Date Published: Monday, April 9th 2012

Wokingham & Emmbrook .....................1
Luke Lee 17

BINFIELD .....................................................2
Callum Whitty (pen 47), Ian Davies 79

Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division – 9th April 2012

Click here to view Match Pictures

The Moles came back from a goal down at half time to win this match with a much improved second half performance, after Wokingham & Emmbrook had enjoyed the better of the opening period.

Raining throughout the match the conditions made it difficult for either side to get the ball down and play. A typical local derby, the first half was played at a frantic pace with neither side able to create many clear opportunities. But before the Satsumas took the lead, they had already created the match’s first chance, when Adam Cornell headed over from a corner.

With the match 18 minutes old, Binfield had started to enjoy some possession, but they would shortly find themselves behind. With Wokingham pressing for every ball, especially former Mole Nick Hancock who drove into every tackle, their pressure to win the ball was rewarded. After a Moles pass was charged down on the halfway line and the ball flew into the air, Danny Horscroft won the header and David Bellis set Luke Lee through with a great first time pass. Lee beat Dan Weait to the ball and lobbed it into the open net.

Two minutes later, the Moles were breathing a sigh of relief when referee MacKenzie waved away strong penalty appeals when Cornell ran into Callum Whitty on the left edge of the area.

On the half hour, Ian Davies did get free of his markers, but volleyed high over the bar from wide on the left. And although Binfield improved as the half wore on, neither keeper was tested by half time.

With the half time talk still ringing in their ears, the Moles came out for the second period in determined mood. Carl Withers enjoyed one of his best performances of recent weeks and with the half just a couple of minutes old, his strong run into the box was only halted when he was hauled to the ground, with his shirt clearly pulled back.

Callum Whitty stepped up and blasted his second penalty of the weekend to put Binfield back on terms. The Moles had the bit between their teeth now and looked the more likely winners.

After starting the season with the Satsumas, Garry Sargeant came on for the Moles ten minutes into the half - and Sargeant’s introduction was to pay dividends. Binfield forced some good chances and were unfortunate to see Sargeant’s near post header from a Withers corner hit Alex Walton’s back and run safely away across goal. Garry Aulsberry in Wokingham’s goal was also in good form, dominating his 6-yard box and punching dangerous crosses clear on a couple of occasions.

But although the Moles were pressing forwards for the most part, Wokingham almost retook the lead on 65 minutes when Luke Lee beat Dan Weait to the ball wide on the left. However, Moles captain Garry Callaway came to his side’s rescue to block Adam Cornell’s shot as the ball was rolled back to him.

Weait was again called into action to tip a dangerous right wing corner away to safety, while at the other end, Ian Davies had started to find space and got goalside a couple of times, but shot over.

With ten minutes remaining, the Moles finally did have the lead. Garry Sargeant battled and won the ball from Bateman in the Wokingham half. He then played Ian Davies into the box with a perfect reverse pass and with plenty still to do, Davies hit his shot across Aulsberry and into the far side of the net.

In more good news for the Moles, Carl Davies replaced Jos Millar for the final fifteen minutes and showed no reaction to his recent groin strain, so should be fit for the Moles big games coming up.

Wokingham committed men forward for the remainder of the match, trying to find an equalising goal. But a Jack Broome free kick into the wall apart, the Moles held on without any major scares.

After the match, Moles captain Garry Callaway collected the Martin Joyce Memorial Trophy from Joyce's grand daughter, Katie Mettrick. The trophy’s played for annually between these sides as the aggregate of their league fixtures, after Joyce captained both clubs, before being killed in a car crash in 1967.

Two good Easter wins for Binfield the perfect preparation for the Floodlit Cup final next Thursday, 12th April against Shortwood United at Fairford Town FC, kick off 7.45pm.

BINFIELD; Weait, Whitty, Mortimer, Callaway (capt), Hancock, Withers, Millar (C Davies 80), Suarez (Butler 84), I Davies, Tanfield, Wing (Sargeant 55). Subs not used; Nebbett, Rowland