Chatham Town were playing their most important game in their history as they chased the dream of promotion to the National League South but it ended up as one game too many.
It was as Enfield won for the first time against Chatham and in the end fully deserved this victory albeit it the scoreline flattered them.
Chatham came out of the blocks quicker than Wednesday and in the 6th minute Jamie Yila on the left saw his low cross evade everyone except Khale Da Costa who on the back post shot over the bar from 10 yards.
The game became a little cagey not surprising considering what was on offer and Chatham were the better side. In the 25th minute Enfield had their first chance when a cross from the right from Dylan Adjei-Hersey found Sam Youngs stretching and his header went wide.
In the 32nd minute Yila again on the left saw his low cross evade everyone then the moment that Chatham could and maybe should have taken the lead when in the 36th minute Jordi Robins put Harvey Bradbury in but Rhys Forster raced out and half saved Bradbury’s toe poke enabling it to be cleared off the line.
Enfield suddenly had a couple of chances when in the 39th minute Oliver Knight saw his snapshot from 20 yards saved by Mitchell Beeney then a minute later a cross into the area saw Knight’s flicked header go just past the post.
The last chance of the half came in the first minute of added on time when Da Costa on the right crossed to the back post for Kareem Isiaka but his header went just over the bar.
Half time arrived and the game was on a knife edge without it being a classic.
The second half started really quickly for Enfield as they camped themselves in the Chatham half and in the 48th minute a corner was half cleared to Knight and his 20 yard shot beat Beeney to put the visitors one up.
This was the first time in the Play-offs that Chatham had gone behind so we were going to see how they reacted.
In the 50th minute Miquel Scarlett saw his cross find Isiaka but his header went wide. Thirteen minutes later a Jamie Mascoll short corner to Yila and his shot was deflected goalwards by Bradbury but Forster saved easily.
Three minutes later a lovely cross field pass by Reece Butler to Yila who then passed to Isiaka and his shot was tipped over the bar by Forster.
In the 70th minute Enfield scored when Knight’s 20 yard shot was parried out by Mitchell but straight to Marcus Wyllie who from 5 yards poked home – game over.
The Chatham players were shell shocked after this and looked finished as Enfield created more chances to score especially in the 78th minute when Sam Young’s low cross found Knight and from 10 yards volleyed over the bar.
Chatham had two chances to get back into the game when in the 84th minute Yila’s cross to the back post saw Chris Dickson’s flying header go wide and then three minutes later Yila went on a mazy run in the area but his shot went over and then to rub salt into the wound Enfield got a third when Wyllie on the right got free went into the area and he squared for substitute Lewis Taafe to ram home from 5 yards.
The final whistle went and the Enfield supporters ran on to the pitch to celebrate while Chatham have to lick their wounds and go again next year knowing they have got derbies against Dartford & Dover Athletic.
CHATHAM TOWN:
- M.BEENEY 2. M.SCARLETT 4. J.ROBINS(64) 5. R.BUTLER 6. D.BECKWITH 8. J.EVANS 10. K.DA COSTA (58) 11. J.YILA 14. J.DUNNE 16. K.ISIAKA 17. H.BRADBURY (64)
SUBS USED: 3. J.MASCOLL (58) 12. R.LIBURD (64) 20. C.DICKSON (64)
SUBS NOT USED: 9. D.KEDWELL 15. S.COOPER
BOOKINGS: 11. J.YILA (61) 14. J.DUNNE (90+3)
ENFIELD TOWN:
- R.FORSTER 20. M.PARCELL 14. T.MacKENZIE 2. B.TANNER 17. D.ADJEI-HERSEY 4. S.THOMAS 11. E.HARVEST 3. J.PAYNE 8. S.YOUNGS 7. O.KNIGHT(86) 10. M.WYLLIE
SUBS USED: 9. L.TAAFE (86)
SUBS NOT USED: 13. A.CONNOLLY 5. J.OKOTCHA 15. R. BECKLES-RICHARDS 12. J.HIPPOLYTE
BOOKINGS: 7. O.KNIGHT (29)
REFEREE: Mr J.WILLMORE
ASSISTANTS: Mr N.GARSIDE & Mr R.SMITH
4TH OFFICIAL: Mr C.BARNETT
ATTENDANCE: 3000
Picture supplied by Chatham Town.