Shot-shy City stumble to home defeat

City’s suffered a disappointing afternoon at Twerton Park, slipping to a 1-0 defeat against Enfield Town. Despite dominating possession for much of the game the Romans couldn’t prevent the visitors securing their first away points at this level thanks to a goal just before the hour mark.

City had the ball in the net after just four minutes but Scott Wilson’s neat finish from an Elliott Frear cross was ruled out for a tight offside decision. Ewan Clark was causing Town all sorts of problems down the right flank, one such run in the 10th minute almost setting up Wilson, but for all their possession City were struggling to create clear chances against a side who had conceded 20 times in their opening eight league games. And on the half-hour Enfield almost made them pay when a deflected shot was gratefully grabbed by Josey Casa-Grande. The frustrating half ended with Frear creating space for himself but sending a shot into the side-netting.

Clark’s burst into the box on 53 minutes saw Forster equal to his shot and five minutes later Leonard’s header put the Towners in front. Latrell Humphrey-Ewers almost replied immediately for City, Forster tipping his long range effort over the bar, but the goal appeared to knock City further out of their rhythm. City looked to liven up their attacking options with the introduction of Billy Phillips and Jordan Alves but Enfield were looking increasingly untroubled at the back. Wilson’s 81st minute cross was just too strong for Luke Russe to divert goalwards which was a rare moment of concern for the London side as they safely negotiated the rest of the game.