Enfield Borough’s first pre-season match ended in defeat as they were beaten 4-2 at home to Rising Ballers on Sunday.

Ballers took the lead through Tashae Andall-Gibbons before Borough’s trialist right-back drew them level, butthree goals before half-time gave the visitors a strong half-time lead, with Richard Ennin’s strike after the break the only further blemish on Ballers’ record.

The new management duo of Shaun Reece and Mani Asare, who now take the position of joint managers, got the first opportunity to watch their team ahead of the 2019/20 season against a side formed of youth players trying to forge a career in the professional game.

After a cautious start from both sides, the away side took the lead when Andall-Gibbons shrugged off his marker and slotted into the net, but the lead lasted barely a minute as Borough’s trialist right-back surged down the wing, cut inside and scored via a slight deflection.

The host’s strike partnership of Tage Kennedy and Alie Bangura were causing problems for the Ballers’ defence, however it was the away side that struck the next blow when the ball was laid back to Darnell Coker on the edge of the box to fire home.

That lead was extended further four minutes before the break when Albie Sheehan-Cozens rose unopposed to head home, and Ballers added a fourth prior to the interval when Hamza Semakula drove into the roof of the net from 20 yards.

Various half-time chances disrupted the flow of the game in the second period initially but Borough eventually settled and began to display more purpose in their game.

However, they could only pull back one goal as a result when Kennedy rolled it across the box for Ennin to tap home and confirm the 4-2 scoreline.