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By Lewis Rudd –
FINCHAMPSTEAD FC’s recent upturn in form is down to a conversation, according to boss Jon Laugharne.
A run of three league wins on the spin has not only moved the Hellenic Division 1 East side into the top half of the standings, but also within striking distance of the top four.
This change in fortunes ended what was a difficult period of four defeats in five games which left the club loitering in the lower echelons of the table and knocked out of the Berks and Bucks Intermediate Cup.
The latter saw Finch beaten 4-1 by borough and league rivals Woodley United, and it was during the wake of this loss when Laugharne felt something needed to be said to his charges.
He said: “We went to Rayners Lane (the weekend before). It is always a difficult place to go, but we have a relatively good record there and won 1-0.
“Then we faced Woodley in the cup, but coming off the back of what we had done before it was not the greatest performance and I had a lot of changes to make.
“So we had a chat. I didn’t read the riot act, didn’t kick off, moan or whinge, it was just a couple of conversations as a group and about looking for a response.”
Whatever the manager said to his group of players clearly hit home, as the following game yielded a 6-2 win over Didcot Town Reserves, with five Finchampstead goals arriving during the first 45 minutes.
Then, on Saturday, a brace from in-form Harry Swabey secured an impressive 2-1 victory on the road at high-flying Bicester Town, with this latest three points moving the side above the likes of neighbours Wokingham and Emmbrook and up to seventh.
“That first half against Didcot was magnificent, but against Bicester it was a complete
performance and probably the best result of the season so far,” added Laugharne.
“They are a good team and in the top three. Not many teams win there.
“We took that form from Didcot into the Bicester game, which was incredibly tough because it is a long journey, big pitch and difficult conditions.
“Everyone expected us to lose – let’s be honest it is par for the course anyway – but we scored two really good goals and the second is the best goal I have ever seen in a game of football. It was incredible.
“It’s coming at him (Swabey) at pace on a difficult pitch, but the control and technique to put it in the top corner from 25 yards was phenomenal.”
Laugharne admitted the biggest disappointment on Saturday was not being able to bring on any of the three substitutes named for the game, something he doesn’t like doing.
Yet he had praise for the trio, saying: “I don’t like taking 14 to the game and not making any subs, but results far outweigh personal pride and personal situations, but we are all in this together and those three who didn’t get on showed a positive attitude.”
Finchampstead’s unbeaten run comes during a season plagued by long-term injuries and unavailability, and while full of praise for his charges, he is equally as keen for them not to get carried away – especially with games against Holyport (away, Saturday, 3pm), Chinnor and Wokingham, teams all currently below them – on the horizon.
“We have just got to keep going, doing what we are doing and believe what we are doing is right,” he explained.
“We have had the odd slip up and bad performance against Woodley, but it is important we now try and keep in there, because just three points separate us and Chalfont (in sixth) and we have a game in hand.”
