Division One (East)
Binfield 2 Penn & Tylers Green 1
Saturday, 29 March 2003
McCoy at the double as Binfield bounce back in front of record crowd!
Binfield held their annual Club Day on Saturday and a record crowd of 305 turned up to enjoy the festivities and cheer the team on to a welcome victory over high-flying Penn & Tylers Green. The Buckinghamshire visitors must have been somewhat bemused by the large turnout, as Binfield junior team members lined the teams entrance to the pitch, accompanied by music blaring over the PA system. The frantic queues for beer and beefburgers were replaced by equally frantic football as the main action of the day got underway. The dry, hard surface made control difficult for both teams and the high bounce of the ball proved deceptive all round.
It was thirteen minutes before the first neat exchange of the afternoon. Keough finding McCoy, whose neat lay-off sent Lee clear down the Binfield right to force the first corner of the game. McCoy was leading the line well for the ?Moles? in the absence of top scorer Havermans and looks to be in rejuvenated form following his recent return to the club. Strike partner Kellaway jinked down the left on 18 minutes and into the box with an ?Okocha? type trick. The lay-off to McCoy was good, but the striker?s contact was not. Keough received an early, harsh booking from the referee, who was being assessed, as the crowd feared over-fussy officiating could spoil the occasion. In fairness to the referee this did not happen. Both sides were evenly matched and neither seemed able to carve out clear-cut scoring opportunities. Kellaway found space to turn and shoot from the edge of the area, but his left-foot effort was comfortably wide of Wight?s goal. Neither keeper had been tested as the first half drew to a close. On 42 minutes, the first real chance fell to the visitors. A speculative header behind the home defence set Clarke free, but the Penn striker pulled his shot wide of the left post when it seemed he must score.
Half-time 0-0
The young Binfield under-13 and 14 players showed the seniors how to put the ball in the net with ease in an entertaining half-time penalty shoot-out competition. As the main action resumed, Binfield saw McCoy?s header from an early free-kick find the keeper. Penn countered quickly and this time, Clarke, in the clear, made no mistake, shooting past Isaacs. The goal, on 48 minutes, stunned the large crowd and Binfield were finding it tough to put any flowing moves together. Skipper Mark Baker, struggling with a knock, was replaced on 58 minutes in a re-shuffle that coincided with the home team beginning to get the upper hand. Youth team player, Ben Jones, came on to occupy a wide left-midfield role, with Williams moving too full back and Keough into the centre of defence. The youngster was soon in action, taking on and going past Fisher on a couple of occasions before delivering dangerous crosses. On 65 minutes Binfield were on level terms. Booth, the Penn skipper, was booked for a challenge on Williams near halfway. Withers free-kick was well flighted into the box for McCoy to arrive unchallenged to side-foot home a volley, low to Wight?s left.
The initiative now was all with the home team as they produced their best football of the match.
On 70 minutes the recovery was complete. Harris latched on to a loose ball in central midfield and his first-time pass over the defence released McCoy. Fully twenty-five yards out, the big striker watched the ball drop over his right shoulder, one bounce and a thunderous right-foot volley flew past the stranded Wight and in off the far post. A marvellous strike befitting a marvellous occasion! Penn, sensing their own title hopes were fading, fought to get on level terms. A left-wing corner produced their best effort, with a shot just over the bar. Isaacs remained largely untroubled in the home goal, however, as Binfield contained the threat of the visiting attack. Williams found himself in the referee?s notebook on 83 minutes. On 87, Jones again went past his man and McCoy just failed to get his head on the end of the cross. The ball fell invitingly for Withers, but he too could not control and finish. As the game drew to a close, Withers produced an impressive piece of ?keepy-uppy? close to the bye line before whipping in a cross that was headed over by Kellaway.
In the clash of the Reserve outfits at Penn, Binfield maintained their second place in the League with a 1-0 victory. Justin Jirbandey was on target with a stunning first-half strike to secure the three points.
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