Enfield Town failed to build on their win last time out in the league as they fell 2-0 to a lowly but revitalised AFC Hornchurch side.

A lack of consistency cost the Towners as goals from Ronnie Winn and Charlie Stimson condemned them to their seventh away defeat of the season.

Joe Wright, who saved a penalty in his last outing, was yet again missing through injury, so Matt Nolan was called up in his place, while Jay Porter made his debut at left-back after arriving from the club he was lining up against.

It was a negative first half for Enfield, who had Billy Bricknell playing up front on his own, and Hornchurch should have been ahead long before Winn drove home from Stimson’s pass.

The visitors’ only real chance came on the stroke of half-time when Mickey Parcell’s free header from three yards out was planted straight at Callum Chafer in the Hornchurch goal.

Enfield tried to pick up the pace at the start of the first half, but their crosses were overhit and they were constantly losing possession in key areas.

As the half progressed, so too did the pressure from Hornchurch and they were made to pay when, in the 74th minute, a rare mistake from Marc Weatherstone allowed the ball to be played into the path of Stimson, and he rounded Nolan to double the advantage.

In response, Dan Rumens, who had a first-half penalty appeal for handball waved away, also had another appeal go unnoticed by the referee after being on the wrong end of a strong challenge in the penalty area – this all before he had another effort cleared off the line.

The final key chance of the game went the hosts’ way as Nolan produced a fine save to tip over a set-piece from Sean Marks.

While it was a disappointing result for Town, they are still just two points off the play-off positions in the Bostik Premier League.

Their chance to climb back into those positions comes against seventh-placed Folkestone Invicta this Saturday, February 23 at 3pm.