Wingate & Finchley 3 Maldon Town 0

Ryman League Division One North

Wingate & Finchley played their best football of the season and were rewarded with a deserved victory.

If it had not been for the heroics of visiting keeper Darren Gould, the Blues would have won this six-pointer' by a greater margin.

From the off, the hosts were dominant, with Joe O'Brien and Craig Ellis impressive in midfield. Daniel Stanton whipped in a low cross which Gould grabbed off the toes of Chris West. Minutes later, Gould saved a fierce Leon Wilson drive.

The Blues thought they had taken the lead on 19 minutes when O'Brien fired goalwards, but the ball came off Guy Helman in an offside position and the goal was ruled out.

Meanwhile, Ed Thompson produced a fine save, reminiscent of Gordon Banks's famous 1970 World Cup effort, to deny Steve Wareham.

Two minutes before the break, West cushioned the ball to O'Brien who controlled and turned before rifling it beyond the reach of Gould for his first Wingate goal.

Thompson had to save from Wareham again before the Blues hit their deserved second on the hour. West laid the ball back to Anthony Limbrick, who exquisitely lobbed Gould from the angle of the area.

The scoring was completed seven minutes from time, when Danny Berg's surge into the area was unfairly ended, giving Dean Williams the chance to drill home the penalty.