Andrew Warshaw speaks to Enfield Town boss Gavin Macpherson about a manic March that saw the club build much-needed momentum

Town players celebrate Ollie Knight’s equaliser against Truro, in a game Enfield Town went on to win 3-2 (credit Tom Scott)

Bottom of the table on New Year’s Day, then 21 points from the next eleven games to move away from the drop zone. Never mind a relegation scrap, that’s play-off form.

It’s a timely resurgence and although no-one is getting carried away with April likely to prove a pivotal month, rarely this season have Enfield Town’s hopes of maintaining their National League South status been raised so optimistically.

So how have they done it? “First things first, we have got a tremendous amount of work to do to get to where we want to be and can’t get complacent,” responds manager Gavin Macpherson. “But we have a saying in our presentations to the boys: ‘Success through hard work and togetherness’.”

No game epitomised those qualities more than the recent 3-2 win over high-flying Truro which, at the time, opened up an eight-point gap above the bottom four. Two goals down, both penalties, against the form side in the division, Town somehow plucked victory from the jaws of defeat with two stoppage-time goals in a breathtaking finale that, metaphorically speaking, took the roof off The Dave Bryant Stadium.

“It’s very simple. If there is no belief ethic, it doesn’t even begin to happen,” explains Gavin. “It applies to everybody, players and management staff. Every one of them. I’ve never stopped believing and I’ve never allowed them to stop believing.

“You have to acknowledge that in some people’s minds around other clubs, the narrative was that we were dead and buried at Christmas. I took no notice of the stuff on social media and I dare say, none of our supporters did either.”

But is there a bond now that perhaps there wasn’t earlier in the campaign? After all, Town had only managed four league wins between the start of the season and the turn of the year.

“That’s also very easy to answer,” said Gavin. “The current playing staff was largely put together in mid-season. You’re never going to get that bonding right away, they need time to form relationships and warm to each other. Eventually, that shines through.”

Learning to grasp the challenges playing at step two throws up has also taken time. “It’s a division that’s full of athletes and physicality and you have to be able to match at least the minimum standards, otherwise you’re always going to struggle to build. We lost four of our best players at the end of last season and that hits any side.”

While Town’s form went from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again – four wins, four defeats, then three wins ahead of the Slough fixture in March – they have given themselves a fighting chance without the resources of many clubs and without a prolific goalscorer.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want my strikers to weigh in with more goals. There’ve been games that got away from us because we didn’t put chances away,” said Gavin, who has nevertheless remained firmly in his post throughout the tough times while managers at other struggling teams have been shown the door.

“There’s two ways you can look at it. Some teams bring a new guy in and flourish. Others go for continuity and can also flourish. There are no guarantees. Until someone tells me differently I’m focused on my job.”

If Town manage to complete the great escape, Gavin, who has had to battle his way through his fair share of family tragedy during the season, has no doubt about the significance of the achievement compared to getting promotion almost a year ago.

“There’s no comparison, it would be far greater. You’re battling your wits in this league against full-time players and managers. The levels are poles apart, we all understand that given this club’s beginning and structure.”

Having taken Town up to National League South for the first time, Gavin’s name is already ingrained in the annals of Enfield Town FC. But survival would further cement his reputation.

“I’m not interested in my own CV. People know I had several other opportunities before I came here but for me it was all about ethics and morals. What drives me are the people and the supporters.”

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