rustiness, but I think it was more a lack of willingness to make something happen.”
Following last night’s match with Chatham, Enfield return to action on Saturday when they visit Waltham Forest.