Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup
Round 3
Binfield 0 Bracknell Town Reserves 2
Saturday, 07 December 2002
Binfield?s involvement in this year?s County Cup ended with a home defeat at the hands of local rivals Bracknell Town Reserves. Binfield were hoping to reproduce the quality display that had despatched Maidenhead United in the previous round, but, despite much huff-and-puff, never found the free-flowing football of that day. Missed penalty woes again returned to haunt the home side (time to sign a German boss!), although the disease proved contagious for the visitors too. Two second-half strikes proved sufficient to give the visitors the spoils.
As with all local-derby games, this one set off at a frantic pace, with ?tasty? challenges flying in all over the pitch. Bracknell were fielding a youthful side, with several of the Allied Counties youth league squad on duty. The opening exchanges slightly favoured Binfield, but both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Neither keeper was unduly tested, with Whitty, in the visiting goal, making the best save low to his right to keep out Osborne?s snap-shot from outside the box. A disputed penalty (was it ball-to-hand or hand-to-ball?) awarded to Binfield midway through the first half provided Havermans the chance to break the deadlock. Clubhouse-end home supporters could be forgiven a strange sense of ?déjà vu? as the kick clipped the outside of the keeper?s right-hand upright. All bets are off in the ?spot the ball? competition for ?Moles? spot-kicks at present.
Half Time: 0-0
Once again it was the home team showing first in the early stages of the second half. Bracknell?s young rearguard was resolute, however, and Binfield?s best chance of scoring seemed to be from a set-play, where the aerial threat of Keough was prominent. Havermans did see one looping header just clear the crossbar. Somewhat against the run of play, Bracknell took the lead. This time it was from a set piece of their own, a corner from the left. The danger seemed minimal from the inswinging kick, as the ball sailed past the near-post headers. Harvey had to be smart to palm away Fenton?s flick low to his left and the ball fell invitingly at the feet of Camp-Overy to knock it home from two yards. 0-1 The goal filled Bracknell with confidence and, rather than hold what they had, they set about looking for more. Pushing two wide players right out to each touchline was causing the home team all sorts of problems, as the visitors went to a 4-2-4 formation. Binfield never got to grips with the threat of attack in behind their fullbacks, and with the wide-men coming in off the flanks to join a lively front two a second goal looked likely. Bracknell was then awarded a penalty of their own for holding in the penalty area. Wing stepped up, but his kick was straight at Harvey and was saved by the keeper?s legs before the ball was cleared to safety. A second goal for the visitors was not long coming. This time Harvey elected to punch clear a left-wing cross, but failed to make good contact and the ball fell kindly for Williams to drill a low shot in at the near post from twelve yards. Binfield put three up front in an effort to wrest the initiative from the ?Robins?. Smith?s dipping volley over Whitty was ruled out for offside and a succession of corners saw some brave defending to guard the away goal. As the game drew to a close, Morgan-Jones saw his vicious left-foot free-kick cannon off the Bracknell upright and Binfield knew it was not to be their day. The ?Moles? can play better than this and will need to if they wish to keep their title hopes alive, but credit the young ?Robins? side for a well-earned victory.
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