Binfield 1 vs. Eldon Celtic 4  

After the elation of the performance in beating Reeves the previous week, we face the challenge of the cup final. This was not just a challenge to win the trophy, but also the chance to measure ourselves against the best squad of both Saturday and Sunday leagues in our opponents Eldon Celtic who runaway leaders of the 1^st division. Top of the 1^st vs top of the 2^nd. 

Getting to the final had been achieved by putting out the strongest team available and not making any changes or substitutions. The big decision this week was inclusion of all squad members at some time during the game, or to start and stick with the team that had got us to the final. In the end, the decision was for inclusion to acknowledge the contribution of all in what has been a great season for the squad.

The venue was Farley Wood with its noticeable slope. Tactics were to start with the strongest team and defend in the first half for all our worth. Ideally defending the slope and try to stay in the game, then in the second half push forward when with the slope in our favour. We won the toss as we wanted and lined up with a back five, four in midfield and Joshua Tighe playing a lone role up front again. 

The Eldon threat up front was clear straight from the kick off. The little and large strike-force offered both pace and power so they were picked up by Lewis and Robbie with Chris sweeping behind. Out wide , it was going to be a busy day for Sam as Eldon looked to pose a threat down the right side of the pitch. The middle was a challenge for Dan and Simmo as Eldon big midfielders would keep pushing up at every opportunity. On the left, Byron and Simon were sure to be kept busy as well.

After 5 minutes, a defensive challenge from Robbie cleared the ball out wide. The resultant cross back into the middle of the penalty area fell to the Eldon powerhouse but Lewis’s headed challenge stemmed the immediate danger. The ball was cleared high but only to the edge of the area and a follow up challenge from Lewis again, saw him clash heads with the big Eldon captain who come off worse. After a groggy recovery from him, the referee awarded a free kick to Eldon much to the surprise of the Binfield supporters. The wall was lined up but the kick was well struck and the ball managed to elude Nick’s outstretched left hand to give the favourites the lead. 0-1.

The midfield battle was on. Dan and Simmo challenging for everything in the middle, both on the ground and in the air. Joshua Tighe was up against 3 defenders up front, was having to work hard to get near the ball. Out wide, George was threatening to use his pace, but when he was finally able to do so he was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge that ended with him landing on his hip and having to come off. The first change of the afternoon saw Dan Collier come on as a replacement.

The pressure on the Binfield goal continued and after a number of clearances that cleared the high perimeter fencing, a corner was awarded to Eldon. The resultant kick was curled towards the near post but the flight deceived Nick in goal and the ball ended up in the net. 0-2 

At the other end, Joshua kept plugging away. The first real effort on goal came after 30 minutes when cutting in from the right, he managed to shift the ball from left to right before hitting a drive across the goal that unfortunately went past the post for a goal kick. 

At 2 goals down, and the prospect of playing the second half down the slope, all was not lost. Several balls over the top seemed promising but each time the pass had a little but too much pace and the ball rolled to safety. 

The 1^st half objective was to stay in the game and all the team worked and battled hard to achieve it. The whistle when it came was a welcome sound and a chance to sort out tactics for the second half.

 Half-time 0-2.

The intention had been to push Robbie Rumble up alongside Joshua but the persistent threat of the large athletic Eldon forward meant we had to stick with the starting formation. 

The defensive triumvirate of Robbie, Lewis and Chris had managed to quell much of the threat down the middle. Most of the danger came from out wide and to their credit, the Binfield flanks worked tirelessly with Sam and Simon on the right and Byron then Robbie and Josh Kelleher on the left all working together in covering each other and getting up and down as ball moved from end to the other.

Recognising that more support was needed up front for Joshua, the message was for Dan Bardon to start pushing at every opportunity. Dan Collier was having more of an influence and Binfield started to edge their way back into the game. After 10 minutes of the second half the boys at last had their chance. A ball over the defence from Simon was chased down by Joshua and he executed a perfect lob over the on-rushing keeper to gave Binfield a welcome goal. The roar from the supporters announced that we were back in it. 1-2

The momentum was with Binfield. George was brought back on and Dan Collier and Dan Bardon drove forward to support the attack. For the first time, Eldon were forced to defend hard as Binfield sought an equaliser. And it neatly came. Persistence from Joshua was rewarded as the ball broke free for a half chance. Simons crisply struck effort managed to find a way through, only to be saved by a smart save taken low down by the Eldon keeper.

It was a great turnout from the Binfield support. About 50 people came along to give their support and they did their best to drive the team on and the boys did their best to respond.

The message before the game was to fight and challenge for everything and to their credit each of the boys did this. This determination was encapsulated by one memorable moment from Josh Kelleher on the edge of the Binfield, throwing himself into the challenge to close down a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box.  

Eldon were still a constant threat though and after 20 minutes the win was virtually assured. A break down the left was crossed into the middle and converted somewhat fortuitously. The Eldon forward striking the ball with his left foot only for the ball to strike his right leg and rebound towards the goal and over the line. 1-3 

Just 5 minutes the later the win was assured. A ball down the middle was headed down in to the path of left winger who had cut inside from the flank and he gratefully smashed the ball into the net. 1-4. A good goal but probably the only one that was really well-worked of the four.   

Though the game was over the challenge was to hold out and keep the score at the respectable 3 goal difference. This the boys managed to do and when the final whistle went there were no disappointed faces. Instead the looks on the boys faces were ones of pleasure and deservedly full of pride at their performance.

 Final Score 1-4

Whilst this was a defeat on goal count, the boys can rightly consider this to have been to be a moral victory. They were never over-run and up until the final quarter the game was in the balance. Good performances from the whole squad earned the respect of our opponents in the post-match exchanges.

In a season where promotion had been the primary objective, the cup run was a bonus with some memorable performances, particularly the semi-final win achieved over Woodley Kestrels. And with the 2^nd division title all but won, reaching the cup final has been the icing on the cake. On the day the weather matched the occasion and an excellent turnout of support gave the whole occasion a special feel.  

The performance put on by the boys augers well for the coming challenge of the 1^st division and the prospect of locking horns again with Eldon.

The final game of the season is now against Purley next Saturday. We want to win this game and finish victorious on points rather than just goal difference. We want to take the title in style.