Wingate and Finchley’s sensational run of wins ended with a damp squib at Brightlingsea in midweek, losing 1-0 in a performance unfamiliar from the Blues.

Shane Gore kept out Robert Harvey’s early header and Aaron Condon fired over as the hosts cast some early warning shots of their capability.

But they would go unheeded by Wingate, who had extended their winning run to six games in the league with a 1-0 victory against Worthing on Saturday, courtesy of Rob Laney’s second-half goal.

Brightlingsea peppered Gore’s goal and finally breached his resistance after half-time, when Tom Richardson broke from midfield and beat the stranded goalkeeper.

He had little more chance with a scorcher from 30 yards from Robbie Rees soon after, but somehow tipped his shot onto the bar and away to safety.

Only at this point did Wingate even come close to an equaliser, Ahmet Rifat forcing a save on the volley.

In the final 15 minutes they did muster up some pressure, but not enough to force an equaliser.