Rob Laney is the man to get Wingate and Finchley's season up-and-running at the third time of asking, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win at Needham Market to register their first win, and points, of the campaign.

Last year's play-off contenders had lost their opening two matches in the newly named Bostik Premier League, but should have won by a far clearer margin on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Danny Gay was on fire between the posts for the hosts, and his cat-like reflexes stopped the visitors walking away with a bigger victory.

Laney's second-half goal came seven minutes after the interval, as he converted Luke Beckles-Richards' cross from the right to stab home from close range.

Beckles-Richards had been a thorn from the off - and early on fired just over from 25 yards after a mazy run.

He could have had the opener after a one-two with Luke Ifil set him through - only to be stopped by Gay's dive, before his opposite number Shane Gore got a rare touch to palm away Joe Whight's low free-kick.

Spencer McCall was next to step up to the plate, looking for the far corner from Ifil's ball forward, before Gay again leapt to his side's defence.

Laney would be the man to break the deadlock just after half-time, finishing off a nice move down the right.

Beckles-Richards paced away on the flank, before his looped cross found Laney at the back post, and after outmuscling a defender he found space to drill the ball in at the near post.

While that effort evaded Gay, new signing Nathan Mavila's cross didn't - but did cause him more problems than he would have expected, having to fist the ball clear from under his own crossbar.

Marc Charles-Smith and Ifil had shots saved by the home stopper in the dying minutes, but with the scoreline more nervy than it should have been, Wingate still hung on.