ROVERS 0-3 ENFIELD 1893

Brian Jeeves reporting from Burroughs Park
Great Wakering Rovers 0 Enfield 1893 3
Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy

Great Wakering Rovers player-boss Dan Trenkel made a number of changes to the line-up that went down 2-0 at Bethnal Green United. However, on a disappointing evening, Rovers were simply outclassed buy an Enfield side playing a brand of fast attacking football and crisp neat passing.
The writing was on the wall from the early stages. Neil Hughes fired wide of the Rovers goal in the opening minutes, then he forced Rovers goalkeeper Louis Godwin-Green into a smart save after a neat build-up.
Enfield’s Aaron Scott was next to be denied by the Rovers custodian. Godwin-Green making an excellent reaction save to keep out the defenders header.
Nevertheless, after seventeen minutes, the visitor’s pressure finally paid off. Rovers made a hash of clearing a cross from the right and Enfield’s Marquin Smith pounced to fire the visitors ahead from close range.
The first period was at its halfway point before the Rovers put Enfield under any serious pressure. E’s keeper Ashley Harris thwarting James Pugsley with a brave stop as the striker tried to muscle him out of the way.
Harris then made a slightly unorthodox save to keep out Sammy Knott as the Rovers looked to claw their way back into the game.
As Rovers toiled, Enfield set about killing the game off before the break, after thirty-seven minutes they doubled their lead when the impressive Jermaine Osei beat Godwin-Green with a neat lob.
Rovers had one final chance in the opening period, however, Dave Collins free kick seemed to sum up the home sides evening by flying well off target.
Great Wakering made a better start to the second half and almost reduced the areas when Ellis Skidmore rose unchallenged but disappointingly sent his headed attempt over the crossbar.
Joe Skeels was next to go close for Rovers, flashing another headed opportunity just wide after Jimmy Webb’s pinpoint corner.
But any chance of a fight back was extinguished when Enfield’s Jermaine Osei scored a wonderful goal. Osei’s strike was similar to Frank Worthington’s famous goal back in the day for Bolton Wanderers versus Ipswich Town. After receiving the ball with his back to goal, Osei produced a couple of “keepy-upys” before flicking it over his head, turning and volleying past Godwin-Green. The goal would not have looked out of place in the Premiership and was received by the Rovers supporters around the press box as well as it was by the sprinkling of E’s fans sat amongst them.
Minutes later Osei almost completed a hat trick. His long-range shot flew just past an upright.
It had been another bad day at the office for Rovers, although Enfield 1893 were the best side to visit Burroughs Park this season.
Dan Trenkel will be keen to arrest the mini slump that has seen the team lose their last two games without finding the net. They need to rediscover the free scoring form, which saw them ranked among the Essex Senior League’s favourites for honours.

Rovers;Godwin-Green, Keys, Gibson, Skeels, Hepburn, Mbamarah, Collins, Pugsley, Williams, Skidmore, Knott.
Subs;Nash, Webb, Hall, D Trenkel, Spencer.

Enfield 1893;Harris, McGuinness, Gliddon, Borhys, Hopkins, Forbes, Smith, Osei, Hughes, Abraham.
Subs:Nzuzi, Marfo, Bennett, Haywood.

Attendance; 71