A late goal from Enfield Town skipper Mark Kirby earned the Towners a share of the spoils after an exciting second half at Victory Road in a match sponsored by Powerclean Chemicals of Leiston . The home side had fought back to lead midway through the second half but had to settle for a point thanks to Kirby’s late intervention, the first draw between the sides after seven games. Both sides came into the game on the back of midweek Robert Dyas (Ryman) League Cup victories and the visitors attacked the Fairground End in the first half with the stiff wind on their backs. But it was the Blues who were first to show as a third minute cross from Joe Francis found Leon Ottley-Gooch at the far side of the box but he drove his shot across the face of goal and wide. The first corner of the game came in the sixth minute for the visitors but this was well defended. Neither side could create any positive offensive play as play was resigned to midfield for a large chunk of the first half. The Blues first corner arrived in the 24th minute and moments later a Stuart Boardley free kick was flicked on by Leon Ottley-Gooch for Adam Tann but the ball was just too far in front and Nathan McDonald gathered inside his six yard box. Just after the half hour mark Blake Saker was well positioned to clear Mark Kirby’s header from a Nathan Livings corner off the line. The first half was now turning into a scrappy affair with neither side able to control possession for long spells. Theo Jones was the first into Referee Nick Cooper’s notebook for a late foul on Joe Francis and moments later Scott Mitchell’s deflected cross was cleared off the line by Mark Kirby and then Gareth Heath was agonisingly close to reaching Leon Ottley-Gooch’s deflected cross. The half closed with right back Theo Jones sending a well driven effort into the side netting.

The second half was only five minutes old when the hosts created their best chance of the game when Gareth Heath’s early right wing cross found Craig Parker whose header was well saved by Nathan McDonald with the Enfield keeper collecting the loose ball through a sea of legs at the second attempt. A minute later the deadlock was broken as the visitors opened the scoring. A short corner routine caught the Blues napping and Mark Kirby flicked the cross on for Phil Kane to power home a header from close range. A minute later Nathan McDonald was called into action to thwart Craig Parker again after the Towners keeper had spilled Scott Mitchell’s free kick but on 55 minutes the home pressure deservedly brought an equaliser with a well created goal down the left. Patrick Brothers found Joe Francis who burst inside Theo Jones and into the box and his early cross was fired high into the net by the sliding Craig Parker for his seventh goal of the season. Blues Joe Jefford received a yellow card for holding back Nathan Livings and from the resulting free kick Livings fired just over the home bar after his first effort struck the wall. Leiston were now starting to ask all the questions and on the hour mark Leon Ottley-Gooch was inches away from putting the Blues ahead but his header from Joe Francis’ cross was inches wide of Nathan McDonald’s right hand post. The Blues finally got their noses in front on 64 minutes and the assist came from the influential Joe Francis. The lively Blues winger skipped into the box and went down inside the area under the joint challenge of Theo Jones and Nathan Livings with Referee Cooper pointing straight to the spot. Gareth Heath confidently fired home the penalty into the left hand corner for his eighth goal of the season. Play soon switched to the Estate End and Danny Gay was forced to parry Mark Kirby’s header from under his own bar but Leiston still looked the more threatening and on 75 minutes should have really but the result to bed. Gareth Heath, Craig Parker and Scott Mitchell all combined on the edge of the box with both Heath and Mitchell racing into the box but with the goal gaping both players got into each other’s way and the opportunity was lost. The visitors were now pushing hard for a way back in and were pushing players forward with their substitutes causing some problems. With eight minutes remaining Enfield did get back onto level terms as skipper Mark Kirby pounced from close range after Danny Gay had made a super save from Jon Constant from a floated free kick. The game continued to flow from box to box but neither keeper’s were troubled as the sides shared the points.

FT – Blues 2 Enfield Town 2

Blues line up – Gay, Saker, Brothers, Boardley, Jefford, Tann, Mitchell (Winter 86 mins), Heath, Ottley-Gooch, Parker, Francis. Subs not used – Leitao, Merritt and Vincent.

Goals – Craig Parker 55 mins, Gareth Heath (p) 64 mins (Leiston), Phil Kane 51 mins, Mark Kirby 82 mins (Enfield Town)

Yellow cards – Joe Jefford & Stuart Boardley (Leiston), Theo Jones (Enfield Town)

Powerclean Chemicals Man of the Match – Stuart Boardley

Attendance - 231