Wingate suffer late loss at Kingstonian
A great game of attacking football saw Wingate fall to defeat after conceding a late goal, writes Khalid Karimullah.
Kingstonian 3 Wingate & Finchley 2
Saturday, 14 February, 2015
With rainy conditions, both teams were trying to settle into the game before Kingstonian had the first real chance. It came after a great pass by Malachi Hudson found Charlie Penny in space, whose ball across goal fortunately fell into the hands of Wingate’s keeper.
The opening goal came on the 7th minute after Hudson cut inside from the left channel, and with plenty of time and space, hit a powerful shot past Bobby Smith into the far corner. The home side were beginning to get a hold on the game, with Sweeney’s drive going over the top of the goal frame.
Wingate though did eventually show their attacking prowess after Karl Oliyedi, who had been quiet up until this point, went on a powerful run and after he got tackled, the ball fell kindly to Tejan-Sie whose effort went wide of the goal.
No more than a minute later Wingate did produce an equalizer on the 13th minute, and it was similar to the first goal of the game. After Sogbanmu found himself in space 25 yards from goal, he hit a low driving shot which sailed into the near bottom corner of the goal.
After that it was real end to end football with both teams having chances. First Mark Goodman’s lifted pass down the right side found Knight for Wingate whose shot was comfortably saved by Tolfrey, before Kingstonian’s Hammond headed the ball into the path of Penny whose effort was deflected just over the bar.
Wingate went ahead on 39 minutes after Karl Oliyide interchanged passes with Knight before being fouled in Kingstonian’s half. Knight stepped up to take the free kick, and his drifting cross was spilled by Tolfrey who found himself under pressure, with the ball falling to the feet of Rifat who smashed the ball into the far corner.
Kingstonian always looked dangerous though, and after a call for a penalty was waived away, they did get their equalizer. It came after the dangerous Addai picked out Penny with a defence cutting pass, which forced Smith to rush out of his goal to make a close range save down to his left, before the ball came back to the striker who curled the ball into the back of the net.
Chances were continuing to come thick and fast either side of half time, with Bobby Smith out low and fast to deny Hammond. Then after Knight’s cross found the head of Laney, whose headed attempt was blocked, the ball fell to the feet of Oliyide whose double attempt at goal was denied by Kingstonian’s defence.
Wingate were pushing hard for a third goal and almost got one after Sogbanmu’s attempt from just outside the area curled wide of the post, and from the resulting corner, Oliyide’s shot from 18 yards went inches over the upright.
After that, Kingstonian went down the other end and scored when Addai cut inside from Wingate’s left side and picked out a great pass, Bobby Smith was equal to the initial shot, but the ball found its way to Penny who hit home the winner for the home side. That wasn’t the last of the chances though, and Wingate through Laney almost found an equalizer after he found himself in space, but his attempt went over the bar for the visitors. The blues were unlucky to come away with nothing from a game in which they played their part.
Wingate Line-up:
Bobby Smith, Mark Goodman, Ronayne Marsh-Brown, Ola Sogbanmu, Marc Weatherstone (c), Ahmet Rifat, David Knight, Tommy Tejan-Sie, Rob Laney, Richard Graham (Gavin Suddell 77), Karl Oliyide
Subs:
Paul Wright, Jack Read, Stuart Lake, Gavin Suddell, Joe Sharpe
Referee:
Jonathan Hollier
Attendance:
220
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