Spot-on Knight rescues Wingate
Wingate & Finchley clawed back a result from the jaws of defeat as they came back from 2-0 down to gain a point at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough, writes Nikhil Saglani
Ryman League Premier Division:
Wingate & Finchley 2 Hampton & Richmond 2
Saturday, 29 November, 2014
The Wingate goalkeeper continued his good run of form despite the goal, rushing off his line to clean up through balls played behind his defence. He prevented Ben Harris from doubling the lead two minutes after the opener and also saved well on 19 minutes from a long-range attempt from Nicholas Bignall.
However, on 27 minutes Thomas Collins was played in behind the hosts’ defence and finished well across Smith to double the visitors’ advantage – a goal duly celebrated by the visiting fans. Hampton had the chance to go three goals ahead – effectively putting the game to bed – but Collins’ cross was put just wide by Bignall. The hosts had the chance to pull a goal back, but Rob Laney headed Marc Weatherstone’s excellent cross over the crossbar.
The home side responded well after the break and Paul Wright’s long ball was chested down by Laney, who squared to Ifeanyi Alenn – but his shot sailed high and wide. Twelve minutes into the second half, the home side pulled a goal back when David Knight’s free-kick missed everyone in the box and nestled into the bottom corner.
The hosts began to push forward and put Hampton under heavy pressure, but could not find the equaliser. Knight was played in on the hour mark but put his chance wide of the far post. The visitors had the chance to make it 3-1 when a curled free-kick was headed wide by Kieran Murphey. They had yet another chance on 78 minutes after a long-range effort from goalscorer Rose was saved by a diving Bobby Smith, and Collins somehow managed to put his rebound wide from six yards.
The equaliser came in the 84th minute; Ahmet Rifat slipped a through ball between the Hampton centre-backs and Rob Laney rounded the keeper. The on-rushing Smith made contact with Laney, who bundled over and a penalty was given – much to the anger of the visiting faithful. Knight tucked the penalty home, sending the keeper the wrong way and the home fans into ecstasy. Knight had the chance to complete the turn around in the 91st minute but sent his free-kick handsomely wide of the post.
A Wingate comeback resulted in both sides sharing the spoils in a game of two halves.
Line-Ups:
Wingate & Finchley: Smith, Weatherstone, Kaloczi, Rifat, Wright, Tejan-Sie, Lake (Sogbanmu 65), Graham, Allen (Goodman 87), Knight, Laney. Subs: Udoh, Nielsen, Joseph.
Hampton & Richmond Borough: Smith, Williams, Wells, Morrison, Murphey, Osman, Nkumu (Roberts 88), Rose (Sankoh 65), Harris (Wanadio 63), Bignall, Collins.
Goalscorers:
Wingate & Finchley – Knight (57, 84)
Hampton & Richmond: Rose (7), Collins (27)
Attendance:
118
Referee:
Matt Eva
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
