Division One (East)
Martin Baker Sports 0 Binfield 0
Saturday, 22 March 2003
Blanks for bullets as Binfield hold on for a point at Martin Baker Sports
Binfield ended their recent five-game losing streak with a point at bottom-of-the-table Martin Baker Sports on Saturday but, if the home team had brought their shooting boots, defeat number six would have been on the cards.
Binfield?s line-up saw reserve keeper Courtenay Isaacs replace Keith Strong (knee injury) in goal. Mick Havermans returned up front with Barry McCoy, impressive at Finchampstead last week, unfortunate to be on the bench. Danny Harris returned in central midfield after his one match suspension. Bright conditions, a stiff breeze and a firm, bouncy pitch were always likely to make control difficult for both teams and so it proved. Binfield?s recent poor run and Martin Baker?s lowly position also pointed to two teams playing without belief and the opening exchanges reflected this with little evidence of quality on display.
The home team looked a very young outfit with a lot of pace up front. Binfield were slow to react on two occasions early on to quickly taken free-kicks and balls played in behind the defence looked dangerous as ?Baker? used their pace to good effect. Binfield were struggling to create anything of note, unable to bring their wide midfield players into the action. Kellaway did eventually get clear down the right but, with only Havermans to aim at in the box, could not find his strike partner. It was 17 minutes before the first real threat on either goal. A snap shot from outside the box from the home team flew just wide of Isaacs? right-hand post. Binfield replied with a corner, but the home team picked up possession on the edge of their own box and quickly countered. Clarke?s pace was electric as he burst the length of the pitch before playing in Bennett, who failed to control and Isaacs made the save. Binfield?s front two were finding it difficult to hold the ball up to wait for support. The ?Moles? were trying to use Kellaway?s pace in behind the defence, but passes were too often over-hit in the blustery conditions. Kellaway did chase a through-ball down on the keeper on 24 minutes and a fumble gave him a brief opportunity to score, but he was unable to turn and hit the target as the home defence got bodies back in numbers. It looked likely that a mistake by either side would be the catalyst for a goal, rather than either side creating anything from open play. Binfield were almost punished on the half-hour mark, failing to pick up Romain from a right-wing corner as the centre-back ran across the box to volley an effort just over. Kellaway gave away possession on halfway and the lively Clarke sped through before chipping over Isaacs crossbar. Romain then almost repeated his previous effort, again his run not being picked up from a corner. Williams hit a left-foot volley high over from the edge of the box for the visitors. On 40 minutes Binfield broke quickly down their left and again it was Williams? effort that forced a save from Caswell in the home goal. Once again the keeper?s handling was not clean, this time under challenge from Havermans, and the ball fell loose at Lee?s feet, but his attempt flew straight into the grateful Caswell?s arms. The closing minutes of the first half saw three more good chances for the home side to take the lead. First, Clarke again picked up a loose ball on the edge of his own area to run 70 yards past challenges before over-running the ball into Isaacs hands. Then a right-wing channel ball saw Bennett clear in behind the Binfield back-line. The front man?s cut back was cleared by Day for a corner. This time the corner went far post where Samson was left completely free, but headed over from close-range when well placed to score.
Half Time: 0-0
Martin Baker started brightly in the second-half. Bennett?s first time lay-off found Holt free down the right. The young striker?s cross was met on the half volley in the box, but Keough managed to block the attempt and the ball ran kindly to Isaacs. Havermans clever flick-on set Kellaway free on 51, but he was unable to get his shot away cleanly and the danger was cleared. The home team responded with a shot from Holt well saved by Isaacs. On 62 minutes Binfield made a double-substitution. McCoy replaced Kellaway in attack, with Pilberough on for Williams on the left of midfield. Kellaway looked extremely disappointed to have been taken off with the team not firing on all cylinders. McCoy was soon in action, heading over from Withers chipped centre after Lee had won a headed challenge in central midfield. Play continued to be generally scrappy for the most part. On 75 Bennett broke free and Isaacs produced a great blocking save with his legs before responding quickly to scramble the ball away off the line as Bennett closed in for the kill. From the resulting corner, once again the home team had a free header from close-range, which fortuitously went straight at Isaacs when a goal seemed inevitable. As the game entered the final ten minutes, Binfield at last began to play with the desire and conviction of a team that had once led the table. Harris in determined fashion burst through several challenges to set Keough free on the right. The cross-found McCoy in the box and the striker?s header cannoned back off the angle of bar and post. Keough, once again, looked accomplished on the ball for most of the game.
Despite enjoying the better of the closing stages, Binfield could not find the goal to steal the three points. Still, when you?ve lost 5 on the spin a point is gratefully received.
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