Under-23s rue missed chances in Town friendly

Despite an encouraging performance, a clinical display in front of goal from Enfield Town saw our young Under-23 side fall to a 2-0 defeat in their final pre-season outing on Wednesday evening.

Two early strikes, one from Billy Bricknell on 13 minutes and then a stunning volley from Joe Payne 12 minutes later, gave the home side the victory, but we weren’t without chances of our own - Elliott Thorpe denied by a remarkable point-blank save from goalkeeper Nathan McDonald in the first half.

We looked composed and comfortable in possession in the early stages at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium and created the first opening of the game when Kazaiah Sterling teed up Thorpe on the edge of the box but, with space and time, the midfielder could only send his curling effort over the bar.

It was a missed opportunity we were left to rue as Enfield took the lead a minute later. Played in down the right, Bricknell fired hard and low across the goal into the far corner. That 60 seconds proved the narrative of the game.

Unfazed by the goal, we remained positive and picked up where we left off, continuing to dominate possession and immediately probing for a way back into the game.

Yet, despite our bright response, 12 minutes later Enfield produced their second chance of the game and duly doubled their lead - and in quite spectacular fashion. This time a long, searching ball was launched forward and as it dropped to Payne in the box, the defender timed his strike perfectly to rattle home a sumptuous volley.

As the half wore on, chances of our own started to arrive but, unlike our opposition, we couldn’t quite apply the required finish.

First, Tarelle Whittaker could only head Michael Craig’s cross wide before Sterling steered his effort from distance narrowly off target. Then, as we approached the break, Thorpe struck first time from eight yards, only for the impressive McDonald to palm the ball away point-blank and maintain the home side's 2-0 lead into the break.

The game followed the same pattern in the second half. Sterling went close before Thorpe beat the offside trap on the hour, only to slide the one-on-one chance wide of the target. Enfield also went close with Sam Bantick firing over.

Despite the frustrations and near misses we continued to push for a consolation right until the final whistle and that desire nearly produced just rewards. Armando Shashoua wriggled away from two defenders before feeding a teasing ball across goal through a melee of players. The ball was turned towards the target in the six yard box but it was a case of deja-vu for us as, like with Thorpe’s goal-bound effort in the first half, McDonald was once again alive to the danger.

Match data

Goals: Enfield Town - Bricknell 13, Payne 25.

Referee: Alex Kyriacou.

Venue: Queen Elizabeth II Stadium.

Weather: Cloudy, 22 degrees.