Ryman League Division One North
Wingate & Finchley 1 Chatham 0
Recent signing Michael Sacks was the matchwinner as Wingate & Finchley made it two out of two with victory in their first home match of the season.
Wingate and Finchley had gone nine years since an opening day victory, and after a Chris Chase hat-trick at Great Wakering Rovers on Saturday, which lead to a 4-1 victory, Michael Stone's side were eager to add another three points to their opening day tally.
In fact it took just seven minutes for the Blues to race into the Ryman League Division One North's pack of early pace setters following a nicely worked set-piece, when Tim Lees' corner was headed past James Smith by summer signing Michael Sacks for the game‘s only goal.
Wingate had started the aggressors and before Sacks' strike could have been a goal up after Chase, fresh from his exploits at the weekend, was let free only to see his shot to bobble past a nervy looking James Smith's left hand post.
Chatham had found it hard to settle as the new-look Wingate pressed on to add to their early advantage, and may well have made it two after recently appointed captain Marvin Samuels had his shot blocked in the 22nd minute.
The visitors finally got into the game as the first half draw to a close with Mark Brooks creating his side's best chance following an Ashley Proberts cross, although Wingate's Craig Ellis was on hand to prevent an equaliser.
Both sides started the second half brightly although the chances created rarely troubled either goalkeeper.
Another summer signing, Wayne Grant, who had joined Wingate from Enfield Town, started to prove his worth and led the line well with his new strike partner Chris Chase.
The best chance of the early exchanges in the second half falling after Chase's low cross went un-punished.
The visitors rarely threatened Gavin King in the Wingate goal as their vain attempt for an equaliser continued. However, they will surely be kicking themselves for not making more of an 88th minute free-kick which former Eastbourne Borough midfielder Darren Smith struck tamely at the wall.
The result took the hosts to the heady heights of third place in the table and despite being 40 games away from the end of the season surely manager Michael Stone can be pleased with the start his newly assembled squad have made.
Wingate & Finchley: King, Weatherstone (Street), Limbrick (O. Williams), Ellis, Aisen, Sacks, Lees, Samuels, Grant, Chase (Clarke), O'Brien. Unused Subs: Stanton, D. Williams
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