| Wingate & Finchley returned to winning ways in the Ryman League with a deserved victory over close neighbours and long time friends Arlesey Town at the Abrahams Stadium.
Both teams began brightly and surged forward looking for goals but failed to hit the target and it wasn’t until 11 minutes before the break that either keeper was called into any action of note and although the chance wasn’t taken the build up play showed the quality of football that Wingate & Finchley are looking to play this season.
From a multi player build up involving both one and two touch football the ball fell to Dean Williams who struck a low effort across the face of the Arlesey goal but no-one in a Blue shirt was on hand to finish the move. Then five minutes before the break Dean Williams and Craig Ellis interplayed well to free Joe O’Brien who played the ball into the path of Daniel Stanton but he was denied by Bliss in the visiting goal.
It appeared that the Blues might pay for not taking their chances as an early barrage of Arlesey chances tested the home sides defence at the start of the second half but the Blues held out and began to take control again with Leon Osei starting a rapid move that involved Kevin George, back from suspension, Jirka Houdek and ended with Osei crossing to Joe O’Brien who fired over the top. Home hearts were in mouths just after the hour when Lee Tekell who has been a thorn in the Blues sides over the years was unmarked and met a McKenzie cross but powered his header wide when it appeared easier to score.
Soon after Tekell was shown how to finish by KEVIN GEORGE after excellent work by teenage substitute Tashan Bradshaw-Brown ended with Bliss parrying a cross to George who rifled home from six yards. With nine minutes to go the Blues doubled their lead as Chris West crossed to beyond the far post where MARK GRADOSIELSKI timed his run to perfection and headed home his first goal for the Blues.
Wingate have a potentially busy week with a long trip to Great Wakering Rovers on Tuesday before a Middlesex Charity Cup Tie against Hounslow Borough on Thursday. In both these games the Blues will be looking to continue this run and look to keep more clean sheets.
Wingate & Finchley: Ed Thompson 7; Jirka Houdek
7; Guy Helman 7; Craig Ellis 8 (captain); Billy Amarteifio
7; Guy Morris 7; Daniel Stanton 7(Mark Gradosielski 70 8); Joe O’Brien
7; Dean Williams 7 (Tashan Bradshaw-Brown 64 8*); Kevin George
7(Chris West 78 7); Leon Osei 7. Subs not Used: Danny Berg; Stephen Badu.
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