On a bitterly cold night in Middlesex it was the home side who started the brightest, and as they played the ball around quickly and accurately in the opening stages, took a fully deserved lead in only the 16th minute. A very quick break down the right wing set Anthony Joseph clear, and he blasted an unstoppable shot across Gavin King into the far corner. Craig Ellis had a decent chance at the other end for Wingate & Finchley when he won a header from the corner, but goalkeeper Paul McCarthy was alert and gathered well from underneath the crossbar. However it was the home side that continued to dominate, and doubled their lead in the 36th minute after a sublime goal from Paul Timba. Having played a neat one-two to unlock the visiting defence he ran clear on the edge of the area and flicked the ball at full stretch over the onrushing King. Having been two goals behind at the break, it was a totally different and invigorated blues side that came out for the second period. The two tireless forwards James Gershfield and Daniel Clarke did not stop running and always seemed likely to score. Gershfield sent a shot from distance over the bar with his left foot, before a well controlled half-volley that was inches wide of the right post. The passing was much better from the visitors in the second half, and they controlled most of the possession and continued to test the Ashford defensive line. Hussein Isa sent a free kick from 20 yards which McCarthy fumbled, but fortunately for him it bobbled just to the outside of the post. Gavin King was called upon at the other end to make a great save with is feet from Scott Todd, and for Wingate & Finchley Gershfield and James Cole both won headers from close range at the far post but failed to trouble McCarthy, as his side held on for the clean sheet that took them into round 2 of the County Cup. Wingate & Finchley: Gavin King, Marc Weatherstone, Guy Helman, Craig Ellis, James Cole, Shola Oyedele, James Gershfield, Ahma Seye (Joe O’Brien 61), Daniel Clarke (Dale Archer 64), Tashan Bradshaw-Brown, Elvis Balic (Hussein Isa 77). Subs: Danny Berg, Bobby Aisien.