As the Blues took their first ever trip to Dover's Megger Community Stadium, it would have been easy to be overawed by a Club that has typically spent its recent history in the upper reaches of the non-league pyramid, but on a beautiful Saturday afternoon on the Kent coast, Wingate & Finchley did themselves proud, with an excellent performance seeing all three points coming back to North London with a deserved 2-1 victory.
As early as the fifth minute, the Blues were into their rhythm, playing some neat football in the final third, allowing Mikey O'Donoghue a chance to shoot at goal, with the strike bobbling past the post.
It is a large playing surface at Dover, and this allowed the Blues opportunities to create neat passing movements as both sides looked to create something to take an early lead. With Dover coming into this match in second place in the league and top of the table Lewes losing, the home side sensed the chance to seize the initiative. Midway through the first half, the home side did take the lead through George Nikaj, as the ball fell to the forward on the edge of the box and he curled it precisely past a number of defenders and Charlie Grainger in the Blues goal.
Around ten minutes later, Wingate were level, and no less than was deserved, as the home defence were unable to clear their lines after some good work from Matty Achuba and Rhamar Garrett-Douglas allowed Ayo Tanimowo to make it two goals in two games, playing in a more advanced role, he calmly stroked the ball into the roof of the net to restore parity.
The home side nearly regained the lead instantly, as league top scorer Nikaj struck the woodwork from the edge of the box, with Grainger gratefully grabbing hold of the ball as it rebounded into the box. For the Blues, Ogo Obi had a chance before the break but the half ended level at 1-1.
After a strong showing in the first half, Wingate & Finchley came out strong again in the second half, continuing their neat football and build up play. On the hour mark, the Blues took the lead thanks to an Ogo Obi header from a corner, with the number 9 timing his jump to perfection to leave the home defence flat-footed and pointing fingers at each other, while Obi celebrated with the congregation of Blues fans who had made the long journey to the Kent coast.
With half an hour to play, the home side took ownership of the ball with more purpose and tried to apply pressure sufficient to break down the resolute Blues defence but, marshalled by the returning Ben Frempah, the Wingate & Finchley backline remained strong and largely untroubled, with some professional displays across the pitch enabling the sting to be taken out of the game.
The victory sees the Blues climb up into the top half of the table, and was arguably the best performance that we have seen in the early season so far. Next up we travel to Chatham Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday.
Wingate & Finchley: Grainger, Cracknell, Byron, Achuba, Frempah, Drakes-Thomas (Webb 90'), Garrett-Douglas, Tanimowo (Deslandes 74'), Obi (Oladipo 79'), Georgiou (Lowe 87'), O'Donoghue
Unused sub: Roberts
Attendance: 827
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.
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