Enfield Town v Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 12th September, 2026 – Match Report
Enfield Town 3
Tanimowo 23, Youngs 63 pen, Bansal-McNulty 70
Cray Wanderers 2
Yusuff 33 pen, Kader 48
Pics: Natalie Stribbling
Cray Wanderers four game unbeaten run came to an end as Isthmian Premier League leaders maintained their lead at the top winning a fine match by the odd goal in five. The match was level at half time as an Ade Yusuff penalty cancelled out Ayo Tanimowo’s 23rd minute opener for Town. Cray led early in the second half with a typical quality finish from Soul Kader but Enfield showed their promotion credentials by levelling through a Sam Youngs penalty and then won the game after a fine move ended with Amrit Bansal-McNulty slotting in from close range.
Cray, still with a game in hand came into the game in good form after back to back league wins vs Eastbourne Borough and Welling United and had edged a close FA Cup tie with Lewes in midweek. From the side which beat Lewes there was one change with Henry Molyneux in goal for Oscar Johnson who was on the bench. There were two new arrivals on the bench, midfielder Seidou Sanogo signed from Walton & Hersham and forward William Unadike who was with the Ipswich Town Academy until the summer.
Enfield Town had been in great form winning the last four league games and advanced in the FA Cup and had netted twenty four goals in their seven matches played. Enfield had comfortably beaten Frenford in the FA Cup and from that side there were four changes. In came Finlay Corrigan, Adam Thompson, Ayo Tanimowo and Sam Youngs for Sonny Hart, Franklin Domi, Luke May-Parrott and Declan Rydings. There was a new arrival on the bench in Jez Davies.
On yet another gloriously sunny and warm September Saturday afternoon and on a day where Enfield hosted a celebration of their whole club it was a special day for their youth players and it was a good game of football played at a fair pace.
Cray had a half chance early on when Soul Kader who looks to have regained his sharpness in the last couple of weeks fired a cross shot across goal down the right.
Enfield were looking dangerous going forward and there was some good combination play down the left with Thomas Avgoustidis and Shiloh Remy setting up Billy Leonard for a shot that was blocked.
The Wands though had another half chance in the 15th minute when from a Frankie Raymond corner down the right the ball came to Crossley Lema who headed over the bar. Then Tobi Tinibu who had a fine game put over a good cross from the left from Rob Strachan’s pass but was well claimed in the air by Dylan Thompson.
Enfield were just beginning to exert some authority when they took the lead in the 23rd minute. Patient buildup down the left saw Avgoustidis find Amrit Bansal-McNulty who set up Ayo Tanimowo who from the edge of the area hit a well struck shot which went in at the left post.
Cray looked to fight back and Yusuff was unlucky when in the box but was denied by a good block by Edwin Mensah.
The Wands though had merited parity and were rewarded with a penalty in the 33rd minute when Ola Ogunwamide down the right who was another who caused Enfield problems all game was clipped in the box by Tanimowo and Yusuff stroked home a confident penalty for his fifth goal of the season.
Before half time Enfield looked to restore their lead and Sam Youngs’ floating right wing cross needed to be palmed over by Henry Molyneux. Cray also defended their penalty area well getting blocks in where required and Youngs hooked an effort over but at half time one apiece was the right scoreline.
Cray had to make a half time change with Lateef Adaja coming on for Ade Yusuff and within three minutes the Wands took the lead with a fine piece of finishing from Kader who picked up a fine ball from Ogunwamide down the right of the area and placed an effort wide of Dylan Thompson and into the net for his second in three games.
The Wands at this stage seemed to be holding the Towners at arms length and looked to be quieting the crowd. However, Enfield turned to the bench and introduced Olly Davis and Jez Davies to the game and certainly made a difference and caused problems especially down their left hand side.
In the 63rd minute Enfield drew level with a penalty kick of their own after Mickey Parcell was brought down by Lema just inside the box down the left and Sam Youngs tucked home the spot kick.
The game then looked to go from end to end and Lateef Adaja saw a shot held by Dylan Thompson at the left post while at the other end Bansal-McNulty also tested Henry Molynuex with a close range shot.
With twenty minutes to go Enfield Town restored the lead when down the left Jez Davies found Olly Davis who showed quick feet to turn into the box and set up Bansal-McNulty for a shot at the near post which went in under the legs of Molyneux.
Cray made changes looking to re-wrest the initiative with Alife Payne, Seidou Sanogo and William Unadike coming on but Enfield cleverly seemed to batten down the hatches and denied the Wands many scoring chances. The Wands did have a couple of free kicks in decent areas but couldn’t get these on target with Alex Hernandez curling an effort over going into the last couple of minutes.
In the end Enfield saw out the game to move three points clear at the top and look like a side similar to Billericay Town last season that are very strong in attack and on the bench. Cray though had caused the home side problems and certainly had their moments in the game but perhaps Enfield midfield’s had the edge and just turned the match away from the Wands. However as in all the games against the early promotion favourites the Wands have shown like last season can compete with the top teams and now move on to Tuesday night and the visit of St Albans City looking to build on three successive home wins, kick off 7.45 pm.
Enfield Town: Dylan Thompson, Finlay Corrigan (Jez Davies, 50), Adam Thompson, Edwin Mensah (Sonny Hart, 51), Ayo Tanimowo, Mickey Parcell (Capt.) (Franklin Domi, 68), Shiloh Remy (Oliver Davis, 63), Billy Leonard, Thomas Avgoustidis, Sam Youngs, Amrit Bansal-McNulty (Luke May-Parrott, 74)
Cray Wanderers: Henry Molyneux, Crossley Lema, Rob Strachan, Frankie Morgan, Tobi Tinibu, Frankie Raymond (Capt.) (Alfie Payne, 75), Sammie McLeod (Seidou Sanogo, 75), Ola Ogunwamide, Ade Yusuff (Lateef Adaja, H/T), Alex Hernandez, Soul Kader (William Unadike, 75): Sub: Oscar Johnson
Booked: Tinibu 90+1
Referee: Christopher Poole
Assistants: Richard Barlow & Romeo Rojas Fedoruschenko
Att: 843
