| Some outstanding goalkeeping from Potters Bar’s Chris Browne allowed Wingate and Finchley just a single goal to show for their efforts when it could have been three or four, such was the Blues style of play – fast and furious on a bone dry surface. Most of the players from both sides could win the forthcoming marathon with the game being played at a hundred miles an hour or so it seemed.
Both sets of forwards chased like lepards to reach through balls, but it was Wingates’ Tashan Bradshaw-Brown, a first team player, who went oh so close in the middle of the first half who tested keeper Browne with a powerful drive followed by cannon shots, one hitting the bar and another just wide. Medi Alabimba and Theo O’Hene also forced Browne in to spectacular saves. Then Alfie Bartram gave him some work. In the second half Bartram again tested him, so did James Gershfield as the game wore on, and towards the end Blues Keeper Ben Dela Fuente saved brilliantly from a header in a rare attempt at the target from the visitors. But it was SAMUEL KAYE who won the day for the Blues crashing home from inside the area within thirteen minutes remaining. Every Wingate player fought hard for every tackle particularly in midfield where Potters Bar were weak. So Wingate and Finchley enter the semi-final of this prestigious youth cup competition, and deservedly so.
Wingate and Finchley Under-18’s;- Ben De La Fuente, Myles Beerman (capt), Lee Flavin (Greg Lautman 67) Joseph Killingback, Samuel Kaye, Tatenda Nyamangunda, Theo O’Hene, Medi Alabimba, Tashan Bradshaw-Brown (Lee Rosamond 67), James Gershfield, Alfie Bartram. Unused subs;- Charlie Cannell, Daniel Glaude, Jeremy Julius.
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