Enfield Town moved into the Bostik League Premier Division play-off places for the first time since January with a 3-1 win away at struggling Whitehawk.

Kezie Ibe tapped the Towners into an early lead before Duane Ofori-Acheampong’s equaliser on the brink of half-time, but despite Mickey Parcell’s red card, second-half strikes from Joe Payne and Billy Bricknell handed Enfield the points.

Town made two changes from their last outing, with Payne coming in for Dan Rumens and Ryan Blackman was rested, allowing James Mulley to come into the side.

The away side got off to the best possible start when after only two minutes, Ibe latched onto Bricknell’s flick, turned and fired into the far corner.

Ibe continued to cause Whitehawk problems in the early exchanges, heading into the hands of Melvin Minter and then setting up Bricknell for a shot that went into the side netting.

Town were forced into a change around the half hour mark as Sam Youngs went off with what looked to be a foot injury, so Lewis Taaffe came on in his place.

Not long after the change, Whitehawk found a route back into the game as Ofori-Acheampong picked the ball up and drove forward before dispatching a low effort past Matt Nolan to draw the hosts level.

Enfield suffered another setback just past the hour mark when Parcell, booked in the first half, received a second yellow for a late tackle, leaving the game finely poised in terms of the score but giving Town a disadvantage in terms of numbers.

This did little to affect the visitors though, and they regained the lead soon after when Taaffe’s free-kick was flicked on and Payne caught the sweetest of volleys from 12 yards which flew into the top corner.

Town would have been forgiven for protecting their lead late on, but they wanted more and they got it with nine minutes to go when Mo Faal laid in on a plate for Bricknell to fire low beyond Minter and seal the win.

The success sees the Towners go just three points behind Tonbridge Angels in the table as they prepare for their next game, at home to Bognor Regis Town this Saturday.