Division One (East)
Holyport FC 2 Binfield 2
Saturday, 05 April 2003
Havermans late-show rescues point for Binfield.
Binfield made the short trip to Maidenhead to take on Holyport in this local derby. Despite dominating large parts of the game, however, the ?Moles? found themselves two goals down at the break and had to draw on all their reserves of character to battle back to 2-2 with goals from Barry McCoy and an injury-time equaliser from Mick Havermans. The continued lack of rain in these parts meant another bumpy, hard surface combined with a stiff breeze for both teams to contend with.
Havermans was recalled to the starting line-up, having been unavailable last week and, unusually in modern football, we saw the leading scorer?s son, Joel, included on the Binfield bench. It was a family affair all round with Chairman Rob Jones? youngest son, Ben, given a first start after a promising display off the bench against Penn last week. Binfield pressed forward from the start against a Holyport side fielding lots of new faces from their 5-0 defeat at Binfield earlier in the season. Right from the whistle, Carl Withers was sharp into the tackle, releasing Havermans. The ball ran away from the striker and behind for a goal kick. Lee was looking bright for the visitors on the right. On 5 minutes, Jones ball out of defence set McCoy free down the left. The defender?s last-ditch challenge sent the ball towards his own goal and the keeper was relieved to see it bounce high and wide of his post. Next it was Withers turn to cause anxiety in the home defence, volleying just over from distance after good link-up play between Lee, McCoy and Havermans. On the quarter-hour Williams released McCoy down the right and his early cross just evaded Havermans lunge from six yards. Everything was going Binfield?s way except for a goal. It was completely against the run of play, then, when Holyport went in front on 18 minutes. Jason Day was deceived in the flight by a long ball over his head from right to left and the pacy Butler refused to give up the chase and whipped in a chest-high cross from near the corner flag, which Isaacs looked to have well-covered. The keeper could only watch in horror as the ball cannoned off his chest and over his head to present Hill with a simple tap-in from two yards out. The goal dented the visitor?s confidence and frustrations grew. On 28, McCoy superbly controlled Isaacs long clearnce, turning in one movement and blazing over from the edge of the box. Williams went into the referee?s notebook on the half-hour for a reckless challenge. Holyport were now in the game and enjoying a good spell. On 32 minutes a mix-up at the back between Williams and Baker saw Butler go free and his delicate chipped effort only just cleared the crossbar. A minute later and Holyport doubled their advantage. Another ball over the Binfield defence saw Butler suspiciously offside, but there was no denying the quality of his first touch and finish.
Half-time 2-0
Binfield showed their intent early in the second-half as Withers fired wide following Hume?s cross from the left. Binfield were looking to pass the ball around and Harris tested the keeper from distance in the 48th minute. The game was settling into a pattern now of mostly Binfield possession, pushing forward, with Holyport looking to counter quickly on the break. The tactic nearly paid off on 55 minutes as a quick breakaway saw Butler?s shot cannon back off Isaacs? left-hand post to safety. There was another pattern emerging as the home side appealed constantly for offside to the stand-in official on almost every occasion the ball was played forward. It was to be a policy that would hurt them later. Binfield pressure mounted and from Withers? right-wing corner both McCoy and Havermans went close, before Hume?s header and Withers? shot was deflected for another corner in a frantic melee. Binfield reduced the deficit on the hour. McCoy latched on to a through ball with the home defence vainly appealing for offside. This time there was no mistake as the big striker found the net with a crisp strike. Amongst a number of players losing their heads, the Holyport keeper decided to vent his spleen on the officials with some colourful language ? the referee chose an appropriate colour to match it. RED and off he went! Binfield were now taking a few chances at the back as they poured forward in search of the equaliser, but Baker and Day mopped up most of the danger effectively. Hume was enjoying pushing on down the left. Williams and Lee combined well down the right and Harris and Withers were now bossing the midfield. Surely it was only a matter of time before the equaliser arrived. Flowerday replaced Jones on 79 minutes and was immediately into the action looking lively. Holyport continued to look dangerous on the counter, but it was mostly Binfield possession, throwing bodies forward. Holyport looked content to run down the clock, taking their time on all the restarts. With the game well into several minutes of injury time, Binfield?s efforts finally brought reward. Another goalmouth melee saw the ball eventually reach Havermans inside the six-yard box and Binfield?s leading scorer made no mistake.
The home team felt themselves hard done to, but no one could deny the visitors were good value for their point.
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