Division One (East)
Englefield Green Rovers 3 Binfield 1
Saturday, 15 February 2003
Despite dominating the game for the opening twenty minutes Binfield were eventually well beaten by an energetic, revitalised Englefield Green. On this display both team?s League positions are false and any neutrals watching would not have correctly guessed who the high-fliers were.
Boosted by a good home win over Hounslow the previous week and fielding two new signings in the squad for this game, the ?Moles? looked full of confidence and intent on banking three more valuable points in the chase for the title. Danny Oliphant was given a debut start, replacing the absent Carl Withers, as Binfield continued with a 3-5-2 line up.
The visitors playing neat passing penetrative football dominated the opening stages. From the kick off Havermans sent Oliphant away on the left and the new man?s cross was put out for a corner. The kick was cleared to the edge of the box, where Morgan-Jones hit a 25-yard drive, only to see it deflected for another corner. Oliphant was showing well, winning some neat flick-on headers, one of which almost set Havermans free in the box but for a late interception. Englefield were showing they would not roll over but it was the visitors very much on top. Kris Day skipped clear on the right and crossed for Smith to see a close range effort blocked on the line. Havermans just failed to convert the rebound. Smith again headed across goal from another Day cross, which Havermans almost converted, before Woozley fired narrowly wide from 25 yards from Oliphant?s pass. Englefield?s first real chance came on 22 minutes when a dangerous cross from the right flashed across the face of the Binfield goal, but no one was on hand to convert the chance.
Indeed it was 26 minutes before Rovers forced their first corner of the game. Binfield replied on the counter with Woozley brought down on the edge of the box. From Oliphant?s free-kick Havermans headed narrowly wide. Next Hume?s floated cross-found Woozley at the back post, but his header found the side netting. All this pressure with no end product was becoming a cause for concern and sure enough Englefield produced the sucker-punch. On 29 minutes Morgan picked up the loose ball thirty yards from goal and released a ?haymaker? of a shot that deceived Strong in the flight. Although the keeper got a hand to it, he could not prevent it going in the net. The game was now becoming more even. Day?s cross was met by Havermans for the keeper to divert for another corner and on 38 minutes Englefield forced Strong to save with his legs to deny them a second goal. Another incisive counter sliced Binfield open again on 42 minutes down their left flank. The cross, fired in low, led to a goalmouth scramble and it appeared that Cummins was the man to poke it home from close in. Binfield?s reply was immediate. Hume fed day on the right and his flighted cross found Morgan-Jones coming in to side foot home on the half-volley from the penalty spot, with the home keeper having made a bit of a hash of his attempt to catch the cross.
Half Time: 2-1
Englefield opened the second period on the attack, winning a free kick on the edge of the Binfield box in the opening minute. The shot was just wide however. Binfield looked to counter with Havermans laying the ball off skilfully for Day, but without result. Then on 51 minutes Englefield further increased their advantage. Binfield?s back three were again badly stretched and done for pace down their left channel. Morgan-Jones was pushed on and a counter saw the ball played in behind Baker. Lowdell, showing a nice turn of pace, latched onto the ball on the right hand edge of the box, the big striker took a touch before thrashing it high past Strong?s left hand and in at the near post. Binfield were now struggling to get any momentum in their play. Oliphant on his first start was looking leg-weary on a very heavy centre midfield surface.
Binfield were resorting to long balls into the box looking for flick-ons, but with no success. Kellaway replaced Woozley on 71 minutes and the young striker soon showed that he had the pace to trouble the home defence. Within two minutes of his arrival he raced onto a long ball over the top, beating the full back for pace and flicking the ball goalwards past the advancing keeper. The other full back just got back in time to slide it out for a corner as Havermans charged in. Moments later another attack down the right saw Havermans collect a caution for over-zealously disputing a strange linesman?s decision to award a goal kick when it clearly went out off the defender. On 77 minutes Herron replaced Morgan-Jones, but by now Binfield had lost their shape, were devoid of ideas and had the demeanour of a well-beaten side.
Take nothing away from Englefield they produced a battling display, full of desire and character and thoroughly deserved the win over the ninety minutes. On this evidence they should start to climb the table rapidly.
Binfield boss Duggleby was in no mood for post-match quotes, perhaps understandably, but he will need to quickly get to grips with his ailing team?s morale and performance. New faces are arriving and will want and expect to play, but a few of the ?old? faces were looking very disgruntled after the game. Time to make sure the troops all want to die for the cause and that only the best, fittest XI get the starting shirts; that the formation is right and the team pattern of play is clearly understood and put into practise.
At Stubbs Lane, Binfield reserves recorded a sixth straight win with a 5-1 demolition of Hounslow to maintain their climb up the table. Despite going a goal behind in the opening period, the ?stiffs? were level, through Lee Kitching, at the break. Kitching added three more, for four in total, in the second half as rampant Binfield hit top form. Andy Williams notched the fifth goal and a tireless midfield display from Paul Leishman won the man of the match honours.
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