Wingate & Finchley began their campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Cray Wanderers at the Maurice Rebak Stadium on Saturday. The match saw both teams locked in a competitive contest, with Wingate & Finchley playing much of the second half with 10 men following a first-half sending off.

Cray Wanderers took an early lead through new signing Ashley Nzala, who finished calmly after a pass from Anointed Chukwu. Nzala, facing his former club, was a persistent threat throughout the opening period, coming close to extending the advantage on multiple occasions. Wingate & Finchley responded with chances of their own, including a header from Ben Frempah that struck the crossbar.

The momentum shifted dramatically when Wingate’s Tobi Tinubu received a red card before halftime. Playing with a numerical disadvantage, Wingate & Finchley struggled under mounting pressure in the final 10 minutes of the first half but managed to stay in the game.

In the second half, Wingate & Finchley continued to create scoring opportunities and eventually found an equalizer through Ade Yusuff. Both teams shared further chances as the match progressed, but neither could break the deadlock, culminating in a 1-1 draw.

The result marked a steady start for Wingate & Finchley, who showed resilience despite being reduced to 10 men, while Cray Wanderers will likely reflect on missed opportunities to secure all three points on home turf.