Saturday’s tie against Chichester City was a chance for the Blues to capitalise on Tuesday’s fantastic win at home to Cray, and a chance to put the woes of the last couple of months well and truly behind them. It was an opportunity to restamp their credentials on the league and to push on up the table to where they, arguably, belong.
But standing in their way was a Chichester team who had won their previous six games on the spin, and who exuded confidence in the way that they sprayed the ball around the pitch and went into challenges.
It makes it even more frustrating that the Blues largely managed to limit the chances for their hosts, thanks to the new look back four that got its debut against Cray. Hernandez and Garrett-Douglas used their pace well against the Chichester wingers, who stayed as high as they could out of possession, looking to spring the counter attack when their midfielders won the ball. And Watt and Drakes-Thomas in midfield battled away to snuff out what they could.
They were largely successful, and while Frempah and Byron both had to make one diving tackle to clear some rising danger, the best chances that Chichester managed to create were from set pieces. Any free-kicks, corners, or throw-ins in range of the box were pumped into their towering centre forward Jimmy Wild, and it was this that did the damage.
Wild’s goal, Chichester’s first, after 12 minutes came from a corner that was looped to the back post and Wild rose highest to head it down under Salamon in goal to give the hosts the lead. They then struck on the stroke of halftime, as a freekick was lumped forward, and the Chichester man won his header, diverting the ball back across goal where centre half Curtis Da Costa was there to volley into the open net and restore their lead just before half time.
The Blues were the side who looked more likely, especially in the second half, and you could see their plan against a Chichester team that were pressing hard and looking to play a high line. Ogo Obi caught them out in the first half after a mistake from the Chichester right back allowed him to slip in and very neatly finish his chance from a tight angle to restore parity in the score line at 1-1 in the first half.
And then in the second, there were plenty of nearly moments as the Blues tried a similar approach. Chichester’s offside just about held out, except for the one big moment of the half, where Loic Hernandez slipped a beautiful ball through the line, where Ore Bello was running on to the ball. He managed to get his shot away, but it went just wide of the keeper’s right hand post to frustrate him and his team-mates. There were other similar moments, where balls were flashed across goal, or where the Blues’ attackers were very marginally offside as they looked to create that one meaningful chance.
And so there will have been mixed feelings on the bus back north following the game: natural disappointment that the result didn’t go their way, and in the manner of the two goals that they conceded. But it was a positive performance from the Blues all round on one of their longest away days of the season, against a side who have now won seven games in a row. But, no time to dwell, as Dover Athletic make their way to Summers Lane next weekend, looking to reclaim top spot in the league, where you can be a part of the action. We’ll see you there
Wingate & Finchley: Salamon, Hernandez, Byron, Watt, Frempah, Drakes-Thomas (Newton 87’), Garrett-Douglas, Tanimowo (Keller 87’), Obi, Georgiou (Lowe 73’), Restrepo (Bello 64’)
Unused Subs: Solomon
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.
By Chris Cummings
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