August 2015 was the last time that Wingate & Finchley opened the season with a victory. Billy Healey scored twice on that day against Brentwood Town in front of 104 fans at the Maurice Rebak Stadium. Ahmet Rifat donned the number 6 shirt, and Joe Sharpe had a spot in the matchday squad. Fast-forward nine years and the Blues have tasted opening day victory again, this time with Ahmet Rifat leading the side from the touchline and Joe Sharpe having just been appointed as vice-chairman. Saturday's victory was witnessed by over 350 fans at the Maurice Rebak Stadium, as a late Ryan Lowe goal saw the Blues to a 3-2 victory over Dulwich Hamlet.
The consensus is that you should not let an opening game define your season, and that was certainly true for the Blues last season, as a 4-0 opening day defeat against Folkestone Invicta did not deter Wingate & Finchley from rallying and occupying a playoff spot throughout much of the season. Ahmet Rifat and his men will know all too well that it is a marathon and not a sprint, but a 3-2 win over a strong Dulwich Hamlet side, who many expect to be challenging for playoffs this season, and who did the double over us last season, is certainly a very positive start.
There were seven debutants on show for Wingate on Saturday, and it was one of those seven that made the breakthrough after just four minutes had been played. Dulwich Hamlet goalkeeper Dillon Barnes received a backpass and delayed slightly too long, giving Ogo Obi, who worked tirelessly all afternoon, an opportunity to close him down and he got his just rewards, deflecting the ball into the net, making himself known to the fans behind the goal with a warm embrace.
After the goal, Dulwich Hamlet certainly grew into the first half, strong in possession, without creating too many clear cut chances, although new goalkeeper Prince Adegoke had to be alert to make claim a low cross from the right, with Hamlet players waiting to tap home. Luke Deslandes, who Ahmet Rifat will no doubt have been pleased to retain this summer, looked lively down the left flank and twice beat his man and tested Barnes with shots on goal.
Five minutes before the interval, midfielder Arthur Iontton, signed from Haringey this summer, was forced off with an injury, bringing a fellow debutant onto the pitch in the form of Ryan Lowe. The atmosphere at the Maurice Rebak Stadium on Saturday was excellent, with the sun shining and a great travelling contingent from Dulwich Hamlet, with fans from both clubs enjoying the London Brewing Co beers on offer in the bar, and the new Pukka Pies hot food stand.
The second half started fairly slowly, but shortly before the hour mark, Andronicos Georgiou found wing-back Ayo Tanimowo, who beat his man on the left side with ease, reaching the by-line before cutting back to Ogo Obi who couldn't miss, tapping home from all of two yards, to double his tally on his debut. This goal sparked Dulwich Hamlet into life, however, and they went on to dominate the next 20 minutes or so.
Prince Adegoke made a fine stop, adjusting to push a deflected strike from Luke Wanadio over the bar, before just minutes later, Wanadio went down under a challenge from Toby Byron in the box, dusted himself down and fired an excellent penalty into the roof of Adegoke's net to halve the deficit.
Our new number nine Ogo Obi was a thorn in the Hamlet side all afternoon with his pace, strength and excellent work-rate, and after seeing a penalty given at one end, Obi raced through on goal and was brought down by Hamlet keeper Dillon Barnes. With Obi on a hat-trick, there was only one man that was going to take the spot kick, but he saw his penalty well saved by a strong hand from Barnes, diving to his left, to keep the game alive going into the final 15 minutes.
The Blues had another chance to seal the deal, with excellent work down the right side by Rhamar Garrett-Douglas allowing him to slide the ball across the face of the goal, but Destiny Oladipo, on in Obi's place, was unable to apply the finishing touch at the back post. From this moment, Dulwich, cheered on by the increasingly loud "Rabble" behind the goal, took the ball down the other end and Luke Wanadio, who was Hamlet's best attacking threat, cut inside on the right wing and placed the ball into the far corner to level the scores with around 10 minutes to go including additional time.
Many of the Wingate & Finchley fans in the stadium may have been resigned to this being another opening day disappointment, with Dulwich doing an excellent job to bring things back, in a great match of football. However, one man had different ideas, and after some excellent work between substitutes Oladipo and Garzon (with Ahmet Rifat making full use of the new rule allowing 5 substitutions at this level) to keep the ball alive in the middle of the park, allowing the ball to fall to Ryan Lowe on the edge of the D, who showed excellent composure to keep his head over the ball and drill the ball low and hard into the bottom left hand corner, with Barnes unable to stop it on its way into the net. Lowe was mobbed by his team mates, and the Maurice Rebak Stadium let out a roar of celebration. The fifth goal of the game proved to be its last, as it knocked the stuffing out of a spirited Hamlet side, who were unable to create any clear chances in the remaining 5 minutes.
An excellent start to the season, and one that showcased the ability of the Blues squad that Ahmet Rifat has assembled this summer. Our next fixtures come thick and fast, with an away trip to Carshalton on Monday night before returning to the Maurice Rebak Stadium next Saturday to face Folkestone Invicta.
Wingate & Finchley: Adegoke; Cracknell; Byron; Talla; Frempah; Iontton (Lowe 40'); Garrett-Douglas; Georgiou (Garzon 76'); Obi (Oladipo 76'); Deslandes (Newton 84'); Tanimowo (Empochontsif 90').
Unused Subs: none Photos courtesy of Martin Addison
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