A disappointing defensive day saw Enfield Borough slip down to fourth in Spartan South Midlands League Division One after suffering a late 3-2 at Hillingdon Borough.

Shaun Reece’s side had fought their way back into Saturday’s match, but the visitors were undone five minutes from time after conceding a third preventable goal.

From the outset Hillingdon sought to impose their more physical game on their lacklustre visitors who found it difficult to get into their normal passing game, relying instead on an unfamiliar long ball approach in search of Tage Kennedy up front.

The hosts took the lead after 20 minutes when a quick counter-attack and some slick passing ended with a shot that was not the most powerful, but it managed to evade the grasp of Jonti Purdom.

The Enfield goalkeeper was called into action again around the half-hour mark when Deniz Karakaya was pressurised into conceding possession, but Purdom was smartly off his line to close down the resulting shot.

Henderson Browne was introduced at the break in place of Karakaya with Richard Ennin moving back into midfield. The change seemed to have the desired effect as the visitors started to get a foothold in the match.

However, Hillingdon scored again when the Enfield defence failed to deal with a cross into the box and the ball was bundled home.

Reece went for broke and made his final two substitutions, withdrawing Greg Moorse and Jamiah Plentie-Lawrence and sending on Thomas Opoku and Kayne James-Thompson.

Whether it was the substitutions or Hillingdon relaxing having taken a two-goal lead, Enfield started to get on top and apply some much-needed pressure.

They halved the deficit when Kennedy was brought down in the penalty box and Browne sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

A second goal followed when Browne played a fine ball to release Dervon Hurde down the right wing. His cross was met by Kennedy whose effort was pushed by the keeper onto the post, but Opoku was on hand to put the rebound into the net.

The game was up for grabs as both teams strove for the winner, but five minutes from the end a low cross shot sneaked through Purdom’s hands and nestled in the corner of the goal to give Hillingdon the three points.