Welwyn Garden City played their first truly competitive friendly of pre-season when they entertained newly-promoted Enfield Town of National League South.

After warm-up away games at Spartan South Midland League opposition in Colney Heath and Codicote, producing a loss and a win, Marc Weatherstone’s side got down to serious action against one of his former teams.

Enfield Town are now two steps higher than the Citizens, and just two promotions from the Football League after last season’s play-off success in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

And they attracted a good crowd to Herns Lane.

Weatherstone fielded a strong-looking line-up for the first half, including new signings Aiden Read, Kraig McLeod, former pro Matty Whichelow and Lewis Croucher.

Retained from last season in the line-up were keeper Donnabhan Green, Harvey Steel, Josh Bryant, skipper Brad Wadkins and Bailey Stevenson, plus a couple of trialists.

Keeper Green was called into action early on when a misplaced Croucher pass brought the need for the new Citizens’ number one to make a sharp save off his line.

Then, within 10 minutes, WGC were ahead in fine style.

Wadkins and Croucher combined to set up the shooting chance for the impressive Stevenson to step inside his man and swerve a beautifully flighted effort around Enfield Town keeper Aidan Connolly for a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later, Stevenson and WGC almost had a second, as the Citizens’ forward escaped a couple of challenges and brought keeper Connolly to a full length save with his rising shot.

On 20 minutes, a trialist forward glided through a beautifully timed header and Stevenson was away again.


This time Connolly held him up, but the WGC man won the ball back and netted from a very tight angle, only for the referee to rule the effort out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

There was a big blow for the home side 10 minutes before the break, when new central defender McLeod collapsed to the ground with a serious-looking knee injury. He had to be replaced by Ryan Kirwan, who stayed on for the second-half.

WGC closed an impressive opening 45 minutes with an effort from skipper Wadkins just over the crossbar.

In the second-half, only Read and one trialist stayed on. 

New signing Jack Green was introduced in midfield. There was a trialist goalkeeper, defender and midfielder included, while upfront Lucas Jordan, Cyrus Babaie and the teenage strike force of Henry Jones and Ryan Ansell led the line.

But the opening minute of the second period brought disaster with an Enfield equaliser.

Skipper Micky Parcell’s shot from the edge of the area was straight at the keeper, if a little above his head, and he could only fumble it behind hime and into the net for a gift.

To his credit, the keeper recovered his composure and made a fine save moments later with his outstretched leg to prevent a rapid turnaround.

The game dropped off in both excitement and quality, but not before Read produced a fine crossfield ball that put Jordan in on the visitors’ goal, only to be foiled of a second WGC goal, by a last ditch, goal-saving tackle.

Six minutes from the end, Enfield Town poached the winner.

Reece Beckles-Richards bursting through a Jack Green tackle to run clear down the middle and net the winner.

Despite the slender loss, manager Weatherstone was highly satisfied with the showing and on this evidence, will surely have a strong line-up to start the campaign in the FA Cup at Milton Keynes Irish in a fortnight’s time.

WGC (first half): D.Green, trialist, Read, McLeod (Kirwan 35), Steel, Whichelow, Croucher, Bryant, Wadkins, Stevenson, trialist.

WGC (second half): trialist, trialist, Read, Kirwan, J.Green, trialist, trialist, Babaie, Jordan, Jones, Ansell.