This was the obvious result, if you think about it. The home side, having been in sparkling form, conceding the fewest in the league over the last 10 games, and beating the league leaders away from home the week before. The visitors were reeling from a 4-1 defeat last weekend on the road and have been looking over their shoulder from the playoff place that they have occupied all season. So the fact that Cray Valley won Saturday's game comfortably won't have been on many people’s betting slips.
But, in truth, they were the better side. They hassled the Blues all game, and were quick to shut down the home side when they tried to break. This game plan meant that Wingate & Finchley didn’t have many chances to shout about during the 90 minutes.
And neither, to be honest, did the visitors. Their two goals were well taken, and the clinical nature of their finishing showed why they are so high in the league. Their first goal, from Denzel Gayle, came from a tight angle after he pounced on a ball that the Blues failed to clear. Their second was from a corner, where Danny Waldren rose highest to nod home amongst a sea of Blue and Green shirts.
Beyond that, it was a physical and tightly fought game that meant chances were at a premium. The main other talking point was a red card to Blues centre half Ben Frempah, after a misplaced back pass put Adam Coombes through on goal. He can’t have had many complaints, but it was a bitter pill to swallow for the home side.
The Blues will travel to Lewes next weekend, looking to put Saturday's result behind them, and as Ahmet Rifat said in his post-match interview below, the Blues will be looking to win the last five games of the season to give us as many points as possible. Hear more from Ahmet below.
Wingate & Finchley: Grainger; Keller (Garrett-Douglas 46'); Byron; Cracknell; Frempah; Watt (Iontton 78'); Bello; Lowe; Newton (Restrepo 65'); Drakes-Thomas; Alexandrou.
Unused subs: Emovon, Obi
Attendance: 277
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison. Match report by Chris Cummings.
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