Wingate & Finchley striker Rob Laney bemoaned the brilliance of Kingstonian goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey as the Blues were defeated 2-1 on the road on Monday.

All three goals came inside the opening 10 minutes. Andre McCollin put the hosts ahead and, although Wingate immediately levelled as Billy Healey pounced after Tolfrey had denied Laney, McCollin soon restored the hosts’ advantage.

The Blues had numerous chances to equalise again in the second half but Tolfrey kept them at bay time and again.

And, after a goalless draw away against Grays Athletic on Saturday, Wingate are still waiting for their first league win under new manager Keith Rowland, who took charge in early January.

“Their keeper had a great day,” said Laney. “There were a couple of great saves off the line – a couple from Bill [Healey], one from [Ahmet] Rifat. He was properly on form and on another day we would have got the three points. He was definitely man of the match for me.

“Getting that goal back straight away was a bonus, really we should have made the most of it. Unfortunately we got cut open a bit too easily at the back and they scored.

“But we did well to keep it to 2-1 at half-time and, in the second half, I think we did enough to win. We just couldn’t get those couple of goals. On a different day, if that keeper hadn’t turned up, we would have been alright.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve won but the boys are trying to listen to the new gaffer. He’s got a new way of playing, he’s got his own way, so we’re just trying to adapt to that – and I think it does show in places, we’re doing a lot better.

“Everyone’s taking it onboard and we’re just waiting for a little bit of luck to get us winning again and get on a roll, and hopefully the points will start coming in and we start climbing the table again.”

Wingate host Burgess Hill Town on Saturday (3pm) and UK charity Delete Blood Cancer will be at the ground from 12.30pm to sign people up for their donor register and to film a new promotional video.