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Success for 'EN3' as Town continue pressure in the league. Strikes from Ndombe, Nyman and Negus ensured all three points for Town as they comfortably won this encounter, Hullbridge having no answer to the strength of the Town side. Any hopes Hullbridge had for this game went up in smoke as soon as the eighth minute, when Town took the lead. The signs were good for the Town when Smith had a shot from close range after two minutes. New signing Sebastian Ndombe was quick to show his worth when played through in the eighth minute. With Seal rushing out, he calmly side footed over the keeper's head to get Town off the mark and to start a very impressive debut.

After sixteen minutes Mark Jackson had a shot at goal but it went wide without troubling Andy Hall. Moments later Rudi Hall was almost put through from a flick on by Smith but the keeper reacted well to gather. With Town now having most of the play, Nyman cut inside from the right to shoot low but the keeper did well to hold the shot. Lee Smith then did well to create space on the left but his shot dipped just over the bar as Town threatened to run riot. Ndombe tried to curl a ball over the keeper from wide on the right but didn't quite manage it. Nyman and Negus worked well together to win a corner and Smith headed the resultant cross at the feet of the keeper for it to spin out for a goal kick. Graeme Hall almost managed to head the ball past the keeper at the near post before Town got their second. With 38 minutes gone, a neat passing move saw Smith break down the left to square the ball to Ndombe in the centre. He held the ball well, drawing the defender before playing the ball into the path of Nyman whose shot rocketed into the net. Town could have had another if Nyman's cross minutes later had been converted but no one was on hand and Hullbridge breathed a sigh of relief. In a rare break on goal Mark Jackson had an opportunity to reduce the deficit just before half time but Hall did well in a one on one and came out to make a saving tackle outside his box.

The second half saw some early substitutions for Town as Ridout and Snowden replaced Campbell and Baldwin. Snowden almost played Nyman through moments later but the keeper covered well. Nyman was now causing problems down the right and his ball in to Negus was hit over the bar from the edge of the area, a minute later another Nyman centre was skied by Rudi Hall from inside the box. To make amends Rudi Hall then timed his pass to Negus to perfection as Negus charged in to send a screamer into the net from twenty yards out with the keeper helpless in the Hullbridge goal. With Town's confidence now high, John Ridout tried a shot from the edge of the box as they controlled the game with Hullbridge very much on the back foot. Town were playing a nice passing game now and managing to play keep ball on a surface much improved on the usual Hullbridge quagmire. Further chances fell to Ndombe, who was unlucky to see two successive headers go behind - the first off the head of a defender and the next, seconds later, off the woodwork. A Nyman cross in eluded Smith and Brotherton, only for Rudi Hall to shoot just wide. In the last minute Hullbridge did get a chance but the high ball in did not really trouble Brotherton, who managed to clear with ease.

Hullbridge Sports: Seal, Baker, Belcher, Sharmen (Webster), Papworth, Kreyling, Wheeler (Jilling), Keilty, Hughes, Hayles, Jackson. Subs not used: Wibrow, Hill, Ogilvie.

Enfield Town: Hall, Campbell (Ridout 51), Baldwin (Snowden 51),Gant, G.Hall, Negus (Brotherton 66), Nyman, R.Hall, Smith, Allen, Ndombe. Subs not used: Pamplin, Massala

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Town took all three points with two goals in the dying minutes of a poor game as, despite having the better of the play, they were fortunate to escape after a lacklustre performance on a cold day at Goldsdown Road. Town started promisingly enough having most of the early pressure but could not convert it into goals. As the game wore on it became clear it was going to be one of those days as the final ball always seemed to be lacking. In the first five minutes Smith did well to win a corner down the right, but despite a clear tug on his shirt there was no penalty for Graeme Hall. Town had to defend at the other end and Hall was again involved, this time heading clear the Basildon ball in from a corner. Smith then tried to bull his way through the defence but Michael Risley cleared for a corner. With 20 minutes gone David Allen was set up beautifully when the ball was played square to him, but despite placing the ball past Dean Neal in the Basildon goal he saw it go just wide of the post.

Town were pressing now, with Smith in particular putting in a lot of hard work, but they couldn't quite find that final ball in. Basildon also had chances, though, and Frank McArdle was almost through but Adam Gant did well to hold him up on the edge of the box. His ball to James Bradbury deserved better but it was drilled straight at Andy Hall who was able to palm it round the post. Lee Forbes then headed the corner over the bar and was penalised moments later for hauling down Ndombe on the edge of the Basildon box. Rudi Hall's curled free kick just eluded Negus and Brotherton as it swept across the face of the goal. On 28 minutes Smith did well to rob Basildon skipper Robert Russell. His turn and strike from 30 yards going just wide though, as Town still could not find the net. Russell was booked for a bad tackle on Negus as he struggled to cope with his pace.

The second half started poorly for Town and only really improved when Nyman came on for Baldwinn as Town tried to add extra fire power up front. It seemed a good move as his first touch resulted in a 20 yard run and a wicked shot, which was held by the keeper. Town benefited from Nymans more direct approach to goal and Smith managed to get off a shot but with no real venom. On 70 minutes, Adam Smith had a good run for Basildon, but couldn't beat Hall. Then Jamie Lewis found space on the right but his shot was charged down by Brotherton. Town still had most of the possession but could not break through the United defence. Ndombe did well to collect a long ball down the right from Campbell and his centre was met by Smith but it was a soft header straight at the keeper.

Things were looking gloomy for Town as time seemed to be running out. In the last ten minutes Town began to build a bit of momentum. Ndombe struck a fine shot but the keeper punched over the bar, then Billy Thompson had the best chance of the game. He evaded two tackles before hitting his shot against the foot of the post with Hall beaten. As Town were breathing a sigh of relief, a long ball from Andy Hall was chased by Rudi Hall who leapt like the proverbial salmon, out jumping keeper and defender to head home for Town to take the lead. The final four minutes were an exciting time as Basildon then threw everything forward to try and find the equaliser. James Bradbury had a chance but Andy Hall came out to clear and then Jamie Lewis had a shot parried away as Town fought to hold the lead. With the game deep into injury time Nyman played a delightful ball over the defence to Negus, who then turned to lob the keeper as he came off his line. This time there was no chance for Basildon to attempt a recovery, as the final whistle went shortly after, much to the relief of the Town crowd.

Enfield Town: Enfield Town : A.Hall, Campbell, Baldwin (Nyman 60), Gant, G. Hall (Snowden 45), Negus, Allen, R.Hall, Smith, Brotherton, Ndombe. Subs not used: Riley, Pamplin, Massala.

Basildon United: Neal, Risley, B.Thompson, Golby, Forbes, Smith, Woods, Russell, McArdle (Shepherd), Bradbury, Lewis. Subs not used: Dickson, Pimms, G.Thompson, Mignot.

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