Division One (East)
Eton Wick 0 Binfield 0
Saturday, 21 August 2004
Binfield emerged unscathed with a valuable point from 'bogey'-team Eton Wick in an end-to-end goalless encounter.
Although delighted with a point from a tough opening day fixture, Binfield left feeling all three could have been theirs had they taken just one of many chances created. Likewise the home side struck the woodwork twice in the opening period, but it was the Moles who looked the better football side on the day.
New midweek signing James Rogers, from Bracknell Town, was handed a first start and there were League debuts for fellow newcomers Danny Isaiew and Danny Wing. A welcome return for keeper Mark Walkington saw him keep a clean sheet. Both Woozley's were missing, as were the Swift brothers, for the home team.
In bright conditions on a firm pitch both sides were finding their way in the early exchanges. Wick were content to hit long balls to their tall front man whereas Binfield's approach play was more patient to feet, with Rogers showing up well in midfield. It was Binfield who had the best chance on 11 minutes. Finnieston found space on the left and, using Lakers overlap as a decoy, sent over a cross that found the unmarked head of Justin Day at the far post. Day's header was wide of the target. Wing ran past three players a minute later, but lost possession trying to beat a fourth and Wick almost scored from the turnover. Another long ball back to front split Jason Day and Walkington, allowing the striker to chip the keeper only for the ball to cannon to safety off the angle of bar and post. The game was opening up nicely now and a slick-passing move by the Moles found Wing in space outside the box. Cutting inside his right-foot strike flew wide. Wick's target-man was causing problems in the air and, on 17, won another cross up against Bennison but the header was routine for Walkington. On 20, with the Moles appealing for a foul against McManus, Wick broke quickly and a 25-yard strike forced Walkington to dive smartly at his left post to tip round for a corner. The home team was beginning to have the better of things on the counter and Wayth should have done better from the edge of the box on 22, but 'shinned' his effort wide with just the keeper to beat. On 28, the woodwork again came to the Moles rescue. A cross from the right saw skipper Baker rise to challenge and Walkington could only look on as the ball arced across goal, bouncing off the post to safety. As half time approached it was Binfield's turn to get on top and Isaiew should have opened his account on 41. Superb work in midfield by Justin Day saw him thread the ball into Isaiew's path. The striker opted to chip the keeper from eighteen yards, but his effort was wide of the mark. Binfield again opened up the Wick rearguard, on 44, and this time it was Finnieston left in the clear. Once again the 1-on-1 opportunity was spurned as the keeper managed to block the effort.
Half-Time: 0-0
The Moles continued where they left off after the break and Baker's header, on 48, was deflected wide for a corner. Withers, unlucky to be on the bench after impressing in pre-season, replaced Wing on 53 and was straight into the action, shooting at the keeper from 25 yards. Finnieston fired low across the box, on 55, but no one could get a vital touch as Binfield continued to press. Both sides were looking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities and Rogers, on 60, ended a quick forty-yard break by firing wide from long range. Rogers repeated the burst on 65 and appeared to be fouled in the process. As play continued Isaiew fed back to Rogers on the right edge of the box and his deft chip beat the keeper, but came back into play off the far post. Binfield were now well on top, but Eton Wick still had occasional chances, mostly from set plays. On 71, Walkington tipped over from a header as a free kick dropped into the Moles box. The resulting corner was dangerous as Wick won two headers that saw the ball reach their veteran skipper, McManus, unmarked six yards from goal. Turning and shooting in one movement, the ball flew straight into the arms of the thankful Walkington. On 79, a minute that typified the game. Bennison broke from defence and found Isaiew, onside, just over halfway. The striker ran on unchallenged but the keeper's legs saved the shot. Immediately Wick countered quickly and Walkington had to race off his line to clear the danger from the onrushing Wayth. On 81 neat approach play involving Rogers, Isaiew and Finnieston saw the ball land at Withers feet. With only the keeper to beat, his effort from twelve yards curled agonizingly over. Strikers spurning gilt-edged opportunities and the woodwork sending balls back into play rather than into the net somehow saw this game, littered with chances, end goalless.
Both sides will get stronger as the season progresses - both will be glad of the point and wonder how they didn't take three!
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