FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round
Wingate & Finchley 1 Worthing 0
Wingate & Finchley won through to the third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy with a fantastic and deserved win over a tough Worthing side.
Wingate & Finchley got off to a fantastic start through a flash of brilliance from centre-forward Leon Nelson. After a slowly built up attack down the left wing, the ball fell at the feet of Nelson further than 20 yards out who struck an unstoppable volley into the top right corner to give his side the lead in the third minute.
The home side's pressure did not stop there. Ola Williams went on a fast run and squared the ball over to Marc Weatherstone who was free on the right but his shot sailed over the bar.
The game was very stretched at both ends, and Worthing's Stuart Axten tested the handling of Gavin King from outside the area but the keeper held the ball comfortably. For Wingate Tim Lees curled in a free kick which found Craig Ellis in space but his acrobatic lobbed effort went too high over the bar.
Wingate & Finchley had a lucky escape five minutes from half time as a long distance swirling shot was fumbled by King underneath his crossbar, Paul Kennett shot from the follow-up just a few yards out but King redeemed himself by gathering the second attempt.
There were few chances in a wet and windy second half, although Kennett did have the best of them as he tried to level the scores or his Worthing side. After a long throw from the right was flicked on into the area, he had a free header but was too far out from goal to get any power behind his effort. Kennett then had a speculative effort that flew high over the bar as Worthing began to get frustrated by the Blues' resilience as the half wore on.
The Blues then came a whisker away from doubling the lead as a Tim Lees cross following a short corner totally deceived the keeper Mansfield and struck the crossbar, bouncing to safety much to Worthing's relief.
Ben Andrews went close for Worthing late on but his shot rolled wide of the right hand post, and Wingate & Finchley held on comfortably to progress to the 3rd Qualifying Round and into Monday's draw.
Wingate & Finchley: Gavin King, Marc Weatherstone (Keiran Street 75), Ola Williams, Craig Ellis, Bobby Aisien, Ahmet Rifat, Tim Lees, Marvin Samuel, Leon Nelson, Chris Chase Dean Williams (71), Tim Lees (Joe O'Brien 79). Subs: Callin Horton, Michael Sacks
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