30th January 2012

NEW SIGNING

Wingate & Finchley are pleased to announce the signing of 27 year old Jon Douglas.

The tall forward, who can also play in central defence, made an immediate impact in his debut in Saturday's win over Harrow Borough. Coming off the bench in the 80th minute, he sealed the points by scoring from a counter-attack in injury time.

Douglas represented the Loughborough Uni first team where he won the BUSA football league title, and his previous clubs include Ilkeston Town, Oxford City and Hednesford.

He plays as a target man good with good aerial ability, and is making his way back into football at this level after taking six months out due to work commitments.

 

 

 

30th January 2012

DAVE NORMAN QUOTE

Dave Norman, manager of Wingate and Finchley, was extremely pleased with the 3-1 victory away to Harrow Borough. Norman revealed the importance of Saturday's game

 

"Beating Harrow was a great result especially as they have been on a great run, and Dave Anderson has a wealth of experience and is building a strong squad of players. We have had a very tough 6 weeks where we have encountered 8 out of the top ten teams in our last 10 games, and we now have an opportunity to build on recent results. It has been very demanding over the last 10 games. This is a very unforgiving league where you pay for your inexperience."

 

Norman also added that he envisioned Wingate to have a better second half of the season as with the top few sides out of the way they have to play most of the teams that are around them.  

 

 

 

29th January 2012

JONES AND DAUTI

Wingate & Finchley centre forward Lewis Jones earned a valuble 3 points for his loan club Ware on Saturday scoring in the 88th minute to seal a 1-0 home victory over Romford - a win which lifts them off the foot of the table.   

David Norman said

 

"After the game on Saturday one of the players mentioned in the changing room that Lewis had scored the winner at Ware. There was a huge cheer which says a lot for him... Lewis had a nasty injury in October which he has now fully recovered from and needs games to get him up to speed.  I am please for him as it will do his confidence a world of good, coming back from injury is always difficult for a forward as you are always thinking when you will get your next goal."

 

Norman has also been very pleased with the contribution of Waltham Forest's ex-captain Gazmend Dauti since arriving at Wingate. He added

 

"Gaz has settled into the side very well, he is a very competitive player who also has a good range of passing."

 

Dauti scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 away win over Harrow Borough on Saturday..

 

 

 

25th January 2012

RESERVES NEWS

The reserve side host Hornchurch on Wednesday 25th January in the President's Cup Third Round, and first team manager Dave Norman is looking forward to casting his eye over the game.

Norman said "I am looking forward to watching a number of players, and in particular Steve Slade, play for the reserves against Hornchurch. Steve has been training with us for the last month and has shown an excellent attitude." Slade comes with a wealth of experience having played over 300 Football League games most notably with QPR where he scored 41 goals.

Norman added "Steve has shown he still has the desire to be successful and proved that he is pushing for a first team start. I will be casting an eye over four or five other players who have the potential to play at a higher level also.".

 

 

 

25th January 2012

SMITH EXTENDS CONTRACT BUT COOPER LEAVES

The club are pleased to announce that Leon Smith has signed a new contract for the club keeping him at Wingate & Finchley until the summer of 2014.  

The club had received a formal offer for Leon, and Manager Dave Norman said "I am really pleased that Leon has committed himself to the club for the foreseeable future.  On Saturday I was convinced that Leon was going to be sold however I was informed by the Chairman on Saturday evening saying he had second thoughts about selling Leon and he had been convinced to stay with us."

Smith has been an integral part of Wingate's success over the last 3 years having been brought in from amateur football.  He scored 30 goals in his first season, 31 in his 2nd season and has scored 15 so far this season.  This has prompted a lot of interest in Leon as he has pace, power and has proved he can score goals.

Norman also added that midfielder Josh Cooper has sadly left the club after becoming frustrated with the lack of first team opportunities this season.  

Norman said "Josh spoke to me after the Leatherhead game on Saturday and informed me that he was leaving. Josh is a fantastic person who will be missed.  I understand Josh's disappoint due to his lack of first team games, it is very difficult for players when they are not in the starting eleven. On behalf of Wingate & Finchley I would like to wish Josh all the best for the future."

Cooper arrived at the club looking to rebuild his career after a year out of football with a broken leg, and he was a huge part of the 2010-11 treble-winning side.

 

 

 

25th January 2012

YOUTH ROUNDUP

There were three wins a draw and two defeats this week for the Youth teams this week.

The U14's lost 2-1 away to Billericay Town and the U15 battled hard but didn’t fare any better as they lost 3-0 Away to Bedford Town.

There was better news for both U16 teams as the Beds team won 3-0 at home to Kings Langley and the U16 Herts team won comfortably 4-0 at home to Burnham Ramblers. The only other result was the U18 who had a long trip south to play Bridon ropes in the London Cup quarter finals in which they came away with a 5-0 win, with 2 apiece from Joe Sharpe and Charlie Nelson and one from Cairo Duncan. Their semi-final will be in mid-february.

The Ryman youth team ended the weekend with a very entertaining and close 1-1 draw against Staines Town on Monday night.

 

 

 

20th January 2012

Flex team

WINGATE & FINCHLEY 2  WEALDSTONE 2

In what was a disappointing game, Wingate & Finchley scored just before half time through debutant Errol Ozkumru and then a wonder goal from 20yards out from Devonte Totesaut minutes into the second half made the score 2-0.

Wealdstone battled back getting a goal midway through the half. They scored the equalizer with virtually the last kick of the game when Wingate allowed one of their players to run from the halfway line uncontested to slot home.

Next game is a home match against Boreham Wood Whites on January 25th.

