The Blues were not fazed by this goal, and started to dominate proceedings. There was an urgency about their play and passing was quick and precise on the flat playing surface. James Gershfield came close with a delicate lob wide angle but Louis Green timed his jump well and tipped the ball away. Craig Faulconbridge, who was a handful up front all afternoon, came close with an effort as he made a trademark late run at the far post from a deep cross, however he couldn’t find the target.

At the other end Lovell made a superb acrobatic save as he pushed away a shot from 20 yards at full stretch with his right hand. Despite the visitors being the better side throughout the half, Great Wakering doubled their lead through a shock goal minutes before the break. Martin Tuohy sent a low cross from the left wing, and as Lovell inexplicably lost his footing the ball bounced agonisingly over his head creeping just inside the far post.

As the second half got underway, Wingate & Finchley continued to dominate possesion, and were extremely unlucky when new signing Hussein Isa struck the post from a free kick. However after about 10 minutes of trying to get back into the game, the away team’s heads seemed to drop as Great Wakering went from strength to strength and as time went on became more in control of the game. In the 60th minute Neil Richmond should have scored when he had a free header that he put wide, however he made amends one minute later with a spectacularly unstoppable first-time volley from 25 yards that flew into the top left corner.

This goal sealed the points for the home side and they began to slice through the Blues’ midfield and defence with ease. Lovell was called upon to make a double save from Richmond from point blank range. At the other end Wingate & Finchley’s forwards seemed desperate when approaching Wakering’s penalty area and continued to shoot from distance, never really troubling the assured home goalkeeper Louis Green. Wakering’s Richmond was denied again in the 80th minute when his sidefooted effort struck the outside of the post, although by this time the match was over.

The Blues now have a two week rest before hosting near neighbours Potters Bar Town in Sunday 23rd September at 3:00pm.

Wingate & Finchley: David Lovell, Marc Weatherstone, Anthony Limbrick (Calvin Petrie 76), Daniel Stanton (Tommy Ti-Jancie), Billy Amarteifio, Shola Oyedele, James Gershfield (Matt Reade 65), Joe O’Brien, Craig Faulconbridge, Elvis Balic, Hussein Isa. Subs: Denis Paratusic, Bobby Aisien.