Date Published: Tuesday, January 31st 2012

BINFIELD ...................................3
James Suarez 36,40, Stuart Tanfield 78

Flackwell Heath ......................2
Riccardo Cannon 59, Danny Jordan pen 72

The AM Print & Copy Hellenic Floodlit Cup Quarter Final - 30th January 2012

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A James Suarez double in four minutes just after the half hour mark set the Moles on their way through in this exciting cup tie, that saw the good and bad side of football on a frosty evening at Hill Farm Lane.

After an evenly contested opening period, the Moles started to make the better openings, playing some of their best football for several weeks, as Carl Withers and James Suarez combined well and Johnnie Dyer added his combative forward play to put Flackwell's defenders under pressure.

By the time Binfield took the lead, Sam Southerden in the Heathens goal had already saved a Stuart Tanfield free kick high to his right and a promising break had ended with Dyer shooting wide.

Flackwell almost got on the scoresheet early too, but Dan Weait was at his best to smother Cannon's shot and was then relieved to see Sam Bateman's cross flash across goal and past his far post.

Suarez first goal came on 36, when Ian Davies was pulled down 20 yards out and a typical curling free kick into the top corner beat Southerden at his far post.

From their next attack the Heathens were twice thwarted by Weait as he saved at Cannon's feet and then collected the follow up shot, driven straight at him. From Weait's throw, the Moles headed straight down the other end and after Ian Davies had caused panic in the Heathens defence, the ball fell to Suarez who made no mistake, driving in his second of the night from 12 yards.

With the Moles still two up ten minutes into the second half, Flackwell Heath captain Dean Harper challenged for the ball and twisted his knee badly in the process as his studs appeared to stick in the turf. Appearing to have dislocated his left knee, the match stopped for 15 minutes in a moment horribly reminiscent of James Partridge's injury when these sides met at Flackwell last October. All at Binfield FC wish Dean a quick and full recovery.

When play restarted, the Heathens took the match to Binfield as the Moles struggled to find the same consistency they had in the opening period.

Alex Eastman replaced Johnnie Dyer for the second half, as Dyer was still suffering from the after effects of a weekend bug. And the Moles first good chance of the half fell to Eastman, but he saw his goalbound shot headed clear by former Mole, Darren Crane.

Starting to win free kicks around the Moles box, it was no real surprise when Flackwell's Riccardo Cannon got on the end of one of them and headed well into the corner to give his side hope, just before the hour mark. And with 13 minutes more played, a great run from the halfway line by Nathan Poulton was only stopped when he was fouled just inside the box. Danny Jordan sent Weait the wrong way from the spot to bring his side level.

In between those goals, the Heathens physio was again called into action when Harper's replacement, Dan Finch smashed into the post challenging for a high ball. Fortunately after a couple of minutes, Finch recovered and was able to continue.

At that point, the Heathens looked the more likely winners, although both sides were regularly in their opponents penalty area. After a chance at either end, the Moles restored their lead in emphatic fashion. Ian Davies cleverly played Stuart Tanfield into space. Tanfield powered onto the bouncing ball and his volley flew past Southerden, for his 3rd goal in two matches.

Before the end, both sides had chances to add to the score, but another Tanfield volley was blocked and Suarez' curler was collected by Southerden. At the other end, everyone held their breath when the ball arrived with Sam Batemen with just a couple of minutes left, but his shot flew high and wide.

The Moles move into the semi finals, joining Oxford City Nomads and Shortwood United. Maidenhead United Res play Rayners Lane on 7th Feb in the last Quarter Final.

BINFIELD; Weait, Whitty, Wing, Callaway (capt), Shone, Withers, Millar, Suarez, I Davies, Dyer (Eastman 46, Butler 60), Tanfield. Subs not used; Vaughan, Nebbett, J Tighe