Yateley Juniors 1 vs. Binfield 3 

Back to the league this week for our first divisional fixture since December 15th and a chance to go to back to the top with Reeves on cup duty. Yateley were our hosts this week and are the only team this season to have taken points off of Reeves.

Absentees this week were Luke, Josh Kelleher, Robbie Rumble and Joshua Tighe. Old Binfield boy Byron Sumner was recruited for cover on the left. Welcome back Byron!

Another small pitch meant we would struggle in our usual efforts to put Georges pace to good use. George playing a lead role up front in the absence of Joshua Tighe. Weather conditions were bright and the pitch in ideal condition.

Yateley kicked off and made all the early running as they tackled hard and left us no time to settle on the ball. The anxiety of last week seemed to have returned and too many mistakes meant we struggled to clear our lines. 

Most of the pressure came down the Yateley left as the tall Yateley winger looked to use his strength and delivered some very good cross-balls that had our defence running back on a number of occasions.

Nick was by far the busier keeper as Binfield were out-fought in most areas and it was Yately who were in total control. After 20 minutes the pressure told and a cross from the left dropped at the feet of a Yateley forward who gratefully passed the ball into an undefended net. 1-0.

The goal only served to increase the confidence of Yateley as they increased their work rate and their determination gave us no time on the ball. They were stronger in the tackle and muscled us out of the game. It was a relief when the half time whistle went with us being only one goal down.

Half-time: 1-0

It was a worrying feeling as the boys came off and there was a feeling that this could be the first defeat of the season. The message was one of attitude, effort & determination. All were required to get us back into the match. 

It was from the back that this came as the whole team took the fight to Yateley. Spurred on by Lewis and Dan at the back, the midfield battled back into the game and managed to start getting George into the game and at last Binfield began to threaten the Yateley goal.

5 Minutes into the half and Chris Edwards managed to battle and win the loose ball in Yateley penalty area and struck a firm low effort past the keeper to get Binfield back on level terms. The goal seemed to deflate Yately and spur on Binfield who further upped the tempo as they took the fight to Yateley.

The determination shown was considered to be too much by the Yateley manager who interrupted the game to ask the referee and the Binfield manager to calm things down. After a strong debate, the game continued and the momentum stayed with Binfield.

After 15 minutes it was Chris Edwards again who ran from midfield to meet a ball played over the top. He managed to get the ball and take it away from the Yateley keeper then slide it in from a tight angle to give Binfield the lead. 

Binfield had the bit in their teeth and kept pressurising Yateley whenever they had the ball. They seemed to bow under the pressure as we fought and competed for every ball. Lewis won every header at the back and the defence didn't give Yateley a chance.

On the right, the first half threat was nullified as Sam and Dan Kelf worked tirelessly to sniff out the threat that was such a danger in the first half. 

Up front George ran himself into the ground. He harried and chased everything, When we had the ball he controlled his runs and when Yateley had it he made sure they had no time to control it. The midfield fought for everything and made the second half a reverse image of the first.

With 5 minutes to go the game was made safe. Chris again running from deep managed to get to the ball ahead of the Yateley keeper and rolled the ball past him and it just over the line before the defender could get back to clear. 1-3.

Full Time: 1-3

Breathtaking stuff in a fiercely competitive hard-fought match. No quarter was given by either side. This was a match that we could have lost had we not turned it around. It was a game for big hearts and big tackles and which in the end Binfield rightfully won. 

Inspiration came from all parts of the team. A few boys had their best performance of the season (well on the second half performance anyway) but man of the match went to Chris for his  first hat-trick of the season. 

Next week it's Reeves and we need to put the second half performances of the last two matches together into one full game if we are to stay top.

Binfield 1st Half  line-up:   Runham              Haywood         Bardon (c)   Perry Cleveland     Strachan                                Simmonds           C Edwards  Sumner                        Dowling      S Edwards

Binfield 2nd Half  line-up:

Runham              Haywood         Bardon (c)    Kelf Cleveland     Perry               Simmonds    C Edwards Sumner                   Dowling       S Edwards