The experienced goalkeeper impressed during last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Leatherhead on Non-League Day

Ham & High: Wingate & Finchley goalkeeper Shane Gore claims the ball (pic: Martin Addison).Wingate & Finchley goalkeeper Shane Gore claims the ball (pic: Martin Addison). (Image: martin.addison@btinternet.com)

Wingate & Finchley’s number one goalkeeper Shane Gore points to the early contributions new Blues manager Nicky Shorey and assistant Glen Little have made after securing success on a day which saw non-league football celebrated up and down the country on Saturday.

Marc Charles-Smith’s solitary first-half goal against Leatherhead at the Maurice Rebak Stadium recorded a fourth win for the north Londoners in all competitions this season.

It gave ‘Gorey’ a third clean sheet of the campaign too and the well-loved custodian proved the hero with numerous outstanding saves towards the latter stages of Saturday’s Bostik Premier contest.

And with the new era off to a flying start at the first attempt, the experienced stopper called on his team-mates to take full advantage of the knowledge the new managerial team will be looking to implement at the helm.

“It’s massive,” Gore said, when reflecting on the result. “A win is a win, and I’m sure they will be delighted to get that first one in their first game and it gives us a platform to build from.

“As for us players, confidence is a massive thing in football, so when you start to win games you naturally start to play with more freedom and you are able to express yourself more.

“Shorey has only been here for one session, but we went through some basics in training and I’m sure the guys wanted to impress too. The first half we played well, passed the ball and broke them down high - which worked well for us.”

As touched upon, it could have been a different story had it not been for Gore, yet, as humble as ever, he praised the character of the team for bouncing back following a midweek defeat in the Middlesex Charity Cup to Dean Barker’s Northwood.

“It was a great finish from the big man (Charles-Smith); he was calm and took it well,” he continued. “To lose on penalties to a lower league team isn’t good, but the bigger picture will be the league.

“On a positive note it is two clean sheets in a week and three points. We moved on quickly from Tuesday’s game and have used Saturday as a new chapter for the club - the win showed the character we have in the group.

“As a goalkeeper, making saves gives you an amazing feeling, especially when you are able to contribute towards helping win your new gaffer’s first game and a clean sheet is a ‘brucie bonus’!

“At times, we played really well and other times we had our backs against the wall and dug in to get the win. Those types of 1-0 wins can be inspiring, so we should use that feeling moving forward.”

And he doesn’t want that performance to go in vain, adding that the smiles they were able to bring to people’s faces made the day that much greater – as well as providing extra-motivation.

Gore added: “Non-league day is a fantastic idea and Saturday was a great example of it because you are bringing young and new fans to clubs like Wingate and for us, it is a chance to show this level of football is not too bad at all.

“If any young fans see us play and decide to take up football or other sports more often that is a great thing and will bode well all-round.”

New boss Shorey takes his Blues on the road tonight for a 7.30pm kick-off at Burgess Hill Town with Wingate looking to win back-to-back games for only the second time this term.

And Gore wants to right the wrongs of last season’s performance, a 3-1 loss on a Thursday night in April, and implement their presence throughout the 90 minutes.

“We are due a win there and to make up for last season, which was poor,” he finished. “The win against Leatherhead sets us up nicely for the game.

“No matter who we are playing, we need to concentrate on what we do well and if we do that, then I would fancy us against most teams in our league.”