A DEPLETED Finchampstead FC produced a performance full of character to earn a 2-1 win in Division One East of the Hellenic League at high-flying AFC Aldermaston on Saturday.

The visitors were only able to name a bare 11 due to injuries and unavailability, but they started brightly and Chace Jewell had an early shot which went over the crossbar.

Freddie Barron was next to try his luck, only for his shot to be blocked, and another effort was then saved by Aldermaston goalkeeper Dan Smith.

The stopper was again at his best when denying Kylo Atkinson shortly after, and the hosts then took a 23rd-minute lead against the run of play when Dan Alliston’s shot beat Neil Griffith and nestled in the right-hand corner of the net.

Aldermaston began to take control as the half wore on, although chances became few and far between at both ends as the home side went into the interval with a 1-0 advantage.

The Atom Men nearly doubled their lead early in the second period when Pete Wareing forced a fine save out of Griffith, but from the resulting corner Finchampstead broke swiftly and Atkinson was unfortunate to have a shot blocked before his reflex attempt went wide.

But Finch did level matters on 63 minutes when a superb Adam Barnard pass found Jewell, and he cut in from the wing before finishing coolly into the far corner of the net to make it 1-1.

Aldermaston could have retaken the lead when Karl Hanks fizzed a ball across the Finch goalmouth, but the hosts had no-one on hand to finish.

At the other end, Barron cracked a shot from inside the area which missed the left hand post.

However, soon after Finches went in front when Dan Blatchford brought the ball under control and found Barron, who hit the back of the net for what would turn out to be an 80th-minute winner for the away side.

Finches were also forced to defend a succession of Aldermaston free-kicks late on.

The result lifted Finchampstead to sixth in the table, ahead of a tough trip to third-placed title-chasers Woodley United at Rivermoor this Saturday (3pm).