An under-strength Enfield 1sts edged past Guildford on Wednesday night with an 11-8 (4-2, 3-2, 1-2, 3-2) victory at Southgate.

The hosts were missing three key players – Christian Pulido, Craig Snowdon and Rob Lucas – but a fine team performance saw them maintain their 100% London Winter League winning record.

Enfield set the tone for the game by starting brightly and storming into a 2-0 lead with goals from Tony Matthews and Andy Rollé.

Guildford responded with two fine shots from distance, but Rob Threadgold and Alex Waller gave Enfield a 4-2 lead at the end of the first.

In the second quarter, Tom Mendham was on target for Enfield, along with Tony Matthews and Charlie Briers as the north Londoners moved 7-4 ahead.

The half-time break then appeared to revitalise the visitors, as they started to besiege the Enfield goal in the third.

Thankfully, Enfield keeper Andy Boorman was in sensational form and despite losing the quarter 2-1, it was down to Boorman’s saves and a goal from Richard Waller that stopped Guildford closing the gap further.

Mendham and Rollé added one more each at the start of the fourth to effectively kill the game at 10-6, but Guildford wouldn’t lie down and their danger man Russell Line quickly replied with his fourth well-taken goal of the night.

With seconds remaining, Enfield’s under-16 star Alex Waller made it 11-7 with a sublime shot from deep, before the side from Surrey finished off the scoring with a late consolation.

Enfield 1sts sixth straight victory ensures they remain top of the London Water Polo Winter League Division 3 and they will seal the title and promotion if they beat Beckenham 2nds on Wednesday, 18 March at Southgate.

Enfield 1sts team in full v Guildford Water Polo Club:
Andy Boorman, Tom Mendham (2), Charlie Briers (1), Andy Poore, Andy Rollé (2), Richard Waller (1), Alex Waller (2), Chris Waller, Tony Matthews (2) & Rob Threadgold (1)