St Margaretsbury 2 Enfield 0

The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Sunday 12th August 2018

Goals from Cassidy-Sinclair and Summers helped send St Margaretsbury into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup after they saw off Enfield at The Recreation Ground.

The hosts came into this one off the back of a heavy defeat in their opening game in the league so were looking for a response, whilst Enfield had lost their opening game of the season before throwing away two points after letting a two goal lead slip in their second outing, so they too were looking for a positive result here.

A fairly quiet opening twenty minutes elapsed, although you felt Enfield were edging the play, and then they won themselves a penalty after a handball was given against the hosts, but the visitors saw their spot kick saved and the game stayed goalless.

This seemed to wake the hosts up and they created their first opening just before the half hour mark when a good ball into the box caught the visitors defence napping, but the keeper managed to thwart the hosts with a good save with his legs.

In the 33^rd minute though the hosts did find the net to edge in front when a good ball into the box was nodded into the path of Cassidy-Sinclair who smacked a brilliant effort into the back of the net and it meant the hosts took a slender lead into the break.

Half Time St Margaretsbury 1 Enfield 0

Moments into the second period the hosts sent a powerful effort at Enfield’s goal which was well held by the keeper, and then shortly after Cassidy-Sinclair could have had his and the hosts second but scooped over the bar.

Enfield tried to respond and drove down the left hand side but saw the effort go into the side netting, whilst back down the other end in the 56^th minute the hosts attacked and cut inside but saw the effort tipped wide of the post.

And seven minutes later Cassidy-Sinclair dragged another great chance wide after the ball had dropped to him inside the area, and it meant the game remained in the balance still, and two minutes later Enfield headed a cross over the bar to make sure the hosts knew they were still in the tie.

The hosts sent another effort way off target with just over twenty minutes left, before the visitors caused brief panic in the hosts defence after the keeper was left in no mans land after the ball had been lobbed over him into the six yard box, however the defence managed to head the danger clear.

With just over ten minutes remaining a great run by the hosts saw them beat a couple of defenders before sending an effort at goal which the keeper saved, and then a minute later came the killer second for the home side when Summers brushed off his marker before sending an effort into the net.

Enfield tried to find a way back into the contest in the final ten minutes but they never really threatened, and when Bradbury sent an effort way over the bar, it kind of summed up their day in front of goal.

The visitors did force the hosts keeper into one final save deep deep into added on time, but it was never going to alter the outcome of this one and it was St Margaretsbury who triumphed and will travel to take on Long Melford in the Preliminary Round in two weekends time.

Full Time St Margaretsbury 2 Enfield 0