Date Published: Wednesday, April 4th 2012
BINFIELD .....................................0
Oxford City Nomads ................2
Adam Morris 60
James Dobson 80
Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division - 3rd April 2012
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Nomads arrived at Hill Farm Lane with 4 games of their league campaign remaining, needing a win to maintain the distance between themselves and Shortwood United, who have three games in hand, but are 11 points back. For Binfield, the match was the last in a run against the top sides and a chance to influence the title race.
Moles manager Mark Tallentire had to make several changes from Saturday's eleven and started with Ian Davies alone up front and Stuart Tanfield returning from injury on the left, while Steve Nebbett started in midfield, setting up to nullify Nomads threat. At the back, Mike Hancock and Paul Mortimer came in for the injured Paul Shone and Jordan Rowland, who is preparing for Binfield Youth Team's Allied Counties Youth Cup semi final at Hanwell Town on Thursday evening.
The first half passed without major incident. The sides cancelled each other out for the most part, with only a couple of half chances for Ian Davies and Stuart Tanfield for Binfield, while Nomads greater possession only resulted in shots off target from Skendl and Morris.
With the match approaching the hour, Rob Westall had replaced Nebbett to make his Moles debut, after the talented midfielder had signed at the weekend to bolster the Moles tiring midfield.
And with the score remaining goalless, the Moles would have been the happier. But on the hour, that all changed, when Nomads outstanding performer on the night, Adam Morris struck a fierce dipping volley that flew in from 25 yards to give his side the lead, after the Moles had failed to clear.
5 minutes later, Dan Weait was out smartly to deny Mark Bell. With 15 minutes remaining, the Moles brought on Jordan Rowland and Garry Sargeant, to try to get a goal back. But Nomads sealed their win with ten minutes remaining, when James Dobson finished at the far post after Jermaine Ferreira's shot was parried.
The Moles pressed forward in the closing minutes and subs Rowland and Sargeant almost combined to pull one back, but Alan Foster saved Sargeant's effort smartly with an outstretched foot.
So Nomands secured the win they needed, while Shortwood kept up the pressure by coming from 2-1 down to beat Ardley United at the same time.
A busy period now follows for the Moles, with matches at Kidlington on Saturday 7th April (3pm) and Wokingham & Emmbrook on Easter Monday (9th at 3pm), before next week's AM Print & Copy Floodlit Cup final against Shortwood United at Fairford Town FC on 12th April, kick off 7.45pm.
BINFIELD; Weait, Whitty, Mortimer, Callaway (capt), Hancock (Rowland 74), Withers, Tanfield, Suarez (Sargeant 76), I Davies, Nebbett (Westall 55), Wing. Subs not used; Butler, Millar
