Bostik Premier: Brightlingsea Regent 0 Wingate & Finchley

Charlie Cole’s second goal for Wingate & Finchley earned them an excellent 1-0 win away to Brightlingsea Regent in the Bostik Premier on Tuesday night.

The forward, who only joined the club at the end of October from Takeley, netted in the 3-2 victory at Tiverton Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday and struck again at North Road.

Glen Little’s men made the trip to Brightlingsea looking to make it four victories out of five, but the first half was a quiet affair.

Rob Laney went close in the 17th minute, but saw a shot skim the post and then headed over on the stroke of half time.

It seemed the opening 45 would end goalless, but former Billericay Town forward Cole had other ideas.

He trapped the ball well inside the area, opened his body up and fired in at the near post to score his first league goal for the Blues just before the break.

The half time whistle followed soon after, but it didn’t halt Wingate’s momentum as they started the second period on the front foot.

Reece Beckles-Richards saw a cross-cum-shot sail wide before the R’s threatened when Billy Hunt’s low effort was saved by Shane Gore in the 64th minute.

After weathering a slight storm, Wingate pushed for a second and Laney smashed an effort over with 10 minutes left before Tommy Tejan-Sie drilled wide with 84 played.

Beckles-Richards nearly put the game to bed with three minutes left, but his strike hit the post and went wide.

It set up a nervy final few minutes, but the north Londoners were dogged throughout and clinched a deserved three points.

After returning from Devon on Saturday with a crucial FA Trophy win, Wingate had come away from another lengthy journey with a positive result.

Little’s improving team, who are now 13th in the table, face another trip this weekend as they visit Bognor Regis Town in the Bostik Premier.

Wingate & Finchley: Gore; Ifil, Cronin, Weatherstone, Bihmoutine; Hernandez (Ebelebe 83), Tejan-Sie; Beckles-Richards, O’Neill, Laney; Cole (Mitchell 80).

Unused substitutes: Monsheju, Manu.

Attendance: 112.