Enfield Town go into their final game of the regular season tomorrow knowing that victory over Chatham will secure the runners-up spot in the division but with one eye on our eagerly anticipated playoff semifinal home draw next week.

Despite our unbeaten 13-game run ending at Whitehawk in midweek, Town had already clinched third and can now look forward to an exciting climax with a four-figure gate expected for the visit of the Chats who are two points ahead of us.

Irrespective of tomorrow’s result we are guaranteed a home game on Wednesday against either Wingate & Finchley, Horsham or Billericay Town.

Billericay are presently outside the play off positions and need to win tomorrow when they entertain relegated Margate and hope that either Wingate & Finchley or Horsham lose. 

Mickey Parcell serves the last of a three-game ban but will not be the only forced absentee. A number of ongoing injuries, plus fresh knocks to a string of key players including goalkeeper Rhys Forster who definitely misses out, is certainly not ideal at such a critical time.

But Gavin Macpherson will put out the strongest possible side as we bid to overtake our visitors from Kent and finish second to give us the chance of back-to-back playoff home games.

“My thought process has always been to try and win every game but we have a few more niggles than we would have liked,” explained Gavin. “I’ve therefore got a balancing act in my own mind about who to play, with the playoff game coming so soon afterwards. It’s important not to compromise that. To be honest it’s one of the hardest decisions as a manager I’ve ever had to make.”

“It’s not a situation I thought I’d be in but don’t think for one moment it’s all doom and gloom. We may simply have to manage the Chatham game differently to how I expected in order to give ourselves the best chance of progressing next week.”

At the very least we will finish third, a phenomenal achievement in Gavin’s first season in charge.

“I told the players at the end of the training on Thursday that after Chatham they’ve got four games including Fenix to be able to win something. What a fantastic position to be in.

“I didn’t set out this season for us to be also-rans. I had a quiet belief in myself and my team and that we were building something to challenge. But to finish no lower than third in our first season, I’d have bitten your hand off for that.”

It is recommended that supporters arrive early to avoid any last minute queues at the turnstiles. Tickets can be purchased in advance as below

https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/event/match22a/enfield-town-vs-chatham

Following the game,  the traditional  end of season presentation awards will take place not on the pitch but from 5.30pm in Butlers Bar.

AW