Match Report by Noah Bercott.
After some excellent results in the league in recent weeks, Tuesday night saw the Blues turn their attentions to cup action. So far, the cup competitions haven't proved to be happy hunting grounds this season, so those in attendance were hoping for improved fortunes in the London Senior Cup. The management team made a number of changes for this game, including giving starts to teenagers Tommy Roberts and Bobby Webb, the latter being given the captain's armband for the game, while youngster Theodore Behe was also given his first taste of first team action on the subs bench.
The first action of the match came just a matter of seconds in when a long ball from Ayo Tanimowo found Zack Newton in a one-on-one situation, only for his shot to be blocked by the visiting goalkeeper, the first of many saves by the visiting number one Charlie Cottrell. Despite a fast start, the home side were not able to create another clear-cut chance until the 34th minute when Jaiden Drakes-Thomas received the ball from provider Tanimowo again, but again the strike was parried by the Erith & Belvedere goalkeeper from close range.
Erith & Belvedere performed well throughout the match, and in the second half they put their stamp in the game, culiminating in two agonisingly close chances at goal in the later stages of the half. The first coming when Freddie Baker was through on goal, with Grainger getting a strong palm to the ball. The subsequent corner led to a chance for Ronnie McClean to get a head to the ball only for Grainger to again make an excellent stop, diving to his left to tip the ball over the goal.
The last action of the game led to Wingate securing their place in the third round of the London Senior Cup when a well worked attack ended up with the ball falling to Drakes-Thomas 25 yards outside of the box to strike the ball in to the bottom right corner of the goal in what was practically the final kick of the game, to break the visitors' hearts.
Elsewhere tonight, our Velocity Cup opponents were confirmed as Tilbury came back from 4-0 down against Haringey Borough to set up a clash at the Maurice Rebak Stadium in two weeks' time.
Wingate & Finchley: Grainger; Garrett-Douglas; Byron; Iontton (Lowe 77'); Webb; Drakes-Thomas; Newton; Tanimowo; Briscoe; Roberts (Obi 82'); Hernandez (Cracknell 68')
Unused subs: Behe, Georgiou
Attendance: 78
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.
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