FINCHAMPSTEAD FC slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Headington Amateurs in their Hellenic League Division One East clash on Saturday, writes Richard Ashton.

The hosts began brightly and nearly took a sixth-minute lead when Ben Strong found the target, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.

The same fate befell Freddie Barron at the other end shortly afterwards, the Finches player finding the net after goalkeeper Harry Jenkins’ clearance was headed back to him.

Strong then struck the post for the hosts before Carl Bloomfield’s effort sailed over the bar, but the hosts did take the lead in the 28th minute when Luke Cuff got in behind the Finch defence and slotted the ball past Neil Griffith.

The same player doubled the advantage for the Oxfordshire side three minutes later, and although Harry Swabey came close for the visitors, Finchampstead went into the break trailing 2-0.

The away side began the second half strongly as Swabey and Danny Blatchford both came close, although Griffith had to be on his guard to deal with a bouncing ball at the other end.

Gary Callaway headed wide from a corner and Jon Malone also struck an effort wide for Finch but they did halve the deficit on 70 minutes when captain Adam Barnard drilled home through a crowded penalty area.

The visitors continued to attack and Swabey was denied an equaliser by Jenkins before Matt Lambert’s effort went over the bar.

Finchampstead’s hopes of snatching a point were reduced when Ben Winship was sent off for retaliating following a clash with Liam Morbey, and it took a fine late save from Griffith to ensure they did not concede a third goal.

The defeat sees Finchampstead slip to seventh in the table.

  • SANDHURST Town secured an excellent 3-1 victory at home to Chinnor in their Division One East encounter.

Sean Delfosse scored late in the first half to give the Fizzers a 1-0 lead at the break, but it took goals from Richard Hughes and Will Shaw in the final 10 minutes to seal the points for the home side.

Sandhurst Town travel to Chalfont Wasps this coming Saturday (2.15pm).

  • LEWIS Robson scored a stunning hat-trick as Eversley & California hammered Frimley Green 6-0 in their Combined Counties League Division One game last Tuesday.

Ben Hutchings, Robert Griffiths and Sam Hutchings were also on target as the Boars continued their promotion bid.

Fifth-placed Eversley & California – who are seven points behind Redhill, the side in second spot, with a game in hand – are at home to South Park Reserves on Saturday (3pm).