Wingate & Finchley 1-2 Wealdstone
Wingate & Finchley2 - 1
WealdstoneWealdstone completed their penultimate pre-season match on Saturday with a win but far more importantly there were strong signs that a reshaped squad is now gelling within Gordon Bartlett’s preferred system for the upcoming campaign.
Two well taken goals by a rejuvenated Greg Ngoyi delivered victory over a typically battling Wingate side and the diminutive striker will not have done his chances of a starting berth any harm for next Saturday’s League opener at Hastings United – he has now taken his pre-season strike tally to six.
Stones dominated with some slick passing play in the first period and were 2-0 to the good at half time. The opening goal from Ngoyi was from close range after good work from Scott Fitzgerald and Ngoyi’s second came via a well executed glancing header from a superb Kieron Forbes cross. Ex Watford Keeper Jonathan North also did his prospects no harm with a couple of fine saves.
In the second half Stones eased off somewhat and this allowed The Blues back in the game helped by some mistakes at the back; one of which culminated in Mark E’Beyer stretching to clear but playing in the experienced Sam Sloma who shot past substitute keeper Shane McWeeney.
But Wealdstone still looked the more likely to add to their advantage against a previously unbeaten home side and they should have grabbed a third late on when Danny Spendlove crashed the ball against the bar but the lurking Fitzgerald was unable to get to the rebound.
Stones final pre-season match is at The Vale on Monday evening (16 August) versus Enfield.
Wealdstone: North, Chappell, Lavers, Cronin, Massey, Dean, Brookes, E’Beyer, Forbes, Fitzgerald, Ngoyi. Subs all used: McWheeney (GK), Smith, Ashe, Burnell, Spendlove.
Steve Foster Match Pics HERE