DAN MARLES has called on his side to show that defeat to Tring Park was just a blip when they face surprise package Horspath on Saturday.
Finchampstead suffered a first defeat since May as Tring clinched the league double over the champions with a three-wicket success.
But the damage was limited by the fact leaders Henley only drew, meaning Finch stay second and are now 20 points off top spot with seven games to play.
“It’s just a shame we didn’t get the win,” Marles told The Wokingham Paper.
“If we go and win against Tring Park then we’re right on Henley’s tails.
“We’ll still be there or thereabouts. We’re still happy to be second.”
Marles made just one change to the side which beat Oxford and it was enforced with wicket-keeper Dan Lincoln missing out due to football commitments.
Billy Rogers returned as his replacement while Ed Oliver took the gloves.
Tring won the toss and put Finches in to bat first.
Andy House (7) fell early, but the hosts responded well to push on from 10-1 to 109-2 before captain Marles was caught for 55 following a rain delay.
Adam Dewes (38) quickly followed but fine knocks from Billy Rogers (54), Jandre Coetzee (23) and Oliver (61no) helped post a competitive total of 248-6.
Given 50 overs to reach the target, Tring started poorly as opener Liam Gough was caught behind off the bowling of Coetzee for just two runs.
But as happened in the first innings, the next two batsmen put on a good partnership with Alexander Woodland making 23 before being caught and bowled by Anthony Parson.
Number three Charlie Macdonell shaped the innings with a fine knock of 101 and despite three wickets for JJ Dewes, Tring Park sealed the win with seven balls to spare.
“We probably didn’t score our runs quick enough,” Marles admitted.
“We batted 56 overs for about 250 on a really good pitch and especially towards the end we should’ve got a few more.
“That’s a little thing but we didn’t really bowl that well. It wasn’t the batters’ fault.
“It was a close game.
“Macdonell is a really good player and he is obviously why they won the game.
“We probably didn’t bowl in the right areas to him and to the rest of the batsmen.”
He added: “Ed (Oliver) kept pretty well on Saturday in place of Dan and had a fantastic game so that’s really good.
“It just shows the depth that we’ve got in the club. I’m really happy with his performance.
“He’s a good keeper and a good plan B.”
Next up for Finch is a trip to Horspath on Saturday (11am).
And after causing a stir by winning at Finchampstead Park earlier this season as a newly-promoted side, Marles wants to put things right this weekend.
“Horspath have been a good side actually,” said the Finch skipper.
“I have been surprised with them.
“They beat us on our home turf so we want a bit of revenge.
“We’ve just got to try and play some attacking cricket, a good brand of cricket and hopefully come out with the result.
“We just hope we don’t go on a little bad spell now and hopefully that’s just one week and we can put in another good performance this Saturday.”
Directly after Horspath is a clash with leaders Henley.
And Marles wants to go into that game with everything to play for.
“If we can set it up with a win this weekend and go next weekend against Henley, that would be really, really good for us,” he said.
“We’ve got some good players around at the moment.
“Availability is pretty strong so we’re looking forward to the next few weeks.”
Dan Lincoln returns as wicket-keeper while Max Uttley comes back into the first team after a spell playing for the 2s. Josh Lincoln drops down to the 2s while Craig Hodges is unavailable.
FINCHAMPSTEAD XI v Horspath: House, A. Dewes, Marles (c), Rogers, D. Lincoln (wk), Oliver, Coetzee, Carter, Parson, J. Dewes, Uttley.
