Wingate and Finchley Football Club

Saturday 5th September 2009
Ryman League Division One North

A brilliant hat-trick from centre forward Leon Smith paved the way to a commanding victory for Wingate & Finchley over newly promoted VCD Athletic, with their 5th clean sheet in 7 games this season.

Smith’s opener came in only the sixth minute. He capitalised on a short pass near the edge of the centre circle and stole the ball, he sprinted towards goal and rounded the goalkeeper James Tedder before slotting into the empty net.

Whilst looking suspect at the back, the visitors always threatened at the other end - Danny Penny had a half-hearted free kick that Gavin King saved comfortably.

In the 18th minute Leon Smith doubled his tally. Michael Lenahan chipped a ball up to him on the right side where he had no marker, and as he was played onside by the staggered defensive line he bore down on the keeper and lobbed him with ease from the edge of the area.

Lenahan was again creator when he chippped a ball wide to Chris Chase but his shot at full stretch was stopped by Tedder’s foot.

Dave Laird played his way into the game with some trickery on the edge of the area, followed by a firm shot that was tipped round the post by Tedder’s fingers.

VCD had a great chance at the start of the second half when Leroy Huggins received the ball from six yards out, but he swung wildly and misconnected with the ball and it trickled out for a goal kick.

At the other end the lively Leon Smith beat his marker by the wing and squared the ball to Laird. He used his strength well to hold the ball up and play in Ola Williams but his shot was held at the second attempt by Tedder.

The third goal just after the hour mark was superb. Dave Laird held the ball well as he had done all game and played it up to Leon Smith with his back to goal. He twisted and turned past a couple of markers and shot beautifully into the bottom left corner to secure his hat-trick.

Wingate & Finchley were comfortably on top, and even absurd sending off of Marvin Samuel when the referee misheard what he had said to a teammate could not stop the Blues from seeing out the victory easily.

In the dying minutes James Gershfield sent a shot flashing across the face of goal that went inches wide of the far post.

Wingate & Finchley; Gavin King, Marc Weatherstone, Daniel Nielsen, Jordan Fowler (Ola Williams 15), Frankie Webb, Craig Ellis, Michael Lenahan, Marvin Samuel, Leon Smith (Jamie O’Donoghue), Dave Laird (James Gershfield 69), Chris Chase. Subs: Dean Williams, Leon Nelson.