Yet again Wingate & Finchley against Potters Bar Town produced goals and goalmouth action as the Blues came from two goals down to take a lead and then see the three points reduced to one by a late penalty. Wingate & Finchley began this game as if they were all strangers with passes going astray and two players going for the same ball and neither winning which allowed the visitors to control the first 25 minutes and find themselves two goals to the good.

After only three minutes a Daniel Talbot cross found the head of James Dickie whose effort looped onto the roof of the net then on ten minutes the Blues defence went missing as a cross from Josh Cooper found the head of ANDY MARTIN whose header went over Thompson and into the net. Six minutes later and with the Blues still failing to click PHIL TURNER raced through and from 30 yards lobbed Thompson to put the visitors seemingly out of sight. But it wasn’t to be and after 20 minutes a Jonathan Ellis free kick was met by Tashan Bradshaw-Brown who directed his header to the feet of fellow striker Dean Williams whose first time shot skimmed the far post with Hayward rooted to his line.

This effort lifted the Blues and when five minutes before the interval the Blues passing movement started to take control there was hope which was soon turned into delight as on 42 minutes Guy Morris released DEAN WILLIAMS who danced his way through the visiting defence and drove an unstoppable effort into the corner. One before the break was marvellous news for the Blues and it got better as with seconds remaining in the half Dean Williams turned provider when he laid the ball back to GUY MORRIS who levelled the game.

Seconds into he second half and the Blues should have been ahead as Bradshaw-Brown left Hayward for dead but with only a defender on the line Bradshaw-Brown skied his effort, however seven minutes into the half and Wingate & Finchley were ahead as Danny Berg won a tackle in midfield Guy Morris and Craig Ellis who had a storming game in midfield and then moved to centre half where he was equally good combined to allow Leon Wilson to play a diagonal pass which JIRKA HOUDEK ran onto and waited for Hayward to commit before rifling an effort across the keeper and in for Houdek’s first Wingate & Finchley goal in his 45th game for the Blues, a strike worth waiting for.

Having taken the lead the Blues had chances to increase their advantage with Bradshaw-Brown finding the side netting and Anthony Limbrick forcing Hayward to scramble across his goal to save a fierce return of an under hit goal kick. It was still important for Ed Thompson to be alert and he produced two superb saves before launching a huge drop kick which was flicked on by debutant Chris West and Dean Williams fired over.

Then with five minutes to go a scramble on the edge of the area ended with a push being seen by the referee which allowed RICHARD HOWARD to drill his penalty down the middle and level matters up. After a sluggish start the Blues went through the gears and produced a good performance and can go into the next game with confidence and a performance to build on.

Wingate & Finchley:- Ed Thompson 7; Jirka Houdek 7; Joe Faulkner 6 (Daniel Stanton 57 7); Craig Ellis 7 (Captain) Jonathan Ellis 6; Guy Morris 7; Leon Wilson 7 (Adam Stolerman 80 n/a); Danny Berg 7; Dean Williams 7; Tashan Bradshaw-Brown 6 (Chris West 73 7) Anthony Limbrick 8. Subs not Used: Leon Osei; Stephen Badu.