 

 

19th January 2012

Capital League

ASHFORD TOWN 0   WINGATE & FINCHLEY 1

(Slade)

The Reserves moved up to second with a win at Ashford Town. On a night of high-scoring games - there were a total of 25 goals in the other three matches being played - Wingate & Finchley only required a 1-0 win to takethe points.

Steve Slade returned to the team after having some time out and the former QPR striker scored what proved to be the winner in the first half. Youth player Andy Layton-Ogden made his debut for the reserves in goal and David Smouha played on the left-wing. Trialists John Douglas and Sebastian Schoburgh also started. There were three other youth players on the bench; Errol Ozkumru, Mamadou Bah and Oliver Noel and they all made substituteappearances.

The next game on January 25 sees a return to Presidents Challenge Cup action with a third round tie against AFC Hornchurch at Summers Lane.

 

 

 

17th January 2012

YOUTH TEAM ROUNDUP

Wingate & Finchley's youth sides enjoyed a great weekend of cup action with three sides now qualified for Cup Finals later this season.

The U17's booked their place in the AFA Cup Final after coming from behind twice to beat Providence House 3-2 with goals from Andreas Kyprianou, Jamie Dickens and the winner from Gavin Suddell. This result means that they will face Kodak or Woodford Youth on 24th March.

The U16 Bedfordshire side won their Semi-Final 6-2 over Lea Valley United ensuring a final against Bethwin SE also on the 24th March.

Meanwhile the U18's also have a place in a Final, against Bethwin SE or Valley Park Rangers on 24th March.

The U14's will play Magix Youth at home in their Semi Final on the 12th February after beating Staines Lammas 4-1 - one of the goals an unstoppable 40 yard free kick from Josh Dowling.

 

 

 

16th January 2012

NEW SIGNING

Wingate & Finchley announce the signing of 28 year old midfielder Gazmend Dauti.

Dauti joins from Waltham Forest, and has previously played for rivals Enfield Town and Harlow Town.

The physical box-to-box player won the Player of the Year award at Forest in 2010, and on the pitch he won the Middlesex Charity Cup with Enfield Town.

He has been on David Norman's radar for a while, and he made his debut in Saturday's match at Billericay Town.

 

 

 

12th January 2012

WINGATE & FINCHLEY 1 EBBSFLEET UTD 4

FCYA League Cup Round 1

The Wingate & Finchley Flex team had their first game of 2012 and were inLeague Cup action against Ebbsfleet United of the Premier Division. The first half was well contested and Wingate took a deserved lead with a good move down the left, which was finished superbly by Dejean George.

The Blues were unlucky not to go into the break 1-0 up but a minute before the end of the half, they were pegged back to 1-1. The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with good football from both sides.

Midway through, however, Ebbsfleet showed their finishing ability and scored from a corner, which was headed in by an unmarked player at the back post. Two more lapses of concentration followed allowing the visitors to score twice more, which made the score 4-1. The FLEX team are next in action on January 25 with a home league game against Boreham Wood Whites.

 

 

 

10th January 2012

YOUTH TEAM ROUNDUP

It was a positive start to the New Year for the Wingate Youth teams with four wins a draw and two defeats. The U13's had a long trip to Woodbridge Town and came away with a 1-1 draw after being pegged back after Toby scored the opener for Wingate.

The U 14's were in cup action and beat Bowers & Pitsea to reach the Semi Final of the U14 Treasurers cup. Goals came from Luke Yates, Josh Dowling , Runako Connel and Jack Jarvis. The U15’s were unlucky and went down 2-1 one at Potters Bar even though going one nil up. The U16 Beds team were also on the wrong end of a close game going down 3-2 at home to Bishops Stortford.

The U16 Hert team were however on the right end of goal feast which saw them beat Cambridge United 8-5.

The U17 continued where they left off at the end of last year and produced a good performance to win 2-0 at Romford. Callum Hosier scored with a lob over the keeper and a headed goal from Sean Griffin secured the points.

The U18 had the best performance of the day playing some sublime football to win and 7-0 at Clapton and to kick start the second half of the season after a few poor results at the end of last year. It is County Cup games for most to look forward to this week and hope to report on continued cup success next week.

 

 

 

 

9th January 2012

BLUES SIGN FISHER

Wingate & Finchley have re-signed their former combative midfielder Leon Fisher.

Manager David Norman said he was "really pleased to have Leon back at the club as he is a top quality player."

Fisher was released from the Club in 2010 and Norman has seen a dramatic improvement in his attitude over the last year and a half.

Norman added "There is no doubt in my mind about his ability however his attitude and desire had previously been in question to me. I am pleased with his contribution to reserve team football and I am looking forward

to him regaining match-fitness as he would certainly be an asset to any team in the Ryman Premier."

He is expected to be in the squad for Saturday's trip to leaders Billericay Town.

 

 

 

6th January 2012

Capital League

BEDFONT TOWN 2   WINGATE & FINCHLEY 3

(Jones 2, Bartram)

A debut goal from Alfie Bartram and a Lewis Jones brace secured a 3-2 win for Wingate & Finchley at Bedfont Town.

The game was played in very wet and windy conditions but The Blues took the lead after nine minutes

through former youth team player Bartram.

There were seven 16-year-olds in the squad and Andrew Tesseras, Andy Ward and Callum Hoiser were also all making their reserve team debuts.

Bedfont pulled a goal back after half-time but Lewis Jones continued his good scoring form in the reserves

and put Wingate 3-1 up.

The hosts responded to make it 3-2 but they couldn’t find an equaliser and Wingate kept up their winning streak, which has seen them win their last seven Capital League games.

The Blues are currently third in the table, one point behind Wealdstone and seven off leaders Harrow who have played five more games. Next up is a home clash with Staines Town on January 11.