by Paul Lerman

Wingate & Finchley 1
Ilford 0
Ryman One North

Wingate & Finchley earned their sixth win in a row, keeping up the pace in their quest for a play-off position for a second year in succession.

In tricky conditions with a ferocious blustery wind, it was Wingate & Finchley who scored the game's winning goal in only the third minute.

A corner was played short and Josh Cooper pulled the ball back inside the box to Jordan Fowler who misconnected, and Ahmet Rifat was on hand to divert the ball home from close range.

Soon afterwards the lead was nearly doubled as Gary Burrell played through Lewis Jones but his shot from a tight angle was confidently blocked by the well-positioned goalkeeper.

After a mis-hit clearance from Burrell at the other end, Liam Thomas beat Gavin King in the air and sent a header goalwards but Mark Weatherstone cleared the ball off the line as it bobbled towards the empty goal.

Playing with the wind behind them Ilford dominated the rest of the first half, but their shooting left a lot to be desired with many shots way off target.

The closest Ilford came to scoring was when Rifat made a rare mistake and headed the ball into the path of Adam Bolle but his first-time shot was hooked wide of the right post.

The second half was a tame affair as the wind picked up its speed, and this resulted in both teams panicking their decision-making and the ball was given away cheaply time after time.

Neither keeper was tested and the 1-0 result was never in doubt.

On Tuesday Wingate turn their attentions to the League Cup Quarter Final meeting with the Met Police, and then travel to Waltham Abbey on Saturday, a day which sees a group supporters walk the brave trip to Abbey to raise money for the charity Jewish Blind and Disabled.

Team: King, Weatherstone, Wright, Fowler (O'Brien 85), Nielsen, Rifat, Cooper, Henry, Jones, Laird (Smith 75), Burrell. Subs: McLachlan, Shehu, Williams.