By Noah Bercott
A closely contested match in windy conditions at Wingate & Finchley ended with Billericay Town snatching a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Both teams created chances throughout, but a goal from a late goalmouth scramble proved decisive for the visitors. The two teams started the match in 3rd and 4th place, with both making strong starts to the season; the visitors have the best defence in the league, while Wingate & Finchley are the league's second highest scorers.
Billericay started strongly, winning an early free kick on the edge of the box, but Wingate’s defence cleared the danger. The hosts responded well with several promising attacks, including an Ogo Obi header from a corner that went just over the bar in the 20th minute. The N12 Blues continued to apply pressure to the CM12 Blues, with Camilo Restrepo curling a shot narrowly wide and striker Ogo Obi missing with a close-range header. It was goalless at the interval, with Wingate & Finchley rueing a couple of missed opportunities, while the visitors will have been pleased to reach the halfway point on level terms.
In the second half, with the wind on their side, the visitors grew into the game, with Ashley Nzala forcing a stunning save from Charlie Grainger in the 55th minute. Billericay’s long-range efforts and corners kept the Wingate defence busy, but the hosts held firm until late in the match.
In the 77th minute, a goalmouth scramble following a corner saw Billericay’s number 23 Charlie Panton slot home the decisive goal. Wingate pushed for an equalizer, with Zack Newton breaking through on goal only to be flagged offside in the 85th minute. Despite five minutes of added time, Wingate couldn’t break down Billericay’s defence.
Billericay’s resilience and clinical finishing proved the difference as they left with all three points, leaving Wingate to rue their missed opportunities. The Blues remain in 4th position in the table but with a number of teams below them with games in hand - next up is another tricky match with a trip on the road to 3rd place Cray Valley PM; after their game on Saturday was abandoned, they have dropped behind Billericay in the playoff places.
Wingate & Finchley: Grainger; Cracknell; Byron; Iontton; Frempah; Lowe; Newton (Roberts 90'); Restrepo; Obi (Ward-Cochrane 72'); Georgiou (Webb 88’); Drakes-Thomas.
Unused subs: Osei, Briscoe
Attendance: 222
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.
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