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It was Town's first game in almost three weeks and it showed at times, but they got the three points needed to start the New Year off. The game started brightly enough for Town with a spell of early pressure, but Bowers settled after five minutes and started to grow in confidence. David Allen showed his pace down the right but his ball in to the centre was straight at the keeper. With 12 minutes gone Paul Landers played in Kite for Bowers, but the ball would not come down and he couldn't get a shot off. Back up the other end Rudi Hall tried to find David Allen from a free kick but it was cut out. Allen continued to cause problems with his pace and almost managed to play Digby through but the pass was put behind for a corner. Moments later he almost scored when a shot on the turn was just off target. Nyman created a chance for himself as he picked the ball up with his back to goal, but his shot went wide of the post.

In the 24th minute Rudi Hall played in a splendid corner to the back of the box to be met by a late arriving Graeme Hall. His header left Trevor Wickens no chance, as it found the back of the net. Town's lead was short lived as Lee Digby was caught out at the back and brought down Reeve as he headed for goal. The referee pointed straight at the spot and Reeve duly converted the kick. Digby was fortunate to stay on the pitch as he was not deemed to be the last man due to the presence of Baldwin in the area, but the controversy was to increase shortly after when Smith and Nyman chased a long through ball. As the ball went wide of the area, Trevor Wickens in the Bowers goal had to try and play it clear of the incoming forwards. He did well to prevent Nyman playing past him but collided with Smith. After much discussion, he was unfortunate to be shown a straight red card. Kite was then replaced by Danny Vile who came on to keep goal. After the lengthy delay due to the sending off the free kick was a bit of an anti climax, and dealt with easily by the Bowers defence. Appearing riled by the sending off, Bowers upped their game and could have taken the lead as Reeve ran through the absent Town defence before passing to Michael Hunt who should have done better. Town seemed to have lost their concentration defensively and as tempers flared half time was a welcome cool off period for both sides.

The second half was not quite as controversial, with Town chasing a winner and Bowers putting up a stoic defence, working hard to keep things level. Allen had an early chance when he shot wide from close range shortly after the restart. Lee Digby was getting forward more and more and Town signalled their intentions by replacing Graeme Butler with Jacqou Massala. It was Rudi Hall who got the goal with a sweetly struck free kick from the edge of the box, as he chipped over the wall and out of the reach of replacement keeper Danny Vile. Bowers had a chance to equalise almost immediately as Stuart Fergus fought for space for a shot, but it was cleared by some last ditch Town defending. Nyman then had a chance to clinch it for Town when he broke into the box from the right but was denied by a good save from Vile.

Pamplin came on to liven up the Town attack for the last ten minutes as Bowers were now being stretched despite their hard work. Nyman hit the post, as Town had a period of almost total possession and they were making use of the extra man advantage. With four minutes left, Bowers could still have got a share of the points. A ball wide to Adam Swindells was played back across the Town area to Tom Dosser, but with an empty net gaping, he mis-hit the shot and Town were let off the hook. Vile did well to deny Nyman, parrying his fierce shot, as Town tried to get a third, and Allen did well to mesmerise the Bowers defence before flashing a ball across the face of the goal, but no-one could connect with it in what proved to be the last chance of the game.

Enfield Town: A.Hall, Digby, Baldwin, Penn, G.Hall, Butler (Massala 56), Allen, R.Hall, Smith (Pamplin 80), Riley (Ndombe 71), Nyman. Subs not used: Byfield, Wright. Booked: R.Hall, Riley, Allen.

Bowers & Pitsea: Wickens, Swindells, Landers, Parkes, Birkett, Saunders, Kite (Vile 34), Fergus, Reeve (Dosser 58), Barry, Hunt. Subs not used: Warner, Marron, Kennett. Booked: Dosser, Hunt, Barry, Reeve, Saunders. Sent Off: Wickens.

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Another three points for Town as they dominated this game but still ended up hanging on for the final whistle. The game took the same form as the recent league cup game between the two sides with Town having the best of the early play and dominating the game only to fail to finish off the game and allow Manor the opportunity to get back into the game.

Rudi Hall had the best of the early action, when a foul on Lee Smith set up a free kick 25 yards out but it was hit straight at the keeper. With David Allen and Matt Negus spreading the play down both wings Manor were being stretched at the back. With only ten minutes gone a good one-two between Negus and Pamplin allowed Negus to play a cross from the left that just evaded the keeper and David Allen appeared at the back post to throw himself at the ball and divert it into the net for Town's first. Allen had another chance moments later cutting inside the box but his shot lacked power. Glen Connolly had a chance for Manor with a shot from the edge of the box but Andy Hall did well to gather, but the threat was there from Eton Manor and Town needed to extend their lead to be certain of the win. As they pressed forward Negus and Smith both had chances, but it was not going in, as a Town period of dominance was only challenged by a long range shot from Johnny Quinn. When Lee Smith closed down Carl Prince in the Eton Manor goal he spilled the ball wide and Asa Pamplin was onto it like a flash, rounding the keeper only to see his pass blocked. On the half hour mark Lee Smith volleyed an excellent cross from David Allen only to see it deflected clear. His overhead pass just after that almost put Carey Wright through, but it caught out defenders and attackers alike. Asa Pamplin was having a good game and causing problems for the Eton Manor defence, a shot from the edge of the box being charged down as his confidence was growing. Town were unlucky not to get a second when David Allen hit a fierce shot on the turn but it went just wide. With Johnny Quinn having another shot from a free kick, Andy Hall did well to gather the high ball under pressure from Chris Barrett.

