Wingate & Finchley are determined not to Lewes momentum after fourth successive victory
Wingate & Finchley won their fourth successive game at the start of 2015 after a superb 2-0 home win over Lewes in the Ryman League Premier Division on Saturday.
David Knight struck his 24th goal of the season and Karl Oliyide doubled the lead after the half-hour mark, while goalkeeper Bobby Smith did not have to make a save at the other end in the entire match.
W&F have now kept three clean sheets in their four games since the turn of the year and lie three points outside the play-off spots.
Lewes started well but could not create any clear-cut chances, and Wingate took charge.
A penalty shout was turned down on 11 minutes after a collision between Tommy Tejan-Sie and defender Chris Breach, but the opener came after 20 minutes as Rob Laney picked out striker partner Knight, whose shot squirmed underneath goalkeeper Rikki Banks.
Knight fired high and wide 10 minutes later but then fed Tejan-Sie, who played in Oliyide, and he fired into the top corner, with Banks unable to get a firm hand on the ball.
Wingate had further chances to extend their lead through Tejan-Sie and Richard Graham, but Banks was up to the task.
Most Read
- 1 Mum's Balenciaga handbag 'mistakenly' sold by RSPCA charity shop
- 2 Highgate School abuse: Staff had to 'shake themselves out of complacency'
- 3 Boy, 15, rushed to hospital after stabbing in Harringay Sainsbury's carpark
- 4 Highgate School to overhaul safeguarding after sexual abuse review
- 5 Crouch End pub calls for dialogue over noise complaints
- 6 Man allegedly 'shouted racist abuse' in Waterlow Park
- 7 Man arrested after car overturns on Camden Road
- 8 Maida Vale victims named as alleged suspect released on bail
- 9 'Cover-up': Council withheld evidence from watchdog 'behind leader's back'
- 10 Crouch End Festival Chorus: 'An astonishing choral display'
The hosts began the second half very well and a midfield of Richard Graham, Gavin Suddell and Tejan-Sie controlled proceedings in the centre, protected by Stuart Lake.
Tejan-Sie had a goal disallowed on 67 minutes after his shot flew in from the edge of the box, with the linesman adjudging that an offside player was in the goalkeeper’s eyeline.
Laney, Knight, Suddell, Tejan-Sie and Jack Read all had further chances but a series of good blocks, saves and tackles prevented the hosts from going three ahead.
Ronayne Marsh-Brown slid in with a beautiful tackle to prevent Leroy Griffiths from pulling one back late on, throwing himself in the way of the ball, but Smith remained untested until the end.
This Saturday Wingate visit struggling Harrow Borough, who will be playing their first match under new manager Steve Baker – formerly a coach with the Blues.
