I was over at Lower Road to see if Hullbridge Sports could bounce back from their disappointing FA Vase exit at the hands of Berkhamsted last weekend as they hosted Enfield 1893 in a ESL match on a chilly afternoon in Essex.
Enfield themselves came into this one off the back of a magnificent home win over Ilford last weekend so Hullbridge would have to be on their metal to get the better of the Barrow’s Farm side.
The visitors started the better too and went close a couple of minutes into the contest when Emyr Rowlands saw a deflected shot go inches wide of the hosts goal as the home side struggled to get a foot on the ball early on. The visitors attacked again on 11 minutes and carved out another opening which saw Ibrahim Kagbanda’s effort well saved by Jamie Merrells before the follow up shot was drilled over. It was no surprise therefore when Enfield took a 15th minute lead when after Merrells parried Ashley Blackburn’s effort, Joe Pattison was on hand to follow up and bury the rebound, giving the visitors a deserved lead.
The hosts almost responded immediately but saw Jimmy Cox‘s volley go straight at Jordan Warren from close range and then midway through the half good play from hosts winger Matt Brinklow saw his cross volleyed back across goal by the hosts but no one was on hand to turn the ball home. The hosts carved out another chance on 24 minutes, seeing a cross hooked back into the danger zone for Rory Clark but his header was well saved by Warren.
The visitors though looked lively still and dangerous going forward and a minute later saw a close range effort Rowlands saved well by Merrells, preventing his side from going two goals behind. And then just past the half hour mark the hosts levelled when a Sam Taylor free kick from the right was swung in and headed home at the far post by Reece Brandon.
However the visitors continued to be a menace up front and three minutes later saw them attack down the right through Kadean Campbell, who after breezing past his marker sent a dangerous ball across goal, although sadly for him and his side no one gambled on it and it flew away from danger. Eight minutes before the break Brinklow intercepted a crossfield pass from the visitors but fired his long range effort wide whilst up the other end three minutes later Rowlands mananged to break into the box but saw his effort held by Merrells.
Then came a two goal burst from the hosts just before half time. Firstly with four minutes of the half to go Sports were awarded a penalty after Clark was brought down inside the box by Pattison and Cox converted the spot kick via Warren’s hand and then two minutes into first half stoppage time they added a third when Cox laid a ball across to Harry Skinner whose first time effort beat Warren to his right and nestle in the corner of the net. It was harsh on the visitors who had more than played their part in this contest but it was Hullbridge who went into the break two goals ahead.
Half Time Hullbridge Sports 3 Enfield 1893 1
The next goal was crucial in this contest and two minutes after the restart the visitors created a chance when Lewis Lawford-Page burst into the box, cut inside onto his right foot but struck his effort wide. A minute later the hosts Bradley Morgan fired one across goal but no one was there to convert as both sides looked for that crucial goal.
Just before the hour mark a great ball into the area by the hosts towards Morgan saw the Sports player totally miss the cross when well placed in front of goal but it mattered not as Hullbridge had another two goal burst in five minutes just past the hour mark, firstly on 61 minutes when Clark headed home a cut back from close range and then five minutes later more sloppy play from the visitors saw Brinklow given the freedom of Lower Road to run through andslot past Warren with ease and give the hosts a four goal cushion.
Enfield to their credit kept going and with just over twenty minutes left sloppy defending from the hosts allows Justin Maynard, who was on loan from Basildon United, to strike home past Merrells from just inside the box, and give Neil Blackburn’s side a faint glimmer of hope perhaps.
Sports brought on Charlie Little and with just under fifteen minutes remaining he almost grabbed a goal when he managed to get through on goal but saw his effort glance off the bar and go over. The visitors tried to get another goal back with just over ten minutes to go but saw a good block inside the hosts box deny them, who to be fair were still trying to give it a go.
However with seven minutes to go the game was well and truly finished off when Little did get his goal when after Morgan had given him the ball he turned his marker magnificently before striking an effort past Warren for the hosts sixth. So the points go to Hullbridge who were clinical in front of goal today although the scoreline was slightly harsh on Enfield who had certainly given their opponents a good game but sloppy errors and poor decisions cost them dear. Hullbridge remain in tenth spot whilst Enfield stay in 17th.
Full Time Hullbridge Sports 6 Enfield 1893 2
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