A tense, nervous night- but we’re off to Chatham on Monday

We expected our Pitching In Isthmian Premier Play Off Semi-Finals to be rather close affairs, and on that matter we weren’t disappointed, one going to penalties and the other being won by the only goal of the match.

Chatham Town, who ended the regular campaign in second place, scored more goals than any other side than champions Hornchurch, whilst their visitors, Horsham, had the Division’s best defence aside from the Urchins. To some extent, then, it looked like we had a game of attackers v defenders in prospect, and at ninety minutes, with the score still goalless, events appeared to be bearing that out. Neither side had really been able to fashion a decent chance.

Into extra time we went, and another fifteen minutes went by without a goal to enliven the three thousand watching on- but they didn’t have much longer to wait. Only one minute after the third restart of the match Kareem Isiaka made the breakthrough for the hosts, scoring for the sixteenth time this season- and within six minutes we had another, this one coming at the other end. James Hammond has become rather well known for scoring fabulous goals, and he did it again, the equaliser coming from twenty five yards out. It sent the match careering into a penalty shootout, a Hammond scored the first of those, too, before both sides missed. The score got to three-three, before the Hornets failed to convert and up stepped Jamie Yila to score the winner.

It’s been a fine season for the Hornets, who have played fifty seven times this season- and haven’t finished yet, as they head to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium next Wednesday to face Hastings United in the Sussex Senior Cup Final.

Image from Max English.

Enfield Town’s Taylor McKenzie doesn’t score very often, but if he was looking to pick the perfect moment to score his first Enfield Town goal then he got it spot on last night. In front of a club record attendance of two thousand, two hundred and twenty five at the Dave Bryant Stadium he was first to get to a long throw from substitute Joseph Payne on sixty seven minutes, and managed to divert the ball home to score what proved to be the only goal of the match against local rivals Wingate and Finchley.

Rather incredibly, this was McKenzie’s first goal for two years. His previous success? Well that came for Town’s neighbours Cheshunt, when he had scored the winner for the Ambers in their Play Off Semi-Final against Bishop’s Stortford (Thanks for Towners Snapper Phil Davison for pointing that out)!

Wingate and Finchley had perhaps shaded the first half, but sadly for the travelling fans their side couldn’t find a way through their hosts defence- but they have much to be proud of after a magnificent campaign.

The Towners march on to face on Chatham Town in Monday’s Final- a quick reunion after the sides drew two-two on the final day of the regular season.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.