Saturday marks our penultimate home fixture of the season, and we will be facing local neighbours Haringey Borough. The Blues are coming into this fixture in excellent form, unbeaten in our last six matches and with only one defeat in our last 13 games in the league. Tuesday night saw us face fellow playoff hopefuls Hastings United and after a battling display, came away with a vital point. Turning attention to Saturday, the Blues will again be looking to secure all three points which would put the Blues within touching distance of securing a playoff position with just two further matches remaining in the season.
Our Opponents
Haringey were promoted into the Isthmian Premier League in 2018 from the Isthmian North Division. In their first season at this level, they immediately qualified for the playoffs, losing at the semi-final stage to Tonbridge Angels. Subsequent seasons were curtailed due to COVID, but in the past two completed seasons, the Borough have finished 17th and 15th (very similar to the Blues who finished 15th and 16th in these two seasons). In fact, last season, the two sides were so difficult to separate that it took 300 (!) minutes for either side to score a goal, with both league matches ending goalless, followed by a 120th minute winner at the death for Haringey in the London Senior Cup semi-final after a stalemate throughout all of normal and extra time.
This season, the two sides have had very different seasons, with Borough finding themselves in the relegation zone for much of the season, while the Blues found themselves in the playoff positions for the majority of the season. Unfortunately, last weekend Haringey's relegation was confirmed and the Borough will likely return to Isthmian North for the 2024/25 season.
Did you know?
In 2018, a record crowd of 2,710 saw Haringey face AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup at Coles Park. This was a record attendance in Coles Park's history which dates back to the 1930s, previously being the home of Wood Green Town, one of the predecessors to Haringey Borough.
Head To Head
As mentioned, last season's three fixtures all ended goalless after 90 minutes. In 2023/24, early in the season, our trip to Coles Park saw the Blues take all three points thanks to a last minute winner from Zack Newton in a 2-1 victory after Anointed Chukwu had equalised in the first half.
Last Time Out
Haringey are coming into Saturday's fixture off the back of some tough defeats in recent weeks, with their last three results being 5-0 defeats to Hastings and Hashtag United before most recently a 6-0 home defeat against Billericay which confirmed their relegation this season. The Borough will be looking to put things right this weekend in a local clash and certainly will not be underestimated by Ahmet Rifat's men.
For the Blues, Tuesday night saw us battle to a 2-2 draw against Hastings after a 2-0 win over Concord Rangers and a 3-1 win over Potters Bar Town.
Players To Watch
Haringey's top scorer and standout attacking player in a difficult season has been 21-year old Matt Young, who has 15 goals in all competitions this season, including an impressive hat-trick in the FA Cup early in the season against Tonbridge Angels. Young signed for Borough from Leyton Orient in the summer. Meanwhile former Blues forward Alphanso Kennedy also provides an attacking threat for Haringey.
For Wingate & Finchley, Alex Solomon has proved to be a revelation since signing on loan this season from Hampton & Richmond, ably slotting in across the backline and popping up with some vital goals, including this rocket against Hastings on Tuesday night.
Adult tickets can be purchased in advance here or on the gate on the day, while concession tickets can be purchased on the gate and all under 18s go FREE. Cash and card is accepted throughout the Maurice Rebak Stadium. We need your support in this crucial local derby clash as we look to edge closer to a playoff place and with the sun forecast to shine on Saturday, come down and back the Blues!
Supporters can now vote for their player of the season here - the winner will be announced after our game against Carshalton on Saturday 27th.
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.