Wingate held to Wealdstone pre-season friendly draw

Wingate & Finchley drew 1-1 with Conference South new-boys Wealdstone in an even game on a baking hot day, as they recovered their preseason form after two recent defeats.

Pre-season Friendly
Wingate & Finchley 1 Wealdstone 1
Saturday, 26 July, 2014

Wingate started well and enjoyed pressure for the opening stages. David Knight sent an early left-volley wide of the goal, as he sliced his effort from 15 yards.

For Wealdstone, Joe Turner was released by an incisive low through ball, but he was forced to take his shot early and merely stung the palms of Bobby Smith. Smith was again well positioned to parry a Scott McGleish shot from the edge of the area just moments later.

Rob Laney was forced off through a head injury on 33 minutes, and his replacement Adam Bolle scored only four minutes later. Receiving a low ball from Tommy Tejan-Sie, he beat his man controlling it inside the box and spun before shooting low through keeper Warren Carter.

Wealdstone’s Michael Malcolm fired low with a shot at the near post, but Smith would not be beaten and again parried the ball assuredly.

The visitors dominated the final ten minutes of the first half as they forced Wingate back into their box, but they could not find a way through and the home side held out until half time.

Immediately after the break, the tide turned and Leon Fisher struck the crossbar from 30 yards with a ferocious arrowing drive. However, the scores were level in the 54th minute when Wes Parker bundled home a corner.

The second half stuttered as substitutions killed the flow and there were only rare attacks. Wingate’s sub Junior Fatai went on a driving run and fed the ball to Tejan-Sie, and he struck a shot towards the top right corner but Jonathan North in goal parried the ball away.

Wealdstone’s Daniel Wishard used his ingenuity in chesting a corner over the crossbar, and then Jack Smith was presented with a free run on goal. However he was denied by a large block by Smith.

The game petered out to a draw which both sides will be content with.

Wingate & Finchley Line-up:
Smith, Goodman, Marsh-Brown (Nielsen 75), Sogbanmu (Richard Bouton 63), Mbamarah (Marcus Rose 58), Street (Norman 82), Suddell (Jemal Fredericks 58), Tejan-Sie, Knight, Laney (Bolle 33), Fisher (Junior Fatai 71).

Referee:
A Anastasiou

Attendance:
77