FINCHAMPSTEAD reached the third round of the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup with a 2-1 victory at home to Fairford Town.

The visitors started well and Tom Bryant was forced into an early save, before Fairford skipper Matt Boucher shot just wide.

Finch hit back, though, and Greg Alexander supplied Gavin Rolls with a useful ball which was ultimately blocked before a second attempt was cleared off the line.

The home side then took the lead when Rolls found the target in the 22nd minute.

The goalscorer had another opportunity shortly after, but Ben Mitchell proved up to the task.

Fairford levelled following a counter-attack on 26 minutes, Lee Smith receiving the ball in space before cracking a shot past Bryant.

The visitors began to impose themselves and thought they had taken the lead when Lewis Petrie netted, only for the goal to be ruled out for off side.

Fairford continued to attack at the beginning of the second half, and a Josh Skeates effort went wide of the far post.

In reply, Luke Axton-Hall started a move including Rolls which found Alexander, but his shot climbed over the bar.

Fairford responded with a 20-yard effort that went wide of the upright and a few minutes later Dan Hale missed the target.

The visitors then missed a good chance as time was slipping by, with Luke Cordery sending his attempt over the top.

Finch replaced Ben Winship with Danny Blatchford and shortly after Harry Swabey took a long-shot which was saved by Mitchell.

Hale then had another effort ruled out for off-side while Rolls had a shot saved for Finch.

Sam Green then cleared a ball to Swabey, who was unable to grab his opportunity, and at the other end, Scott Chilcott had a long-range attempt.

In a frenetic conclusion, Axton-Hall continued to impress at the back for Finch, while Green found Swabey with a clearance. But the whistle blew for off side before he had the chance to make the most of the situation.

With seven minutes of added time at the end of the second half, Rolls snatched a dramatic winner after racing into the penalty area, rounding Mitchell, and cracking the ball into the back of the net to send his team through.

Finchampstead are again in cup action this coming Saturday, as they host Hellenic League Division One East basement boys Shrivenham in the third round of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup.