Wingate & Finchley 5, Burgess Hill Town 1: Pointing out for season after double break

Pointing suffered a double break in his ankle in the 69th minute. He was operated on on Sunday evening to have a plate inserted across his angle.

Manager Ian Chapman made two changes from the midweek win over Enfield Town with recent signings James Fraser and Jack Rowe-Hurst coming in for Pat Harding and Chris Smith.

Hillians started the game defender against the strong wind and the host Ahmet Rifat flashed a shot from edge of the box just wide and minutes later the hosts took the lead.

Tommy Tejan-Sie picked up a loose pass and rifled a fantastic effort from 25 yards into the top corner leaving Josh James with no chance.

It got worse for the Hillians as three minutes later the hosts were awarded a penalty after Will Miles had been adjudged to have handled the ball and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Billy Healey stepped up and sent the ball low into the bottom left but the referee awarded the spot kick to be re-taken as the ball was moving. Healey again went the same and scored with James going the right way but couldn’t quite reach it.

The Hillians then enjoyed a little spell and had a couple of chances as they looked to get back into the game. Lee Harding played a neat one-two with Darren Budd and Harding then cut in past the defender on the left before sending a shot curling just over. On 21 minutes Budd’s corner was headed away but only to Dan Pearse who drove a powerful effort inches wide.

9 minutes later it was 3-0 as Ola Sogbanmu switched the play to Alex Addai on the right and he moved quickly down the right before crossing low to Rob Laney who tapped home from inside the 6 yard box.

Just before half time Tejan-Sie smashed an effort which James did well to parry away and Laney went close again with a header.

Sam Fisk took a touch from Budd’s corner and sent a volley which Bobby Smith tipped round the post just three minutes into the second half but Healey made it 4-0 on 52 minutes. Healey won possession and poked the ball past James into the net.

Rowe-Hurst saw his one-on-one effort saved by Smith in the Wingate goal but Hillians bad day got worse as the dangerous Addai made it 5 sent in a cross from the right that flew into the top corner.

The day continued badly as Pointing was stretchered off, but the Hillians did manager a consolation in injury time as Will Miles headed home his first goal of the season.

Hillians: Josh James, Lee Harding, Sam Fisk, Will Miles, Toby Pointing (Curtis Gayler 69), Dan Pearse, Darren Budd (Chris Smith 65), Joe Keehan, Scott Kirkwood, James Fraser, Jack Rowe-Hurst (Pat Harding 57).

Not used: Andy Pearson, Guy Bolton

Wingate & Finchley: Bobby Smith, Mark Goodman, Tommy Cummings, Ahmet Rifat (Daniel Brown 88), Marc Weatherstone, Bradley Hewitt, Alex Addai (Leon Solomon 67), Ola Sogbanmu, Billy Healey (Karl Oliyide 81), Rob Laney, Tommy Tejan-Sie.

Not used: Kyle Watson, Jack Metcalfe.

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