Enfield Town 2 Lowestoft Town 1

Att 240

Teams:-
Enfield Town: Imber (Kendall 53 mins), Lockie, Stevens, White, Kirby, Wild, Allen (O'Brien 80 mins), Olondo, Hope, Wallace (Osei 79 mins), Campbell
Subs; Kendall, Hahn, O'Brien, Osei, Matata

Lowestoft Town: Jones, Okay, Williams, Gaughran, Adam Smith, Fisk, Henderson (Fitzgerald 83 mins), Lee Smith, Jarvis, Eagle, Jack Ainsley
Subs; Stuart Ainsley, Fitzgerald, Bailey, Jessup

Lowestoft Town pay the ultimate price for missed first half chances, as Enfield win 2-1 and send them out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle.

The bad luck on the injury front continued as both Frew and man of the moment Reed were missing with muscle strains. While reserve team players Fitzgerald and Bailey were included on the bench, along with Jessup and Stuart Ainsley.
Lowestoft took to the pitch in all red with Jack Ainsley up top, Lee Smith supporting from deep and Eagle and Henderson in the wide positions. Enfield as always, lined up with a very attacking formation.

Lowestoft came close to taking an early lead in bizarre fashion, as Adam Smith sent one in from the right and Henderson got his knee firmly on the ball to send it over the keeper and dropping just over the bar. Lowestoft were showing the early pressure and possession and with a good ball down the left channel by Adam Smith he found Jack Ainsley, who drove into the area but came up against a good tackle by White.
The game then suffered a delay following a 50/50 challenge between the keeper Imber and Gaughran, with the keeper having to receive treatment before continuing.
Enfield defender White was looking really alert as he snuffled out another Lowestoft chance and then immediately followed it with a great blocking tackle on Lee Smith, who had burst forward with intent.
Lowestoft were on the front foot and came so close to scoring with Jones throwing the ball out to Henderson, him bursting down the right and sending it across the face of goal but with Jack Ainsley at full stretch, he wasn't quite able to get the all important touch.
Henderson was getting a lot of joy down the right and Lowestoft were continuing to probe the Enfield back line. Okay crossed from the right and Jarvis sent a header high and over, as the thirty minute mark approached and Lowestoft were camped in the Enfield half.
Enfield started to get a bit more possession in the Lowestoft half as half time approached but they were showing very little up front and Williams and Gaughran looked in control.
Adam Smith had picked up where he'd left off against Carshalton, bending a lovely ball down the left channel and round the back off the defence to find Jack Ainsley but his shot from the angle was pushed away by the keeper.
Lowestoft were hoping that they wouldn't rue missed chances, as another one went begging with Lee Smith finding Henderson from the right and him sending a free header wide.
A rare effort on goal by Enfield saw Jones get down easily to a Hope free-kick, as the half came to a close with Enfield offering very little and Lowestoft with all the chances but not having capitalised on them.

Enfield came out for the second half on the front foot with Okay having to put a tackle in and then shortly followed by Jones having to be quick off his line to deal with the danger.
Lowestoft had been guilty of missed chances so far but with just three second half minutes on the clock, they took the lead. An Eagle free kick from the right saw the keeper make a right mess of it by not getting hold of it fully and dropping it to Gaughran, who was on hand to tap it home for 1-0 (48 mins).
Williams was booked shortly after this and the resulting free kick from Hope cracked against the foot of the post and went wide.
Enfield goalkeeper Imber had been injured early on in the first half and was clearly still struggling but with no keeper on the bench Enfield were forced to replace him with an outfield player, as Kendall took the gloves.
Enfield were certainly getting more men forward this half and were going for it much more but Lowestoft were working hard to try and keep them at bay. Unfortunately for Lowestoft, Enfield had got their tails up a bit and even though they hadn't threatened much up to this point, they drew level. A fantastic ball was sent forward from the middle by Wallace and with the Lowestoft defence being dissected by its quality, Campbell was in and finished really we'll to send the ball under Jones and into the net for 1-1 (61 mins).
Lowestoft then had a great chance to immediately hit back at the other end but with Eagle finding Henderson over the top, he was guilty of not producing a better finish and the keeper saved to keep it all square.
Lowestoft were now starting to look for the longer ball forward but with Jack Ainsley finding it hard up top, a return to playing it on the deck was needed if they were to restore their lead.
Enfield were looking to stretch the play with Wallace and Campbell hitting the touch lines at every opportunity. The home fans vocally shouted for a penalty as a long free kick forward saw Jones fail to get the ball but seemingly connect with Hope. However, with there being no serious shouts or complaints coming from the Enfield players, it appeared to support that the referees decision not to award a spot kick was probably correct.
The game was now finely balanced and was turning into a good tussle with both sides hoping to avoid a Tuesday night replay.
Lowestoft had now returned to knocking it around on the deck but with a lack of crosses and shots, they had not really asked any questions of the part time keeper.
Okay has not always looked comfortable at right back in the past but he was doing his job well and was getting forward to support with some solid passing as the final fifteen approached.
Enfield made their two remaining changes as the match entered the final stages and with just seven minutes remaining, Enfield landed what proved to be the winning blow. Lockie was in possession out on the right and sent a ball across the goal to an unmarked Hope, who finished with ease to send the home supporters wild and Enfield ahead 2-1 (83 mins).
Lowestoft tried their arm by introducing promising reserve team striker Adam Fitzgerald into the game in place of a limping Henderson but with Okay picking up a booking and the minutes running out, Lowestoft were out of the FA Trophy.

It was a frustrating result for Lowestoft who had easily created the most chances in the game but games are won by putting those chances away and Lowestoft will be feeling a little sore after losing the match.

Henderson caused problems down the right, especially in the first half and Fisk put in another simplistic but solid performance. Gaughran came close to taking the Man of the Match honours with some solid defending and being in the right place to score the goal. However, my Man of the Match was Adam Smith, who for the second game in succession showed great distribution and tackling throughout.

Lowestoft are next in action on Saturday when they welcome Kingstonian to the Crown Meadow, for what will be a tough test in the league.

Terry Bullen