Walthamstow 2-2 Wingate and Finchley (Wingate win 4-2 on penalties)

Walthamstow’s league cup run came to an end on Tuesday after a 2-2 draw but a 4-2 loss on penalties against Wingate & Finchley.

The first big opportunity of the game was the first goal for the visitors, when Joe Campbell won the ball of Caleb Dennis and squared it for Gianluca Botti who fired past David Hughes to give Wingate the lead.

That lead only lasted ten minutes as Stow got back on level terms. Albert Antonescu pinged a lovely ball over the top towards Joe Gregory with Wingate keeper Fergal Hale-Brown completely misjudging the trajectory, leaving Gregory an open net to get his first goal for the club.

The second half began with Wingate coming eagerly close to taking the lead through Romeo Akinola but his effort hit the post and was cleared away.

Stow eventually took the lead on the 57th minute when Joe Gregory found himself through on goal. His first effort was saved but he got onto the rebound and fired into an empty net giving Stow the lead for the first time on the night.

Up the other end, Wingate hit the woodwork twice in the same attack and somehow didn’t equalise. Alfie Cue’s shot hit the post and fell for Rhamar Garrett-Douglas who hit the crossbar.

Wingate did find their equaliser not long after when Alfie Cue’s cross found Gianluca Botti at the back post and he headed back across goal and into the net to level the game.

With only ten minutes of time, Stow had a huge chance to get back in front. Substitute Mehmet Yuksel got onto the end of a back pass and attempted to get around the keeper but it was easily collected.

The game headed to penalties with Wingate coming out on top, winning the shootout 4-2. Joe Gregory and Gassem Benelghazi scored for Stow, with Rasheed Salau and Elliot Sartorius being denied.

Walthamstow make the journey to Maldon & Tiptree on Saturday, in Colin Reid’s first league game.