Division One (East)
Binfield 1 Finchampstead 0
Saturday, 04 January 2003
Havermans makes Finch flinch
In a hard fought and extremely tight encounter Mick Havermans' opportunistic strike 13 minutes from time secured 3 vital championship points and revenge for the cup defeat earlier in the season.
The Stubbs Lane pitch was in excellent condition despite snow earlier in the day but in freezing conditions it was the visitors who showed earlier with some quick passing and speedy breaks down the flanks threatening the Binfield goal with two close efforts flying past Strong's goal in the first five minutes. Binfield took their time settling down with a number of unforced errors but their first chance fell to John Smith on six minutes when he blasted just over the bar from a Keough right wing cross and the same combination went close again two minutes later. This was to be the pattern with most of Binfield's forward thrusts coming from Keough and Day on the right. Finchampstead almost opened the scoring on 9 minutes when a right wing cross fell to an unmarked Finch player who's effort was deflected wide for a corner by Danny Harris. Binfield gradually warmed up and Havermans went close on 13 minutes with Harris in the Finchampstead goal managing to block the shot; Kris Day couldn't quite reach the rebound with the goal open. Just a minute later Binfield had the ball in the net after a neat interchange but Smith was ruled offside. The home side were pressing now and Havermans' shot on 16 was again saved. Nick Kellaway was getting some change out of his marker on the left and started to look more and more dangerous but Finch were not to be outdone and should have taken the lead on 16 minutes with a shot past the right hand upright from 14 yards.
This was really end to end stuff and either side could have taken the lead. John Smith, lively in the early stages, went close again on 26 minutes. The midfield battle was fairly even with Harris having a good game and Withers playing some exquisite passes. Keough, at right back, was putting in a number of vital tackles to prevent Finchampstead progress particularly through Jamie McClurg. Keith Strong had to go full stretch to keep the visitors out on 29 minutes. The speed of the Finch breaks was causing problems for the home defence but Ricky Hume made a magnificent tackle on 31 minutes to prevent a one on one with the keeper. Keough continued to provide great service from the right to produce a close Withers shot from the edge of the area, a Ricky Hume header just over and a Kellaway shot just past the post. Just before half time Finch might have taken the lead but Strong made a great save as the visitors threw the home defence into confusion. The first half ended with Finchampstead just ahead on chances.
H.T. 0-0
Finchampstead again started brightly at the beginning of the second half with two close efforts but it was Binfield who went closest of all 3 minutes into the second half with a delightful chip over Harris in the Finch goal which hit the far post and came out when it could just as easily have gone in. Kellaway was back to clear a Finch effort a couple of minutes later as the visitors continued to press but Binfield were soon back on the offensive with three consecutive strikes from Harris, Keough and Havermans all being scrambled away. Withers was finding Smith and Havermans with ease and the more possession they got the more dangerous Binfield looked. The play was still end to end with a Binfield free kick after a foul on Harris 25 yards out, turning into a Finchampstead corner at the other end with a McClurg shot heading for the top corner well saved by Strong just seconds later. Again Binfield seemed to be on the back foot but both sides were breaking well and Nick Kellaway dived in to head a Kris Day cross just wide on 64 minutes. The visitors then replaced their strikers, bringing on top scoring Humphreys and Rolls as both sides went for the win. Kellaway was being brought more into the game and his ferocious shot from 18 yards was blocked on 76 minutes for a corner. From the resulting Kris Day corner Mark Baker headed goalwards and Mick Havermans, in true poachers style, turned the ball into the net as it bobbled around the 6 yard box, 1-0 to Binfield.
As Finchampstead pressed forward to find an equaliser they were leaving space which Binfield began to exploit with good runs down either flank. Kris Day tested the keeper on 79 minutes and the visitors were on the back foot now as Binfield pressed for a second with a great run and shot from Kellaway on the left. Havermans latched onto the rebound but his attempt was also blocked. With 6 minutes to go Jason Day followed Danny Harris into the referee's notebook with a yellow card for a rather innocuous challenge. Harris almost made it two with a screaming volley from 20 yards, which just fizzed past the post after the best move of the match, a combination between Withers, Kris Day and Mick Havermans. Kris Morgan-Jones came on for Havermans with 4 minutes to go to bolster up the home defence against Finch pressure but it wasn't required as Binfield continued to threaten. Kellaway almost got a second in injury time beating several players only to see his shot saved. By the end, despite some late Finchampstead pressure, Binfield were just on top in a very close game. It was always going to be one goal that settled it and once Binfield had edged ahead it didn't look like they would lose the lead.
Coach Dave Evans explained afterwards how he had set the team up for Finchampstead's pattern of play and the game plan clearly worked. Man of the Match was Jon Keough with a series of game saving tackles and excellent service from the right.
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