After a week of turmoil Lowestoft Town boss Dale Brooks was able to turn his attention back to happenings on the football pitch at Enfield.

Eastern Daily Press: Rory McAuley battles for possession against Enfield. Picture: Shirley D WhitlowRory McAuley battles for possession against Enfield. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

With the odds stacked against him Brooks was still able to put a competitive side on the field of play and they responded in style with a battling performance which deserved more than a three-goal defeat.

The spirit in the squad was epitomised by young Dan Humphries, the lad on work experience from Southend United and normally only available in midweek. With his game for Southend postponed earlier in the day he raced to Enfield to take his place in the starting line.

The task of filling the boots of departed striker Jake Reed fell to Manu Machaya, who was close to a dream start in the opening minute, as he raced onto Robert Eagle's through pass only to be pulled back by the offside flag.

The game was developing into a midfield stalemate with the only real goalmouth action being a 25-yard drive from Mickey Parcell which curled just over the angle of Ben Dudzinski's goal whilst his opposite number Joe Wright used his legs to deny Shaun Bammant.

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft Town's Dan Humphries and Harvey Hodd in action against Enfield Town. Picture: Shirley D WhitlowLowestoft Town's Dan Humphries and Harvey Hodd in action against Enfield Town. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

Sam Youngs thundered a shot against the Lowestoft upright and Jacek Zielonka curled a free kick just wide of the mark before Enfield took the lead in the 39th minute. Lowestoft survived a scramble in the area with shots from Adam Martin and Taofiq Olomowewe being blocked. The ball finished at the feet of Mat Mitchell-King and although Dudzinski got a hand to the ball it trickled over the line just inside the post.

Within a minute a great move by the Trawlerboys split open the home defence and finished with Harvey Hodd clipping the ball past Wright into the net only to be disallowed by the offside flag.

Lowestoft suffered a double blow inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half. In the 51st minute a clash of heads saw Shaun Bammant taken off with a vicious gash just above his eyebrow, a similar injury that he received at the same venue last season, and is likely to keep him out for two to three weeks.

In the 55th minute with the ball out by the corner flag, the referee awarded Enfield a penalty, apparently for an infringement by Andrew Fisk on Youngs and Ryan Blackman converted from the spot.

Eastern Daily Press: Dan Humphries in action for Lowestoft at Enfield Town. Picture: Shirley D WhitlowDan Humphries in action for Lowestoft at Enfield Town. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

Rather than let their heads drop Lowestoft took the game to Enfield with Hodd seeing one effort saved by Wright and another graze the crossbar whilst Cion Wren's header was turned around the post.

In the fifth minute of injury time Rory McAuley made his only mistake of the game as he stood on the ball when trying to clear allowing Jack Hockney to square the ball to Liam Hope to tap in from a yard out.

Enfield Town: Wright, Parcell, Bihmoutine, Olomowewe, Mitchell-King, Martin, Blackman, Youngs (Greene 64), Thomas (Liam 77), Wynter (Hockney 77), Campbell. Subs not used: Noto, Kyriacou

Lowestoft Town: Dudzinski, Humphries, Smith, Fisk, McAuley, Cole, Hodd, Zielonka, Bammant (Wren 51), Machaya, Eagle. Subs not used: Langdale, Youngman, Leslie, Putnins.

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft's Cion Wren in action against Enfield. Picture: Shirley D WhitlowLowestoft's Cion Wren in action against Enfield. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

Referee: Mr H Cutmore

Attendance: 442

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft's Ben Dudzinski in action against Enfield Town. Picture: Shirley D WhitlowLowestoft's Ben Dudzinski in action against Enfield Town. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft substitutes James Langdale, Cion Wren and Daniel Youngman warm up at Enfield. Picture: Shirley D WhitlowLowestoft substitutes James Langdale, Cion Wren and Daniel Youngman warm up at Enfield. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft Town's Andrew Fisk has a wroed with referee Hallam Cutmore at Enfield. Picture: Shirley D WhitlowLowestoft Town's Andrew Fisk has a wroed with referee Hallam Cutmore at Enfield. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft Town boss Dale Brooks before his side's match at Enfield Town. Picture: Shirley D WhitlowLowestoft Town boss Dale Brooks before his side's match at Enfield Town. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)