The game took a while to get going as neither side could find ways to break down their opposition’s defence, but it was Wingate who found their rhythm after the half hour mark. Firstly Dan Stanton played Craig Scotcher through for him to shoot wide, then a tenacious Danny Berg shot over after some excellent tackling on the edge of the Forest area. Darren Spinks had the best chance of the half when he beat the offside trap and bore down on the goalkeeper. However the keeper closed Spinks down and blocked the shot with his legs as the ball rebounded for a corner. From the following corner Guy Helman rose unmarked at the far post but his header sailed agonisingly inches wide of the far post.

Throughout the first half the team looked organised and very defensively sound with the back four of Jon Ellis, Guy Morris, Stephen Badu and Helman helping to ensure that Ed Thompson went through the first half without facing a real test.

The second half continued where the first left off, being played at a high tempo. Craig Ellis let fly from 25 yards with a shot that keft the keeper stranded, again however the ball was a matter inches off target. Waltham Forest’s 11 came close at the other end with a half-volley across goal that whistled past the post, and their centre-back sent a free kick goalwards but Thompson gathered comfortably. Darren Spinks had another good chance for Wingate & Finchley when he shot on the turn after spinning away from his marker but his shot was off target.

When Craig Scotcher sent an acrobatic volley fractionally wide of the far post it felt like it was going to be one of those days where a goal was never going to be scored. With ten minutes remaining Dan Stanton left his marker in his wake down the right flank, however Danny Berg was unable to redirect Stanton’s fizzing cross towards goal. At the other end Thompson had to make an excellent point blank save to deny Forest’s number 15 who had leapt high to win a header at the far post.

Manager Adam Lee said after the game that he was “happy to keep a clean sheet in a game that we dominated, although was disappointed that we simply could not take our chances because it only takes a simple set piece at the other end to undo all the hard work.” Michael Stone added that he was delighted with the defensive solidity, and just hopes that the squad can add a little bit of composure when in front of goal, and maybe have a little luck once in a while!

Wingate & Finchley: Ed Thompson 8, Jon Ellis 7, Guy Helman 8, Craig Ellis 7, Stephen Badu 8, Guy Morris 8, Dan Stanton 7, Danny Berg 6, Dean Williams 8, Craig Scotcher 6 (Tashan Bradshaw-Brown 68 7), Darren Spinks 6. Subs not used: Anthony Limbrick, Billy Amarteifio, Joe Faulkner, Jay Allen.