Wingate & Finchley FC v Boreham Wood
Saturday 22 July, 2023, 3.00pm
Maurice Rebak Stadium, Pre-Season Friendly
The Wood face Isthmian Premier side Wingate and Finchley FC as Luke Garrard’s men continue to gather fitness ahead of the fast-approaching campaign. After a 3-3 draw at home to Chelsea XI, the side look for their first victory of the summer against a Blues’ side that have no problems scoring goals in pre-season.
IN FOCUS: WINGATE & FINCHLEY
The club was established in 1991 after a merger of Wingate and Finchley. Even though Finchley were higher placed of the two clubs, the club took Wingate’s place in the Premier Division of the South Midlands League and played at Finchley’s Summers Lane ground. In 1994-95 they finished second in the league and joined Division Three of the Isthmian League.
After a second-place finish in 1998-99 they were promoted to Division Two but were relegated the following season. After league reorganization they were placed in Division One North for the 2002-03 season, but in 2004 were transferred to the Eastern Division of the Southern League. The club later returned to Division One North of the Isthmian League. In 2009-10 they finished third, qualifying for the promotion play-offs where they faced Enfield Town, but lost 3-2. The following season, the club won the Isthmian League Cup and London Senior Cup, and finished third again. They defeated Brentwood Town 3-2 after extra time in the final, earning promotion to the Premier Division – and securing an historic Treble.
The club finished mid-table in its first season in the Premier Division, before surviving a relegation scare in the 2012-13 season. The following season however, the club were relegated on goal difference despite a final day victory of 5-0. Fortunately, the resignation of Worksop Town gave Wingate & Finchley a much-needed reprieve from relegation.
2022-23 SEASON REVIEW
The 22-23 season for the Blues was one in which they’d hope to improve upon for the upcoming campaign. The club finished in 16th place in the Isthmian League, 15 points above the relegation zone, but recording only 53-goals in the league while conceding 64.
They finished the 2022-23 season campaign with a record of 12-12-18 (W-D-L) in the league, accumulating 48 points from 42 games. The Blues beat Dulwich Hamlet in the quarter-finals of the London Senior Cup, with a 5-1 victory. The club played Haringey Borough in the semi-final, losing narrowly 1-0. They managed to reach the first round of the FA trophy, also failing to win against Uxbridge back in October 2022, with the game ending 4-2.
The biggest victory of the season came on matchday 6 of the season, with the Blues being 5-0 victors against Brightlingsea Regent, who ended the season bottom.
ONE TO WATCH: SAMMY OMPREON
Sammy Ompreon is a young forward who can play anywhere across the front three but tends to play more down the right wing. A former Chelsea academy player at U18 level back in 2017/18, and Sheffield United U’21, he has experience both north and south of the border. Spells at Scottish sides Falkirk and Cowdenbeath didn’t work out for the player, but then joined National League South for the 22/23 campaign. He then moved onto Hungerford a month later on a free transfer, playing 12 games combined for both clubs, he moved to Wingate and Finchley on February 11, 2023. He will be looking for a promising season and help the Blues’ to fight in the division and improve upon their 16th place finish last season.
HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE?
Wingate & Finchley 1 – 7 Boreham Wood
18th July 2017
Maurice Rebak Stadium, Pre-Season Friendly
The Wood pulled out a brilliant performance during the 2017/18 pre-season, as they blasted seven goals past Wingate & Finchley with just one in reply, running out as 1-7 winners. Bradley Sach opened the scoring early into the first half, with Kane Smith, a brace from Bruno Andrade, and a penalty from Bradley Ash making it five before half-time. Andrade completed his hat-trick after the break before Paul Benson headed past a sorry Shane Gore to complete the rout.
Click here for ticket info
OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.
