Harlow Town preview

Wingate and Finchley travel to Harlow Town on Saturday as the Blues look to calm their rollercoaster start to the season. A 3-0 loss to Tonbridge Angels on the opening day of the campaign was quickly followed up by a 2-1 defeat at home to Billericay Town. But a turnaround in fortunes saw Keith Rowland's side romp to a 1-0 derby victory against local rivals Hendon before fighting their way back from a goal down to draw 2-2 with league newcomers Sudbury AFC. And Wingate will once again be matched up against fresh faces on Saturday when they travel to recently-promoted Harlow Town. A remarkable 12 game winning streak during winter of last season saw Danny Chapman's men shoot up the Ryman Division One North table, finishing third before beating AFC Hornchurch in the playoff final to clinch promotion. Coincidentally, Wingate and Finchley last met The Hawks in the league as they were on their own way up, beating them 4-2 in the semi final of their famous 2010/11 treble playoff win. Since then, despite a rocky patch that included a points deduction in 2012, the Hawks have secured a playoff place in their last three consecutive seasons and can boast a formidable attacking force to boot. Prolific striker Alex Read is already the holder of numerous club goal scoring records and finished 2015/16 as the third top scorer in Division One North. He's adjusted seamlessly into a higher division and already has two goals to his name this season, including a 90th minute winner in Harlow's opener against Kingstonian. This result has been the only thing the Hawks have been able to shout about thus far however, with defeats to Harrow, Worthing and Dulwich Hamlet serving as a baptism of fire for the league's new boys. Wingate and Finchley's own precarious start to the season leaves Saturday's teams sandwiching 18th placed Merstham in the table, separated by just one point. And with the sides fighting to steady their respective ships early on in the season, both will be keen to avoid being hit by another wave. By Andy Gerlis