BRACKNELL Cavaliers suffered a dent to their title hopes in the Bracknell Town & District Sunday League Premier Division as they lost 3-2 to Finchampstead Athletic, writes Ben Smith.

Gareth Ainsworth was the star of the show, scoring one and setting up another as the home side went into half time 2-0 ahead.

Cavaliers persevered and reduced the arrears when Tyler Edwards’ volley from distance found the back of the net.

But Finchampstead made the points safe late on when striker Ian Davies slotted home from close range before Jordan Ive snatched an injury-time consolation for the Cavs.

The league leaders started on the front foot and should have been one up after three minutes when Ryan Whyte saw his thunderous effort cannon off the post.

Whyte did well to shake off a challenge and it was only the faintest of touches from the goalkeeper’s gloves that saw the ball hit the upright, before Dillon Warburton put the rebound over.

Ex-QPR midfielder Ainsworth then showed that, even at 43, he still has ability in spades.

A long ball from deep was not dealt with by the Cavaliers’ defence and the seasoned ex-pro beat goalkeeper Conor Ridgers to the punch and prodded the ball into the net.

Another long ball proved to be the undoing for Cavaliers minutes later. Ainsworth beat defender Scott Graham to the ball and headed into the path of striker Jamie Currie.

Currie raced on to the headed through ball and finished calmly in a goal that was eerily similar to the first, taking his tally to 14 for the season.

After half time Cavaliers upped the ante and they were rewarded in style. Shaun Andrews’ cross was headed high up into the air and Edwards met it with a sweet strike.

His volley from 20 yards found its way through a crowd of players and nestled into the top-left corner of the goal.

But the three points were made safe after 85 minutes when Davies chased the ball down the left wing and dispossessed Cavs’ captain Dan Moynehan.

Davies duly raced towards goal, rounded Ridgers and slotted the ball into an empty net.

Deep into injury time, Andrews’ curling free-kick was tipped superbly on to the post, but the ball fell to Ive who duly tapped home from three yards.

Second-placed Golden Farmer Rangers missed the chance to close the gap as they were thumped 8-2 at FC Fernhill, while Bracknell Celtic won 2-1 at FC Meta and Binfield Club Athletic downed Raglan 3-2.

Andy Lazenbury scored a magnificent hat-trick as new Division One leaders Finchampstead Athletic Reserves thrashed Winkfield 8-2 to record a ninth win in 13 games.

Dan Marles bagged a brace and Kwame Appiah was also among the Finch goalscorers as they leapfrogged Crowthorne Inn to move two points clear at the top, albeit having played three games more than the second-placed side.

In Division Two, table-topping Berkshire All Stars edged past Bracknell Saint-Germain 3-2, WAB beat Warfield United 3-1 – a score matched by Newbold College against Berkshire United – and Bracknell Athletic annihilated Hope & Anchor 8-1.

Division Three leaders Ashridge Park U21 eased past Crownwood Dukes 4-0, Bracknell Falcons beat Bracknell Titans 1-0, FC Harmanswater disposed of Bracknell Cavaliers U21 3-0 and Silver Birch overcame Finchampstead Athletic A 2-0.

Whitegrove FC crashed out of the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup with a 7-6 home defeat to Three Horses in a stunning encounter, and AFC Crowthorne Reserves departed from the Junior Trophy with a 2-0 loss at Englefield Eagles.