by Paul Lerman

Wingate & Finchley 2
Enfield Town 2
Ryman One North

Wingate & Finchley shared the spoils with Enfield Town in this playoff six-pointer, a thrilling match packed with chances and drama.

With only one other game in the division surviving the persistent deluge of rain, the Wingate groundsman took all the plaudits for keeping the pitch in perfect playing condition.

Enfield however were the team that settled fastest. Liam Hope headed over a difficult chance for the visitors, but for all their territorial domination the Wingate defence resisted well.

The deadlock was broken on the half hour mark by the home side against the run of play. Dave Laird controlled the ball in the box, and was fouled from behind by Mark Kirby's wayward arms and a penalty was rightly awarded. Laird dusted himself up and slotted home finding the bottom corner of the net expertly.

The visitors equalised with a well-deserved goal. With controlled passing all over the pitch, the ball was sprayed wide to the right flank and headed back into the area where Hope was waiting and he rolled the ball in with a neat side-footed finish.

Wingate nearly regained the lead in first half stoppage time as Gary Burrell drilled a cross from the left wing and Murat Karagul was inches away from sliding the ball in at the far post.

Burrell then went on a jinking run himself and shot on goal but keeper Rob Blackburne was well positioned to save.

Enfield had been the better side in the first half, but the roles reversed after the break. Marc Henry flashed a shot wide from distance, then Laird broke through down the left side of the area and shot from a tight angle but Blackburne blocked.

Wingate continued to carve out the better chances in this spell. Ola Williams crossed from the right to Karagul who managed to put great power into his header which was tipped around the far post by Blackburne.

Ajet Shehu should have scored with a simple tap-in at the end of a curled free kick but he missed the ball in front of a gaping goal.

Then with ten minutes remaining Enfield were gifted the lead via a needless penalty for a push in the back which Hope lashed home.

A second defeat in a row would have been damaging to Wingate, but they were not to be denied an equaliser thanks to substitute Lewis Jones in stoppage time.

A chipped ball to the edge of the area was cleared out wide by a defender which Jones reached first, and with Blackburne now out of position he lashed the ball in to the narrow gap created at the near post to earn his side a vital point.

Lineup: Smith B, Williams, Wright (Ursell 82), O'Brien, Nielsen, Shehu, Cooper, Henry, Karagul (Jones 80), Laird, Burrell (Fowler 66). Subs: Robbins, Christian