| Wingate & Finchley came out of the blocks determined to take this game by the scruff of the neck and from the off Leon Osei fed Dean Williams who charged forward and his cross into the centre was turned behind for a corner.
It was all Blues play with the visitors unable to find a way out of their own half and all the Blues needed was a goal to confirm their superiority but the closest they came was a Daniel Stanton cross that was headed onto the bar by Jirka Houdek.
Soon after this effort the Blues went behind when a high cross saw a group of players challenging for the ball and it was DANNY JONES who gave the visitors the lead, although the Blues felt that keeper Thompson had been impeded in the build up nothing was given. Three minutes later Wingate & Finchley were level as yet another surging run from Dean Williams was unceremoniously ended on the edge of the area and from the resulting free kick to the far post AHMET RIFAT powered home the equaliser, again the Blues took charge and minutes before the break a seemingly obvious penalty when Leon Osei found Dean Williams and his cross was seemingly clawed away by a defender but nothing was given and the sides went to the break level.
Again seconds into the half the Blues had a great chance to take the lead as Craig Ellis directed an effort goalwards only for Dean Neil to somehow get down to paw the ball to safety. Where the Blues could not find the net Tilbury made them pay when on 52 minutes Jones rounded Thompson and squared the ball to JORDAN TOLAN who rolled the cross into the net. Eleven minutes later and disaster for the Blues as Tilbury played a route one ball which Ed Thompson charged out to clear only to miss his clearance and give DANNY JONES the chance to extend the visitors advantage.
A tense finish was ensured when 13 minutes from time substitute Darren Assiamah was tripped in the area and AHMET RIFAT placed the penalty into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Neil. There was now only one team in the game as the Blues surged forward and Jirka Houdek drove a fierce effort against the post with the follow up effort from Ellis being saved by Neil before Tashan Bradshaw-Brown who had replaced Leon Osei powered a header against the bar and again Ellis saw his effort saved.
The Blues are back in action on Tuesday night when Ashford Town(Middlesex) visit the Abrahams Stadium in the Middlesex Senior Cup before Arlesey Town travel down for next Saturday's league encounter.
WINGATE & FINCHLEY:- Ed Thompson 6; Jirka Houdek
7; Guy Helman 6; Craig Ellis 7 (Captain); Ahmet Rifat 7; Guy Morris
6; Dan Stanton 7 (Darren Assiamah 70 6); Joe O’Brien 7; Chris West
6; Dean Williams 7; Leon Osei 6 (Tashan Bradshaw-Brown 64
7). Subs not used: Mark Gradosielski; Stephen Badu; Danny Berg
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