Three cheers for Wingate - The Jewish Chronicle

Ryman League Division One North:
Tilbury 0 Wingate & Finchley 3

Wingate & Finchley gave themselves some breathing room ahead of the playoff chasing pack with a convincing away victory at Tilbury.

The first half was an even and open contest, and Wingate went in a goal ahead at the break mainly thanks to the heroics of goalkeepr Gavin King. The second half saw a difference in class as the visitors comfortably killed the game off.

Leon Fisher had an early attempt when he tried to place the ball into the top right corner, but his aim was slightly off as the ball missed the post. Fisher then became creator when he curled in a perfect free kick from the bye-line which Ahmet Rifat met inside the six yard box but he volleyed the ball over the bar.

For Tilbury their first chance came in the 19th minute as Clinton Hodge had a shot from an acute angle to the right of goal, but he hooked his effort across the face. Then within moments Chris Stowe should have given the home side the lead but his header from point blank range was brilliantly parried by Gavin King.

Wingate & Finchley counter attacked quickly from this and took the lead themselves. Chris Chase found himself dragged over onto the left wing, and he crossed high to the unmarked Leon Fisher who headed past Andy Hall.

King then made a fantastic double save, first from another close range Stowe header, and then he dived low to his right to parry the well struck rebound from Glen Robson.

The Blues weathered the storm and held on till the break, after which a one-sided second half followed.

After a beautiful sweeping move from the left wing to right, Marc Weatherstine set up Joe O'Brien with a left-footed shot but Hall saved at full stretch low to his right.

On the hour mark the lead was doubled. Leon Fisher whipped in a cross and Leon Nelson flicked the ball with a deft header into the bottom right corner leaving the keeper rooted to his spot.

Ahmet Rifat had a free header that found the back of the net but the assistant had raised his flag for a very dubious offside decision.

The third goal that killed the game off came shortly after in the 71st minute. When Chris Chase was put on goal by a Fisher through ball he shot past the keeper but hit the post, howeve the rebound fell kindly back to him and he tapped the ball home into the empty net.

Late in the game Chase had a one-on-one that was saved well by Hall, and from the following corner a Craig Ellis shot from 18 yards was deflected inches wide of the right post. However by this stage the game was over as Wingate left with a deserved three points.

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