They say that in life, nothing worth having comes easy. And the climax to Wingate & Finchley’s rollercoaster season certainly proved that statement true. Afi Adebayo’s extra-time stunner, in minute 109 of a gruelling Isthmian League Cup final with Ramsgate, sparked ecstasy amongst the Finchley faithful. A collective release of emotion. Pure joy.
But, again, such joy is rarely created without frustration before it. It wasn’t until their eighth outing, a 2-1 win over Hashtag United, that the Blues enjoyed their first taste of a league victory. Romeo Akinola’s spectacular free-kick, the difference on that night.
This win came seven days after an exciting FA Cup triumph over Carshalton Athletic, earning Ahmet Rifat’s team a trip to Dorking Wanderers, where professional pedigree prevailed on the day, resulting in a 7-2 victory for the National League South team.
Then, following a three-week pause, came a rather unusual run of ten consecutive away games. Three different competitions, seven wins, two draws, one defeat. A fantastic return for the Blues, all factors considered. Summer signing Gianluca Botti announced his true arrival to the club during this period, finding the net on eight occasions. When it wasn’t Botti in the goals, it was wing-back, Loïc Hernandez, who contributed remarkably as a striker, with four in three matches. Undoubtedly, the two standout victories from this crazy run on the road were a glorious 5-0 win at then-league-leaders, Brentwood Town and a 3-0 success over Dulwich Hamlet where, at times, it was very much like watching Brazil.
Despite a successful return home in mid-November, a testing two-month spell followed. The Blues found just one win in eleven games, certainly not helped by four postponed matches during that period. A league campaign which had shown such promise, began to unravel very quickly.
It was a 2-1 home win over neighbours, Potters Bar Town, that stopped the rot. A week later, Gianluca Botti’s brace earned three crucial points against Canvey Island, almost silencing murmurs of the dreaded ‘r-word’.
Two weeks later in mid-March, Wingate’s reward for that ‘one win in eleven’ came around. An Isthmian League Cup semi-final at Redbridge FC. The contest looked destined for a penalty shootout, before new signing, Remy-Lee Bennison, became the late hero. His manager introduced him into the action with a parting message of: “You’ll score the winner”, and ten minutes later, he did just that. The Blues were on their way to a cup final for the first time in a decade and a half.
Once they did enough to secure Step Three football for another year, the focus was entirely on the big night in Aveley. Please re-read the opening few sentences of this piece. Pure joy.
Legendary goalkeeping coach Gavin King’s two-decade-long tenure at the club was brought to a close with a taste of silverware, fifteen years after lifting the same trophy as a player. And, on both occasions, alongside him was the captain (then) and the boss (now), Ahmet Rifat. A joyful climax to a season of highs, lows, and everything in between.
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison. The full Cup Final album can be found here