Wingate & Finchley Football Club

Wingate & Finchley closed 2006 with a defeat against east London rivals Redbridge at Oakside Stadium devoid of much football which can in part be attributed to a very bobbly pitch where first touch was vital. Chances fell at both ends with Ben Bradbury testing Ed Thompson before lasting in the first half releasing Paul Armstrong who also called Thompson into action, whilst at the other end Joe O’Brien forced Andy Hall into a smart save then it was Mark Gradosielski who tried from range before the Blues best chance of the half came with Chris West given acres of space to charge onto and fire an effort across the goal but no-one in a Wingate shirt was able to find the net.

This was to be the story of the day with build up play but the finishing touch lacking and so the score was goalless at half time. Early second half action saw Dean Williams take aim only for his effort to be blocked to safety by Bradbury from the goalline and when a Blues corner came to nothing Armstrong burst forward in acres of space but pulled his effort wide of the mark. The decisive goal came on 58 when after an O’Brien free kick had reached the head of Ahmet Rifat whose header seemed destined for the bottom corner until Andy Hall stuck out his right arm to claw the ball away, at the other end Redbridge won a free kick which fell to the feet of MITCH HAHN whose mis-hit shot bobbled and slithered its way through the hands of Thompson and agonisingly for the Blues into the back of the net.

Hahn caused the Blues more danger but he could not find the net and the Blues charged forward only for Dean Williams to be denied and then Guy Helman having a header cleared of the line. Seconds from time Stephen Badu freed Dean Williams who held off the centre half but his shot was parried to safety and the points went to East London.

Wingate & Finchley:- Ed Thompson 7; Danny Berg 6 (Stephen Badu 59 6); Guy Helman 6; Mark Gradosielski 7; Billy Amarteifio 6 (Captain); Ahmet Rifat 6; Daniel Stanton 6 (Tashan Bradshaw-Brown 78 n/a); Joe O’Brien 7; Dean Williams 7; Chris West 6.