MATCH REPORT

Rayleigh Town 1 Enfield Borough 0

Enfield Borough opened up their 2024-25 league campaign with a single goal defeat at the hands of Rayleigh Town on Saturday. Fielding ten debutants, new player-manager Kiernan Highes-Mason’s team were vanquished by their recently promoted hosts at their Canvey Island home.

Only captain Sachon Lawrence-Edwards had previously played for Enfield and there was a
notable lack of cohesion amongst the players as Rayleigh started brightly. However, they failed to seriously test keeper Davis Boateng. In contrast, Borough’s chances were fewer but needed the intervention of home keeper Henry Noakes to keep the scoreline blank. He struggled to push aside Lawrence-Edwards’ attempt from distance before parrying a shot from Oliver Aimufua who had been set up by Lawrence-Edwards and Nas Crespo. Rayleigh’s best chance fell to Arnold Acheampong who was unmarked just eight yards from goal but his tame effort was saved by Boateng.

Noakes saved a Lawrence-Edwards header before Jovan Shand-Aldridge failed to convert the rebound. With half-time approaching, Rayleigh’s Owen Barrett’s rash tackle on Jayden Alexander resulted in Barrett being sent off while Alexander was carried from the field of play.

With a man advantage, Borough had a greater share of play after the interval. However, neither team appeared to have packed their shooting boots as they wasted chance after chance. As the hour mark approached, the deadlock was finally broken. Acheampong played the ball in from the right
and it was teed up for Matt Tapley to slot home from inside the penalty box. As the heat started to sap the player’s energy both sides made their full quota of substitutions. Lawrence-Edwards was leading by example with a tireless performance at centre-forward and he was on the end of Borough’s best move of the match with fifteen minutes remaining. It concluded with Noakes failing to gather Hughes-Mason’s effort and the rebound dropped perfectly for Lawrence-Edwards who shot narrowly wide.

In stoppage time Hughes-Mason had a free-kick in a dangerous position, but he
failed to hit the target.

There were signs of improvement for Borough as the match progressed, though they suffered a couple of worrying injuries. They will be hoping for a better outcome on their return to Essex to play
May & Baker on Wednesday evening.