by Paul Lerman

Waltham Forest 0
Wingate & Finchley 2
Ryman One North

WINGATE & Finchley earned their first win in seven league matches to regain their position in the division's playoff spots.

The match itself however was one to forget, as the notoriously horrific Ilford playing surface made for treacherous conditions and nullified Wingate's usual passing style.

Long balls and percentage football were the order of the first half and barely a chance was to be seen. For the visitors Leon Smith had a shot blocked by a defender, and when a Daniel Nielsen long ball found the hard-working Murat Karagul, he volleyed sweetly with his left foot but the keeper Jason Willis spectacularly tipped the ball over.

Waltham Forest had to wait until injury time for their first attempt, as an Ian Luck free kick from 25 yards stung the fingertips of Bobby Smith but he held on to the rare shot.

There were more gaps to be found in the second half and Wingate now were keeping more of the possession. Ahmet Rifat, playing in an advanced role behind the strikers, flicked on a long ball into the path of Smith, but his one-on-one skimmed off Willis and went wide for a corner.

Midway through the second half the deadlock was finally broken. After Leon Smith had been pushed when through on goal and the referee turned a blind eye, Karagul was later tripped as he hustled down the right bye-line and this time a penalty was never in doubt. Jordan Fowler confidently side-footed the ball into the top corner from 12 yards.

Waltham Forest seemed to fall apart for a brief spell and Wingate surged forward. Rifat was on the receiving end of the most blatant of pushes inside the box, but for the second time in the match the referee denied the penalty shouts to everyone's disbelief.

With ten minutes remaining a beautiful goal settled the match. A long kick from Bobby Smith was flicked on by Lewis Jones to Joe O'Brien who had timed a forward run from the centre of midfield superbly. With his first touch well outside the box, he nonchalantly lofted the ball high over the stranded goalkeeper and it nestled in the back of the net.

Next up for the Blues is another trip to Essex with a visit to Grays Athletic at East Thurrock's ground on Saturday. The game kicks off at 1pm to finish in time for the England qualification fixture with Wales.

Lineup: Smith B, Williams, Wright, Fowler, Nielsen, Shehu, O'Brien, Henry, Smith L (Jones 75), Karagul (McLachlan 88), Rifat. Subs: Norman, Cooper, Laird.