The second half of the season could not have started better for Wingate and Finchley as Steve Wales' free-kick proved enough to see them past Leiston on Tuesday night - and seal a fourth straight league win.

Keith Rowland's side are now unbeaten in eight games in the Isthmian Premier Division, and ensured they picked up six points in two days with a deserved 1-0 victory at the Harry Abrahams Stadium.

Having seen off Leatherhead on Saturday, the Blues' confidence was clear to see as Reece Beckles-Richards rounded visitiing keeper Jacob Marsden early on, but fell at the final hurdle when his shot rebounded off a post.

Alfie Young's cross-cum-shot forced Marsden to tip the ball behind while a rare Leiston chance saw Matt Blake's header cleared by Rob Laney.

Again Wingate should have scored when Sean Cronin nodded just wide from a corner - and at half-time, they were wondering what might have been.

The proverbial game of two halves often lives up to its name, but Wingate remained in the ascendency after the interval, with Spencer McCall and Tommy Tejan-Sie both going close - the latter hitting both posts in the same move.

Time was running out when Wales finally broke the deadlock, firing a free-kick from just outside the box under the wall and deceving Marsden for a deserved winner.