by Paul Lerman

Maldon & Tiptree 0
Wingate & Finchley 0
Ryman One North

Following a slender victory in the League Cup on Tuesday, Wingate & Finchley travelled to the home of Maldon in the hope of achieving a treble of victories over their Essex counterparts for the season. However the deadlock was not to be broken, as neither side risked enough to go for the win resulting in a fair scoreless draw.

The first half was a tense affair, though the visitors edged it slightly as Maldon were the more wasteful in possession. Dave Laird fed Leon Smith with a beautiful curling ball down the left flank, and he cut back inside but drilled a shot inches wide across the face of goal. Laird had a half-chance himself but headed just wide of the top corner whilst under pressure from his marker.

Wingate & Finchley continued to control the game. Marc Weatherstone released Josh Cooper down the right wing who showed great composure to keep the ball and beat the full-back. He pulled the ball back to Laird in the area but his first-time shot on the turn rolled agonisingly beyond the far post.

For Maldon early in the second half Paul King timed a diving header nicely but missed the near post with his powerful effort. Joe O'Brien then volleyed over the bar for the Blues as the game flowed from end to end...

When a deep Maldon cross was headed back at the far post, Chris Chase had a chance to open the scoring against his former club and he connected sweetly with the ball but blazed his effort wide of the left post from ten yards. Then at the other end it was Wingate's turn to attack. Dave Laird and Smith played a lovely one-two for Laird to take the ball with him on a surging forward run. He took a left-footed shot from the edge of the area but hooked it just wide of the right post.

The second half was relatively poor with both sides wasteful in possession, and the draw was never really in doubt. The Blues now turn their attentions to a London Senior Cup Semi Final in a home game with Tooting & Mitcham on Thursday evening.

Lineup: Smith B, Weatherstone, Wright, Fowler (Henry 80), Nielsen, Rifat, Cooper (McLachlan 85), O'Brien, Smith L (Karagul 77), Laird, Burrell. Subs: Jones, Shehu.