Charles-Smith makes his Marc

WINGATE & FINCHLEY secured an impressive win over high-flying Folkestone Invicta in a bitterly cold East London.

The Blues got off to the best possible start after just four first half minutes had elapsed.

Rob Laney’s curling cross was met at the near post by Afolabi Obafemi who finished clinically beyond Tim Roberts in the Folkestone goal.

Clear-cut chances were few-and-far between for 20 minutes after the breakthrough, when goalscorer Obafemi was played in by Luke Ifil but was unable to keep his shot down.

Wingate’s second nearly came five minutes before the half time interval, moments after Samuel Hasler’s freekick was tipped over by Gate keeper Shaun Gore.

Marc Charles-Smith did extremely well to retain possession for the hosts on the left wing before whipping in a ball that was met by Quentin Monville inside the box.

However Monville’s low strike was blocked.

In the first few minutes of the second half, Wingate seemed determined not to settle for just the one goal as they pushed for a second, which duly came eight minutes after the restart.

A scramble in the box finished with the ball falling to Charles-Smith’s feet, and the striker rifled his shot into the corner.

This goal sparked a Folkestone onslaught, with Ronnie Dolan, Kieron McCann and Adam Yusuff all missing good opportunities for the visitors.

Folkestone did pull a goal back with 82 minutes on the clock, as Wingate’s debutant centre-back Claudio Vilcu diverted a cross into his own net.

However they were unable to find an equaliser, allowing Wingate to emerge from an excellent game victorious.