Noah Bercott reports on another home win for the Blues

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

Wingate & Finchley claimed a 2-1 victory over Hastings United in a tightly contest match on Saturday, their second win by the same scoreline in the space of a few days.

The first half saw both teams exchange chances, with Hastings’ dangerman Davide Rodari coming close in the 19th minute, only to be denied by Charlie Grainger in the home goal against his former side. Ogo Obi also went close in the 11th minute for the Blues but both sides struggled to break the deadlock. At the half time whistle, it remained goalless despite numerous set-pieces and near misses.

The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute when Zack Newton seized the initiative to pounce on some confusion in the Hastings defence after a pass backwards, with Newton getting between goalkeeper and ball, and the keeper fouling the Blues attacker. Obi stepped up and converted the penalty confidently to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Just two minutes later, Wingate’s half time substitute Ryan Lowe doubled the lead. Man of the match Newton was involved again, taking on his man on the right flank to put a cross into the box which Obi met but the rebound fell to Lowe who netted from close range to make it 2-0. A similar story to midweek, where two quick goals put the Blues in a strong position, but the game was not wrapped up yet.

Hastings kept pressing and found a late lifeline in the 90th minute when substitute Finley Chapman scored in a one-on-one with the keeper, bringing the score to 2-1. As five minutes of extra time were added, the visitors fought for an equaliser but couldn’t break through Wingate’s defence. The Blues held firm to secure a hard-earned win in a game that could have swung either way to move up a place to sit in third place.

We will be back at home on Tuesday night as we welcome Isthmian North high-flyers Tilbury to N12 in the Velocity Cup Third Round, with a tie against Hendon awaiting the winner in the next round. Tickets are available in advance online, or on the gate on matchday.

Wingate and Finchley: Grainger, Cracknell ©, Byron, Achuba, Frempah, Drakes-Thomas (Iontton 78′), Garrett-Douglas, Newton (Briscoe 72′), Obi (Ismaili 85′), Georgiou (Lowe 46′), Hernandez (Webb 88′)

Unused subs: None

Goals: Obi 68′ (p), Lowe 70′

Attendance: 269

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.