Date Published: Wednesday, February 22nd 2012

Fairford Town ....................................1
Adam 62

BINFIELD .............................................3 
Ian Davies 12, 49, 64  

Hellenic Challenge Cup with Bluefin Round 3 - 21st February 2012

Click here to view match pictures

A successful night for the Moles with many positive themes running through it ended with progression to the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup, after a comfortable 3-1 win.

The evening had several highlights for Binfield as Carl Davies returned to the team after a couple of matches at Thatcham Town and was in good form, winning the ball in the air all night, setting up two of strike partner Ian Davies' goals and being unlucky not to score at least one, himself.

Ian Davies hat-trick won the match and moved him to 32 goals for the season and 93 in total for the Moles as he closes in on a century of Binfield goals after just 103 appearances.

Most pleasing of all was the emergence of reserves right back, Sam Tighe who completed an assured 90 minutes on his debut for Binfield's 1st team, looking calm and confident throughout. The match finished with three Moles youth team products on the pitch as Jordan Rowland made his second substitute appearance this week and looked at home on the left for 20 minutes, alongside youth team colleague Jake Butler.

Fairford started brightly and played with some confidence from their 3-0 win over Kidlington last Saturday. But in the Moles first significant attack, they took the lead. Carl Davies was first to reach a through ball to the right edge of the penalty area, beating Fairford keeper Luke Adams to the ball. Davies squared for Ian Davies to tap in to an empty net to open the score.

From then on, Binfield were in control, but despite several chances to add to their lead, a second goal didn't come. Their best move of the half saw Ian Davies pull his shot from 12 yards wide, after a great break from Jos Millar, slipping a ball in to Carl Davies and on to Ian.

Just before half time, Fairford had their best spell of the half. But as he was last Saturday at Holyport, Dan Weait was equal to a curling free kick, this time pushing Josh Adam's curling effort around his right hand post.

With the second half just three minutes old, the Moles finally had the 2 goal cushion. After a good break from Carl Davies ended with a disappointing shot wide, Luke Adams' goal kick was low and straight at Ian Davies. Chesting into his own path, Davies ran on and hit a sweet 20-yard dipping volley over Adams for the best goal of the night.

After that, the Moles were in full flow, although Fairford worked hard to block several efforts, including a Carl Davies shot at the far post and a similar effort from Stuart Tanfield, on for Danny Wing, when Tanfield looked favourite to score.

On 62 minutes, Fairford pulled a goal back as the Moles went to sleep at a corner. The unmarked Josh Adams rose to head home from 6 yards and Fairford had a lifeline.

But within 2 minutes, the Moles 2 goal lead was restored. Stuart Tanfield threaded a ball through the Fairford defence and Ian Davies ran on and did the rest, shooting low past Adams.

The Moles had more chances to add to their score, especially when Adams saved well from a great Carl Davies drive as he flicked the ball over the head of his marker and volleyed for goal.

One final moment of drama was to come. With 5 minutes remaining, a long through ball was chased by captain for the night Paul Shone and Charlie Grabe. Although Grabe got a weak shot away, Shone was harshly judged to have pulled him back - and after an incredibly long delay, Shone was sent off, as the last defender.

From the free kick, Weait again pushed Kyle Murdoch's drive over the bar and Fairford's last threat was averted.

The Moles move on to the quarter finals, alongside Wokingham & Emmbrook, Highworth Town, Headington Amateurs, Rayners Lane and Lydney Town, while Witney Town v Oxford City Nomads and Woodley Town Shortwood United are yet to play.

BINFIELD; Weait, S Tighe, Jamil (Rowland 74), Hancock, Shone, Withers (Butler 79), Millar, Suarez, I Davies, C Davies, Wing (Tanfield 63)