Aaron Jaffe reports on a home win for the Blues

Wingate & Finchley FC's 2024/25 squad photo — Wingate & Finchley’s 2024/25 squad – (Credit – Martin Addison)

Wingate and Finchley moved up to fourth in the league with a 2-1 win over Carshalton Athletic at the Maurice Rebak Stadium on Tuesday.

Ahmet Rifat’s side hoped to return to winning ways, having ended their winning run on the weekend, when Dulwich Hamlet stole all three points with a last-minute winner at Champion Hill. Rifat, who was named this week as the Isthmian Premier Division’s Manager of the Month, made one change, opting for Zack Newton in place of Ayo Tanimowo.

Despite the visitors’ early possession, the first real chance of the game fell to the Blueboys. Rhamar Garrett-Douglas found Ogo Obi inside the penalty area, but the forward’s goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Fikayo Atewologun.

Wingate’s spell of dominance paid off, and the hosts broke the deadlock within the first 15 minutes. Defender Ben Frempah rose to meet an inswinging corner-kick, nodding home for his fourth goal of the season.

One soon turned quickly into two with Andronicos Georgiou joining in on the action for the hosts. Obi’s cross for the 25-year-old was inch-perfect, and the he headed beyond Sam Roberts with ease to double the lead.

The Robins outfought the momentum and forced Charlie Grainger into two individual saves. Mason Saunders-Henry, Tommy Bradford and David Smith did well to break past Wingate’s stern defensive line, but the former Dulwich Hamlet, Hastings United and Leyton Orient goalkeeper remained alert to the danger.

Ahmet Rifat’s side would’ve been delighted to enter the interval with a two goal advantage, but Carshalton were able to halve the deficit with one minute remaining in the first half. Kwaku Frimpong slid David Smith in on goal, and the new Robins signing comfortably slotted past Grainger.

The visitors started the second half as they ended the first. Tommy Bradford’s corner was deftly flicked on by Saunders-Henry, but his volley looped onto the roof of the goal.

Garrett-Douglas felt that he should’ve been awarded a penalty on the hour mark, having been caught in the box by a Carshalton defender. The Wingate winger spun past two players before cutting inside from the right, weaving in between another defender and going to ground inside the area. Referee Gerry Herron immediately blew his whistle but booked Garrett-Douglas for simulation.

A series of substitutions followed as Wingate worked to defend their lead. The visitors tried to respond but couldn’t find the breakthrough to steal a point from Rifat’s well-drilled Blueboys. Wingate will next welcome Hastings United to the Maurice Rebak Stadium on Saturday.

Wingate and Finchley: Grainger, Cracknell ©, Byron, Achuba, Frempah, Lowe (Drakes-Thomas 59’), Garrett-Douglas (Tanimowo 74’, Webb 90’), Newton, Obi (Iontton 82’), Georgiou (Briscoe 71’), Hernandez

Carshalton Athletic: Roberts, Read, Sankoh (Kennett 89’), Tanner, Atewologun, Camacho-Saraiva, Saunders Henry, Bradford © (Hamilton-Downes 82’), Ifeanyi, Frimpong (Goather-Braithwaite 66’), Smith (Kastrati 90’)

Unused subs: Hamstead

Attendance: 212

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