Haringey Borough vs Enfield Town

Haringey Borough struck first in the 18th minute, taking advantage of early-season defensive disorganisation to open the scoring. Enfield newcomer Luke Deslandes levelled in the 34th minute, steering home to make it 1-1 at half-time.

The match opened up after the break. Luke May-Parrott — a 23-year-old forward signed from Maidenhead United who previously became Hashtag United's record non-league goalscorer with 46 in 112 appearances — put Enfield ahead in the 62nd minute with a composed finish.

Haringey rallied and found an equaliser in the 75th minute, but May-Parrott struck again five minutes later from the penalty spot to restore Enfield's lead at 3-2. The see-saw contest had one more twist: A. Clifton levelled for the hosts in the 82nd minute, securing a share of the spoils at 3-3.

Holland's mass second-half substitution — changing nine of the 11 outfield players — was a deliberate pre-season tactic rather than a reaction to events. "I don't want to put too much workload on them," he explained post-match. "We've still got six weeks until the season starts. So it's managing everyone's minutes." The constant rotation meant Enfield never settled into a rhythm, contributing to the back-and-forth nature of the final half-hour.

Luke May-Parrott (Enfield Town) — Two goals on debut, one from open play and one penalty. The new centre-forward showed exactly why Holland brought him in. "The two Lukies were good today," Holland said. "One gets a job and scores a goal — two goals."

A. Clifton (Haringey Borough) — Scored the 82nd-minute equaliser that preserved Haringey's unbeaten start to pre-season and demonstrated the hosts' resilience.

Luke Deslandes (Enfield Town) — Also on debut, the 34th-minute goal was a tidy finish that drew Enfield level before the break.

Player of the match: Luke May-Parrott — a brace on first appearance for his new club.

The 3-3 scoreline and six goals across 64 active minutes (between the 18th and 82nd minutes) reflect what both managers will have expected from a first pre-season fixture: lots of chances, defensive rust, and heavy rotation. Holland acknowledged that his side "conceded sloppy goals" and that their off-the-ball work, especially in transition, needs attention. "They didn't have many chances but when they did they managed to score," he said. The constant XI changes — 20 of 22 outfield players used across both sides — makes statistical analysis premature.

For Enfield Town, this was the first step in a complete rebuild under Holland, who has retained only three players (skipper Mickey Parcell, record appearance-holder Sam Youngs, and Billy Leonard) from last season's National League South squad that was relegated. A raft of new signings — including Junior Moses (Cockfosters), Declan Rydings (Waltham Abbey), George Nunn (ex-Chelsea/Derby academy), and Amrit Bansal-McNulty — are being integrated.

Haringey Borough, promoted back to Step 4 last season, used the fixture to begin their own preparations.

Next up: Enfield Town host League One side Leyton Orient at the Dave Bryant Stadium on Friday 10 July (7pm). Haringey Borough continue their pre-season schedule with further friendlies to be confirmed.

A typical first pre-season friendly: fitful, open and high-scoring, with the rust of early July evident at both ends. May-Parrott's double is the most encouraging sign for Enfield — a proven non-league finisher finding the net on his debut. For Holland, the defensive fragilities his side showed are fixable ahead of the Isthmian Premier kick-off in August.