Wingate & Finchley continued their climb away from danger with a 3-1 home victory over Hastings United.

The hosts took the lead in only the seventh minute after a composed opening to the game.

Some patient build-up play on the halfway line started as Marc Weatherstone switched the play out wide to Leon Smith. He fed Leon Fisher who, after a quick dummy, drove inside and with space ahead of him, took a pot shot at goal. Keeper Matt Armstrong-Ford was late in getting down to the effort, which found the bottom right corner of the net.

Hastings were reduced to shooting from distance in the first half, mostly out of desperation and their efforts were easily charged down.

However at the other end, Wingate struggled with a lack of cohesion up front, and there was a long wait to next test the keeper through Fisher again in the 33rd minute, but this time his effort was straight at Armstrong-Ford, who held on.

Neither side could be faulted for effort and moments before the break Leon Smith was played clean through on goal but was charged down by the keeper. The ball fell to Max Mitchell with an open goal in front of him but he missed the gaping target from 12 yards.

There was still time for a half-chance in injury time for Hastings as Jamie Crellin volleyed high and wide on the turn.

However, the visitors started the second half well, and they came close with a header by Scott Manning from a corner, although it was directed straight at Bobby Smith.

After this period of intense pressure, Bradley Goldberg then brought the sides deservedly level with a fiercely-struck low finish from the edge of the area across the helpless Bobby Smith.

Full-back Jack Dixon then sent a rasping shot from distance, which the Wingate keeper tipped over as the visitors continued to attack.

Wingate regrouped from here, and before the hour-mark had regained the lead in style.

Ross Parmenter took the ball forward from the halfway line and waited intelligently for the timely run of Leon Smith, who looked to peel off behind his marker. He chipped the ball over two defenders and found the striker, who calmly slotted back across goal beyond the keeper.

The goal freed up the Blues and caused Hastings to lose their shape and chances flowed at both ends.

An Ola Williams cross was curled beautifully in for David Laird, who volleyed first time towards the near corner but Armstrong-Ford got down well to parry the ball away.

Zac Attwood looked to divert home a near-side cross from the right side of the area, and he wrong-footed Bobby Smith by aiming back to the near post but his effort narrowly missed the target.

The crucial third goal that killed the game as a contest came in the 73rd minute.

Laird broke quickly down the left wing, cut inside and curled the ball accurately around the keeper into the far corner.

The game somehow became even more open as the chances flowed in this entertaining contest, and Bobby Smith had to be at his beat to deny Attwood in a one-on-one with a speedily outstretched right foot.

Youth players Liron Mannie and debutant David Smouha had been brought on by this stage and were lively and energetic, playing without fear as the front two.

Mannie almost created a superb goal, breaking over 50 yards from inside his own half and playing in Parmenter inside the box, however as he was about to pull the trigger he lost his footing.

Wingate are now 12 points clear of the drop zone and with eight games remaining, are edging closer to ensuring survival in their first season at this level, though have a tough fixture on Saturday away at Met Police.

Wingate & Finchley: B Smith, Weatherstone, Williams, Parmenter, Nielsen, Aisien, Jones, Fisher, L Smith (Smouha 75), Laird (Mannie 75), Mitchell (Burke 63). Not used: Skinner and Dauti.