Match Report by Aaron Toubian.
In Ahmet Rifat's 100th game in charge, a valiant Wingate & Finchley side clinched a crucial 3-2 away win at Dartford courtesy of a 20 minute first-half blitz and a resilient defensive display towards the closing stages, to propel the Blues up into 6th place in the Isthmian Premier League table.
After just three minutes, Andronicos Georgiou opened the scoring with his first goal in the league this season, a stunning strike from 25 yards out. The Blues’ number 10 doubled his side’s tally just fifteen minutes later after Ogo Obi’s effort was parried out into the path of the Cypriot forward, giving him the simple task to sidefoot home and send the travelling contingent into jubilation. Moments later, Wingate’s afternoon got even better as Ben Frempah met an in-swinging corner at the near post to give the Blueboys a 3-0 lead.
Ahmet Rifat’s team went in at the break three goals to the good, leaving the hosts, a side who have spent much of the last decade playing their football in the National League South and National League, with the toughest of second-half tasks. Home manager Ady Pennock made his feelings known, with a triple substitution at the interval.
Dartford’s half-time substitute Olly Box repaid Manager Pinnock’s faith and pulled one back for the Darts ten minutes into the second 45, with a good finish from outside of the box. The pressure continued to mount onto the Blues and then, eventually, Ade Yussuf poked the ball past Charlie Grainger in the Wingate goal to reduce the deficit to just one goal and set up a nail-biting last 25 minutes.
Despite late pressure from the hosts, Wingate produced a fantastic and professional defensive display to keep hold of all three pivotal points, meaning that the Blues now have three wins on the bounce in the league. Next up, the Blueboys make the short journey to Silver Jubilee Park on Tuesday night to take on Hendon, where they hope to continue their winning run.
Wingate & Finchley: Grainger, Cracknell, Byron, Achuba, Frempah, Lowe (Iontton 68'), Garrett-Douglas, Tanimowo (Drakes-Thomas 87'), Obi (Newton 61'), Georgiou (Briscoe 75'), Hernandez.
Unused sub: Webb
Attendance: 825
Photos courtesy of Brenda Brown & Martin Addison.
Hear from the scorer of two of the Blues' goals, Andronicos Georgiou, below:
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