Wingate & Finchley boss Daniel Nielsen wins manager of the month award

Wingate & Finchley boss Daniel Nielsen has been given the January manager of the month award for the Ryman League Premier Division.

The Blues won all four matches and kept three clean sheets in the process with wins over Enfield Town, AFC Hornchurch, Witham Town and Lewes.

The award is sponsored by Nicholas Rowe Tailoring, and Nielsen will receive a bespoke tailored suit as his prize.

Wingate were beaten 2-0 at home by league leaders Maidstone United on Saturday but bounced back with a 2-1 victory away against Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night.

The defeat against Maidstone was Wingate’s first in 2015. The visitors took the lead on 20 minutes when Frannie Collin controlled the ball, spun, shifted the ball onto his right foot and rifled a shot into the top corner from 25 yards.

The Blues then conceded a penalty on 36 minutes after Brad Hewitt nudged Billy Bricknell in the back, with Collin stepping up and shooting confidently into the top right corner to double his – and Maidstone’s – tally and depart with the three points.

Despite missing regulars Bobby Smith, Scott Shulton, Bradley Hewitt and David Knight, Wingate raced into an early lead at Tonbridge on Tuesday when midfielder Tommy Tejan-Sie put them ahead after four minutes.

The hosts started to pile on the pressure but the Wingate defence stood firm and grabbed a second goal on 21 minutes through Jack Read.

Tonbridge’s Dee Okojie halved the deficit in the 33rd minute but Wingate held on to their 2-1 lead.