On a cold Easter Monday afternoon Wingate & Finchley fell to defeat at the home of play-off hopefuls Redbridge despite being fully deserving of a point. The home side started the better team, and came close to taking the lead with their first chance when Mitchell Hahn shot from 25 yards on the turn – however Gavin King was at his agile best to dive to his left and parry the ball behind for a corner. Hahn went one step better in the 17th minute as he broke the deadlock with an unstoppable strike. His instinctive first-time effort from the edge of the area nestled in the bottom right corner leaving King helpless. Redbridge had started the stronger team and were worthy of their lead, however after the goal the game evened up and Wingate & Finchley began to put pressure on the home side’s defence. Joe O’Brien sent a free kick over the bar, and Joe Tabiri also went close with a left-footed volley from 30 yards that floated inches over the bar. Meanwhile Redbridge always looked dangerous at the other end and Jeff Hammond should have scored when after receiving a cross from the left flank sent a free header from six yards wide of the far post. Hammond had another chance at the start of the second half as he was put through for a one-on-one with King, however he was quickly put under pressure and sent his low shot wide. As the bobbly pitch tore up through the match passing became more difficult for both sides and the defences were resolute and very efficient. Full credit must go to the Wingate & Finchley back line of Weatherstone, Skinner, Allen and Street who performed superbly despite missing their two regular centre-backs. A lifeline was handed to Wingate & Finchley midway through the second half when Marc Weatherstone was barged in his back inside the penalty area and the referee duly awarded a penalty. Joe O’Brien stepped and aimed the ball towards the right corner but Tony Tucker dived to make a top class save. The Blues had another golden chance in the closing stages as James Gershfield was put through on the left side of the area, but his quick shot was saved by the knees of Tucker. The ball rebounded to Daniel Clarke but he could only poke the ball at full stretch wide of the right post. Wingate & Finchley: Gavin King, Marc Weatherstone (Tashan Bradshaw-Brown 83), Kieran Street, Ahma Seye (Daniel Stanton 77), Leon Skinner, David Allen, Dean Nyman, Joe Tabiri, Daniel Clarke, Joe O’Brien, Andy Edmunds (James Gershfield 46). Subs: Danny Berg, Theo Morris.