Wingate & Finchley went down 1-0 at home to high-flying Bishop's Stortford, who closed the gap at the top of the table to 3 points, having played one more than leaders Hornchurch.
Despite sitting at opposite ends of the table, recent form would suggest that this could be a close encounter, given the home side's good run of form, their copybook blotted only by Hornchurch on Tuesday night. And on this occasion, that did prove to be the outcome.
The game saw the two sides cancel each other out with similar formations, with neither side able to create a meaningful opportunity to break the deadlock in the first half. Both sides were frustrated in their lack of attacking threat and there were a few early yellow cards across both teams.
The game was ultimately settled by a 51st minute penalty from David Olufemi after Camron Gbadebo had brought down Frankie Merrified in the box when the striker was bearing down on goal, slotted into the bottom left corner past a hapless Ben Goode.
Stortford showed why they are sitting high in the league with some well-executed game management in the latter stages. Wingate weren't able to create anything clear cut in their search for an equaliser; the closest they came was when Cam Gbadebo twice got to the by-line, only for his crosses to twice be turned away by a scrambling Stortford defence. Ultimately though the search came up short
Wingate have now faced the league's top two sides in succession and will turn their attentions to an away trip to relegation-threatened Corinthian Casuals on 25th March, followed by the London Cup semi-final at North London neighbours Haringey Borough on Tuesday 28th.
By Liam Blaney
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