ENFIELD UNITED WIN SUNDAY JUNIOR CUP
The Sunday Junior Cup final, the fourth of this season’s Middlesex FA finals, was contested on Sunday last, 3rd April at Northwood FC’s fine Fenton Civil Engineering Stadium. The teams involved were Ivy Leaf WD Seconds and Enfield United. Our roving team of Chris Benn (photographer) and Jim Taylor (reporter), covered the match.
31 teams entered the Sunday Junior Cup this season.
Ivy Leaf had reached the final by beating Stanley CFC (4-1 home) in round 1, Surely Wood (3-0 away) in round 2, West London Warriors (5-2 home) in the quarter-final and Spelthorne Spartans (2-1 away) in the semi-final. They play in Division 2 of the Middlesex County League (Sundays).
Enfield United won their first 3 matches in penalty shoot-outs. They beat OHR First (after a 2-2 away draw), Omonia Youth (after a 4-4 home draw), Bedfont Sunday Reserves (after a 3-3 home draw). They then overcame North London Colts (4-0 away) in the semi-final. They are members of the Barnet Sunday League Division 3.
This very entertaining match was watched by a large and enthusiastic crowd. Ivy Leaf scored in the first minute but Enfield United took a 2-1 lead before the half time interval. The second half was incident packed. United scored 4 times between its 5th and 12th minutes to go 6-1 ahead. The avalanche of goals then continued, with the match ending with the score 8-4 in Enfield United’s favour.
The game made a promising start, with Brian Edwards finishing a passing movement by heading Ivy Leaf in front, inside the first minute.
The match then flowed up and down the pitch for the next 20 minutes, with both sides having attempts on goal. For Ivy Leaf, Mark Smith shot wide, Jordan Trimm put 2 free kicks into the Enfield penalty box without reward and a dangerous cross from Charlie Rogers was headed out by Enfield’s Charlie Jeffrey.
However, Enfield United had the more clear-cut chances during this period of play. Ellis Christodoulou broke clear but skied his shot, Mark Sarfo fired wide, when well-placed and Laurence Connolly shot straight at the goalkeeper.
United equalised in the 21st minute. Ivy Leaf keeper, Jamie Cooper parried Gavin Suddell’s drive and the ball went out for a corner. Gavin took the kick and placed it for Kieron Cathline to head home from close range.
Play continued to flow from end to end. A fierce drive by Gilberto Abril cleared the Ivy Leaf crossbar. Ivy Leaf forced 3 corners in quick succession. Ellis Christodoulou broke into the Ivy Leaf box but his shot was deflected for a corner. Jordan Trimm’s free kick into the United penalty area, found Mark Smith, who was thwarted by the keeper’s legs.
Enfield United went ahead in the 41st minute through Mark Sarfo, who cut in from the right and netted with aplomb.
Half time score: Ivy Leaf WD Seconds 1 Enfield United 2
Enfield United immediately resumed the attack. Charlie Jeffery set up Gavin Siddell, whose shot was parried by keeper Jamie Cooper. However, they increased their lead after 50 minutes play. Gavin Suddell’s corner kick was headed against the crossbar by Ellis Christodoulou and Kieron Cathline blasted the rebound home for his second goal.
Just over a minute later, Mark Sarfo scored his second and his team’s fourth goal. He was able to place the ball past the keeper, after taking it through the stationary Ivy Leaf defence, which was awaiting a referee’s whistle, which never came. The protests following this goal culminated in the Ivy Leaf captain, Jordan Trimm being sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.
Gavin Suddell then took the opportunity to drive home goals in the 55th and 57th minutes to make the score 6-1 to Enfield United.
Ivy Leaf hit back and a free kick taken by Mark Smith, wide on the left, produced a corner which was headed away by Liam Gilligan. They pulled a goal back in the 65th minute, through Dean Tuckwell, who netted the rebound after Brian Edwards had hit the bar.
Ivy Leaf keeper, Jamie Cooper was injured and had to retire in the 70th minute. He was replaced by Adam Hughes.
A long freekick into the Enfield penalty area by James May was headed home by Tom Drew but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Enfield’s Gavin Suddell completed his hat-trick and made the score 7-2, in the 79th minute, after a passing movement had cut through the, by now, static Ivy Leaf defence.
Ellis Christodoulou netted Enfield United’s 8th goal 4 minutes later, after his teammates had again scythed through the Ivy Leaf rearguard.
To their credit, Ivy Leaf went down fighting. Reece Jerham scored from around 25 yards in the 87th minute and then Dean Tuckwell completed the scoring, just before the final whistle.
Final Score: Ivy Leaf WD Seconds 4 Enfield United 8
The third team on the field successfully controlled a very eventful match. Referee, Aiden Farrelly had a fine game, well supported by his three colleagues.
Guest of Honour, Middlesex FA Director, Mike Heavey chose Enfield United’s Mark Sarfo as Player of the Match.
Our grateful thanks are given to the Northwood FC management, for letting us use their superb facilities for this final and for their efforts on our behalf on the day. The attendance was a very healthy 217.
Ivy Leaf WD Second: Jamie Cooper, Tom Drew, Brian Edwards, Alex Rea, Mark Smith, Harrison Farrell, Charlie Rogers, Jordan Trimm (capt), Jamie Burksfield, Reece Jerham and Daniel Rea.
Rolling substitutes: Dean Tuckwell, James May, Tyler Tanner, Peter Read and Adam Hughes.
Manager: Lewis Chittenden Coaches: Jamie Whenman and Barry Wheeler. Physio: Peter Whelan.
Enfield United: Nathan Lewis, Danny Warn, Lewis Warn, Kieron Cathline. Joe Clayton, Jack Christodoulou (capt), Charlie Jeffrey, Ellis Christodoulou, Gavin Suddell, Mark Sarfo and Laurence Connolly.
Rolling substitutes: Liam Gilligan, Gilberto Abril, Emmanuel Chijioke, Jamie De Souza and Tobi Asseez
Manager: Luke Cowdery Coaches: Kasey Jaggers and Kaci Taylor.
Referee: Aiden Farrelly Assistant Referees: Brett Miller and Rohan Chotai. 4th Official: Ivan Yordanov.
As always we give thanks to both Chris & Jim for providing us with their time on a Sunday Morning, Chris and Jim have forensically examined the photos and have selected their favourite shots from the match, as displayed throughout this very report. Chris has also very kindly provided a full album of imagery for your enjoyment.