The second half was an anti climax for the Town as they failed to press home the advantage earned in the first half. David Allen lashed a dipping shot just over the bar as he charged into the box. On 57minutes a good chance went begging after a mix up between Carey Wright and Lee Smith, but despite Towns early threat, Manor had a great opportunity to level the score when Steve Reading was played clear on the right but his shot went over the bar. Attempts to liven up the Town attack seemed to back fire as with Pamplin and Allen off the pitch, Town's threat diminished and allowed Manor to break out more and more. The last ten minutes were a nervous time for Town with Andy Hall having to race to clear a long ball played through to Jay Felice. Rudi Hall had a shot over the bar in the last moments, but despite Marsh being sent off for the visitors, Town never seemed likely to get the second they needed to settle their nerves.

Enfield Town: A.Hall, Allen (Digby 70), Negus, Gant, Campbell, G.Hall, Wright, R.Hall, Smith (Ndombe 85), Penn, Pamplin (Byfield 60). Subs not used: Baldwin, Butler,

Eton Manor: Prince (Richards), Reading, Marsh, Mitchell, Barrett, Lobe, Connolly, Quinn (Mills), Whitelock, Hammond (Felice), Morris. Subs not used: Beattie, Fullbrook. Booked: Marsh. Sent Off: Marsh.

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Town got off to a strong start and immediately set about the APSA goal but it was only four minutes into the game when the pressure told. A good cross from the right was met with a superb header from debut striker Dean Green for Town's opening goal. With nerves settled, Town set about the task of extending the lead and kept the pressure on with good work down the right, Nyman and Rudi Hall combining well. It was 10 minutes before Apsa had their first break out of their own half with a good run down the right from Dakri, but his shot from the edge of the box was wide. Nyman was raiding well down the right and seemed keen after his recent break and it was 13 minutes when he cued up a shot only to see it cut out for a corner. Allen had a good chance with a header, but it whistled just past the post as Town kept the pressure on. When Ford brought down Green on the edge of the box, Rudi Hall curled the free kick round the wall and beat the unsighted keeper for Town's second on 17 minutes. With Town playing a quick passing game, they appeared to be in total control. Smith had a good shot from close in but the keeper did well to block, and a minute later he came close with a header from a free kick after Allen was brought down on the edge of the box. APSA had a brief attack on 25 minutes but without posing any real threat. Town were still pressing for another goal and should have made their possession pay as Green drilled a shot just wide after first Smith and then Allen had shots blocked. With the half winding down the pace dropped a bit, but Baldwin was very unlucky as the ball broke to him when his placed shot was palmed round the post by Peter Allen in the APSA goal who was certainly being kept busy. The half finished with Campbell flicking the ball over two defenders and running into the box, but with Nyman mis-hitting his shot, Green couldn't get a touch as it span over the line for a goal kick.

Town started the second half strongly but without the intensity of the first period. Apsa made some early substitutions and seemed to settle for damage limitation as first Nyman was played in by Green, and then Smith and Negus almost got through with a nice one-two, but Smith's shot was pushed wide by the keeper at the foot of the post. On 60 minutes Negus was only prevented from getting off a shot by some last ditch defending. APSA almost got back into the game with a superb free kick from the half way line by Bilal Bapu, his shot deserving more as it came out off the angle of the post and bar having caught out Andy Hall. It served to revitalise Apsa and they went at their task with renewed vigour. Town still had the upper hand though, and a long free kick from Graeme Hall almost put Green through but the ball came off his back for the keeper to collect. Nyman then blazed over from the edge of the box, and Smith held his head in despair as he saw his header evade the keeper only to curl just outside the post. Town seemed to be destined not to get the third until Carey Wright put over a good cross two minutes from the end. With the ball falling between Byfield and Ndombe, the keeper was helpless as Ndombe reacted first to drill the ball home. In the end, a confident display from Town capped by a superb debut from Dean Green.

Enfield Town: A.Hall, Campbell, Baldwin, Gant, G.Hall(Ndombe 72), Negus, Nyman, R.Hall, Smith (Wright 72), Allen, Green (Byfield 88). Subs not used: Digby, Masala.

London APSA : Allen, Saleh, M.Hussain, U.Hussain, Bapu, Kellie (Khan 50), Ford, Patel, Dakri, Samateer, Rahman (Anwar 50). Subs not used: Elamir, Lette. Booked: Ford

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