Date Published: Monday, March 12th 2012

BINFIELD ..........................6
Jake Butler 15, James Suarez 42
Carl Davies (pen) 54, 70
Ian Davies 62, 75 

Shrivenham ....................1
Aaron Maximen 25

Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division - 12th March 2012

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Will the real Binfield team please stand up....? Arriving for a Binfield match these days is like trying to predict the lottery numbers.

Shrivenham arrived in decent form with 12 points from their last 8 matches, but were well beaten, when other recent visitors from low down in the Hellenic Premier Division have made the Moles look very ordinary on more than one recent occasion.

Replacing three of the back four after Saturday's problems in defence, manager Mark Tallentire welcomed back captain, Garry Callaway to marshall the defence, pulled Danny Wing back to left back to provide pace and gave Sam Tighe a league debut at right back.

And although stretched at times, the Moles were much improved and restricted chances for their opponents. At the other end, Ian Davies returned up front and scored his 96th and 97th Binfield goals in his 107th appearance - a century of goals now beckons!

The match got going on the quarter hour. Aaron Maximen got through with just Dan Weait to beat, but Weait was his usual quick self off his line and took the ball of Maximen's toe when a goal looked likely. Maximen then compounded his frustration when moments later, Jake Butler caused confusion going for a high ball and when keeper, Betterton missed it too, the ball hit Maximen and rolled into the goal, with Butler getting the last touch on the line.

The Moles looked like they would go one from there and score again, but after Carl Withers fierce drive just missed the target, Shrivenham claimed an equaliser as Maximen again took centre stage. Shrivy moved the ball quickly across a stretched Binfield back four and Maximen stepped inside and hit the bottom corner to beat Weait at the near post.

Before half time, the Moles were ahead again and they wouldn't look back. On 42 minutes, long ball from defence found James Suarez running from inside his own half and after beating a despairing tackle and going around Betterton, he found the back of the net. Shrivy were fuming at the officials claiming off side, though it was Carl Davies on the other side of the pitch who was well off, but he never received the ball.

Shrivy did make some uncomfortable moments for the Moles as the half closed, but Binfield held on to their lead as the break arrived.

The second period started slowly. But with ten minutes played, the Moles went 3-1 up and effectively secured the points. Carl Davies latched on to an Ian Davies flick and was brought down by Betterton after beating him to the ball. Davies picked himself up and sent Betterton the wrong way from the spot.

As the Moles relaxed, they then started to play some of their best flowing football of recent weeks. And as chances came regularly, more goals came. Ian Davies scored the 4th with a great header from Jos Millar's cross, before Carl Davies added his second on 70, finishing well across Betterton running onto a great through ball from Danny Wing.

Ian Davies added his second five minutes later after another Wing pass was threaded through to James Suarez who squared for Davies to side foot his 97th Binfield goal.

With Shrivy now struggling, Davies almost completed his hat-trick, but saw his fierce volley come back off the under side of the bar. Danny Wing also saw Betterton pull off a fine reflex save to push his 12 yard drive over.

The Moles play again on Thursday (15th March), making the long midweek trip to Gloucestershire for a tough date with Shortwood United, after the original match was postponed due to Shortwood's brilliant FA Vase run.

BINFIELD; Weait, Tighe (S), Wing, Callaway (capt) (Whitty 65), Shone, Withers, Millar, Suarez, I Davies, C Davies (Tighe J 88), Butler (Jamil 80). Subs not used; Nebbett, Hancock.