Division One (East)
Binfield 1 Quarry Nomads 2
Saturday, 01 March 2003
Bright start gives way to gloom as Nomads make themselves at home and leapfrog 'Moles' into fourth spot .....
You could taste the apprehension in the air at Stubbs Lane on Saturday, as recently out-of-sorts Binfield took on fellow title-contenders Quarry Nomads. Binfield lined-up with Herron at right back, replacing the absent Hume. Woozley was recalled to central midfield and Smith returned to the starting line-up in attack. There were also call-ups to the bench for Reserves players Flowerday, Williams and Lee. The pre-match bar chat focused on this being a must-not-lose, if not a must-win, game for the 'Moles'. Spread bets seemed to favour an away win in most quarters, following two straight defeats, but the opening stages had the doubters in doubt.
After a quiet opening period, it was the home team that began to take control of the game as the young Quarry side seemed strangely apprehensive. Kellaway was seeing plenty of the ball on the left flank and his pace was troubling the Quarry rearguard, but his final ball was too often disappointing. Norris, making his home debut, also looked neat and tidy in possession, particularly moving in off his right flank. Havermans was winning most of the aerial challenges, supported by Smith, and it looked only a matter of time before a home goal arrived. Norris collected a caution for a reckless challenge early on, but almost made amends when his well-flighted in swinging corner on 16 minutes found the head of Havermans five yards out. As the crowd had "Goal" in their throats, the veteran frontman's header flew agonisingly over the bar. A minute later Binfield had the lead. Smith and Kellaway had already combined well to put the latter in for a shot at goal, and it was the same combination again that caused problems. This time Smith's flick-on found Kellaway in space and he found Harris, left-edge of the Nomads area. Harris angled ball was well left by Havermans for the unmarked Norris to collect at the back post, control and fire home from six yards. There looked more than a suspicion of offside about the goal, but maybe this was the piece of good fortune Binfield needed to lift morale. Sensing that the contest could be ended quickly, the ?Moles? piled on the pressure, but the second goal was elusive. Suddenly, in the twenty-fourth minute Binfield's bright start had the lights switched out. Memories of last week's 'Buy 1 goal, get 1 Free' promotion at Prestwood came flooding back as Quarry turned the game on its head. First, on 24, a fast right-wing break saw a hard-driven cross flash across the face of the Binfield six-yard box. Eluding Strong at the near post, it was met with a neat stop-volley from three yards by Nomads skipper Swafford. Strong ran fully 40 yards to protest his claims for offside and was rewarded with a caution for his pains. Nomads spirits soared and Binfield's frailties returned. On 25, Herron was quickly closed down near his own box, but managed to find Harris. Sensing danger the midfielder turned and hit a pass to nothing towards halfway, only to find a waiting Quarry player in space. A neat chip over the Binfield defence and Odhiambo's pace took him clear. Strong started to come and hesitated, but the young striker's chip was a neat finish. The belief seemed to visibly drain from Binfield bodies and now it was the visitors turn to try and kill off the game. Strong did well to save from point-blank range with his feet after Baker's miscued header landed neatly for a Quarry strike. This was followed by a goal-line clearance from Jason Day to prevent a third for the Nomads. Half-time arrived with no further goals but the mood was summed up by Havermans' verbal expletives ringing around the Berkshire skyline as the players left the field.
Half Time: 1-2
After the break, once again it was the visitors who looked the more likely to increase their lead. For all Binfield's graft in midfield with Harris and Woozley, a creative spark was missing and the long ball up to the front two became a common tactic. Having won good possession at times, the 'Moles' were too ready to give it back to their opponents. Quarry relied on swift, pacy counter-attacks and came close to scoring again on several occasions. Herron, filling in at right-back, was having a torrid time with Odhiambo's runs - and match fitness is obviously an issue for some of the more recent arrivals in the squad. This reporter, for one, was surprised that Lee's fresh legs were not used in the final stages. Kellaway was replaced by Flowerday with twenty minutes remaining, but the new man spent most of his time in the middle and defensive areas of the pitch, rather than being found in offensive situations. Williams replaced Morgan-Jones as Binfield moved to three at the back in a vain attempt to get more bodies forward in search of the equaliser. The best home efforts all revolved around set plays and from Norris? corner in the dying moments it seemed that salvation may arrive. Several players tried to get on the end of it, but eventually it was wide for a goal-kick. Despite the referee playing nine minutes of added time, Binfield's lack of creative flair failed to find an end-product. To add to Binfield?s troubles, leading scorer Havermans received a second caution as the players left the field, presumably for some strong words to the officials. The red card will surely lead to a ban.
The light at the end of the tunnel ..... is looking very much like an oncoming train at present. The title is now out of Binfield?s hands - the question is does anyone else want to grab it? Penn & Tylers Green shared the points at home to second-placed Eton Wick, Rayners Lane, in third, went down to a shock defeat at rejuvenated Prestwood, while Finch and Milton did not play. The saga continues ....
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