Date Published: Tuesday, April 17th 2012
Abingdon Town ..............................1
Mark Janes 90+2
BINFIELD ...........................................1 (after extra time - Binfield won 9-8 on penalties)
Ian Davies 52
Berks & Bucks FA Senior Trophy Final at Beaconsfield SYCOB FC - 17th April 2012
The Moles completed their second cup win in five days in nail biting fashion, eventually winning the Berks & Bucks FA Senior Trophy 9-8 on penalties, when Dan Weait saved after the first 17 penalties in the shoot out had been successful.
The win comes just five days after Binfield secured the AM Print & Copy Hellenic Floodlit Cup last Thursday, in an unprecedented season of success for Binfield FC, with the semi final of the Hellenic Challenge Cup yet to come and the possibility of yet another final appearance in May.
Forced into a couple of changes from last Thursday's successful side, Mark Tallentire was able to call on expert left back Dave Fenton, who hardly put a foot wrong, along with the rest of the back four of Callum Whitty, Paul Shone and captain Garry Callaway, who gave their side the platform for this success. Watching this defensive unit over the past couple of matches, along with perhaps the Hellenic Premier Division's best goal keeper this season, Dan Weait, one wonders why league clean sheets have been hard to come by since Christmas, while cup performances have been outstanding.
With Jos Millar cup tied, Danny Wing moved out to the right of midfield, while Stuart Tanfield, Carl Withers and James Suarez continued in midfield and Carl Davies partnered Ian Davies up front.
In a tight first half, Town had the first sight of goal whenAdam Lovegrove saw a fortunate deflection set him free in the box, but a bobble allowed Dan Weait to collect.
Carl Withers was dominating the midfield, in another good performance and his ambitious volley from 25 yards was the Moles best chance of the opening period.
On 25 minutes, the Moles could have gone behind, when a quick break down the Abingdon right saw Odhiambo cleverly set Mark Janes up for a shot, but he pulled it just wide to the Moles relief.
But after that, the Moles started to make the play and were the better side for the rest of the half. Ian and Carl Davies both had chances, but good defending cleared the danger and Dave Fenton got forward to shoot, but skewed wide. Stuart Tanfield also zipped in a shot from 20 yards that just cleared the bar.
At the other end, the Moles needed to be alert to Town's pace and threat on the break, but their best chance up to half time was a Jamie Mundy shot straight at Weait.
Straight after half time, the Moles picked up where they had left off in their best spell of play. And with the half just a few minutes old, they had the lead with their best move of the match. Working the ball from left to right, Danny Wing chased and caught the ball just before the byline then played inside to Carl Davies. As he rolled it back to Ian Davies, there was a lot left to do, but Davies made it look easy, side footing into the far corner, giving Gareth Walker no chance to make a save.
But Town came back stongly from going behind and had two good chances to score eiather side of the hour. First Odhiambo beat Dan Weasit to a bouncing ball and lobbed goalwards, but Callum Whitty was alert to the danger and cleared for a corner, just short of the line.
Five minutes later it was Garry Callaway's turn to thwart Odhiambo, when he headed off the line, when Odhiambo really should have scored from 12 yards when the ball ran kindly to him after Dan Weait saved from Janes.
With Town starting to press forward for the equaliser, the Moles began to find gaps at the back. But a dubious offside prevented Tanfield from a chance to beat Walker, before a 75th minute Ian Davies volley flew over when he was through.
Shortly afterwards, Weait was swiftly down to his right at full stretch to keep out Mundy's shot and Dave Fenton threw himself in front of Julian McCalmon's shot inside the penalty area to maintain the slim advantage.
And McCalmon's night ended shortly after that disappointment, when he tangled with Dan Wing just outside the Abingdon penalty area, With the ball gone, the referee's assistant spotted McCalmon's stamp on Wing on the ground and after bringing it to referee Douglas' attention, he was shown a straight red card and Wing a yellow for his reaction.
Undeterred by their one man disadvantage, Town continued to throw everything forward to find the equaliser. After the Moles thought they had withstood the pressure and with two minutes of time added on already completed, Town finally had their reward. A weak clearance from a corner was played straight back into the box and Janes pounced to hit across Weait and into the far corner.
Before the final whistle James Suarez had a chance to win it with a free kick from 25 yards, but his effort hit the Town wall and the extra 30 minutes was required.
Extra time was a tight affair, with few chances at either end. In the first period Carl Davies did beat the offside trap, but shot weakly. And later on Ian Davies got free and squared for Danny Wing, but as Wing turned inside, his best chance to shoot had gone and Walker easily collected.
There was little to choose between the sides as Town continue to make light of their man down and they had the best chance of the first period when Weait saved but couldn't hold on to a downward header. However Odhiambo screwed his shot high and wide as it came to him off balance.
The second period was end to end, though clear chances were rare. Steve Nebbet had come on in the first period for Stuart Tanfield and with just a couple of minutes left, Jake Butler replaced Danny Wing. Within seconds Butler had played in Ian Davies, but although he beat Walker to the ball, his attempted lob was heading wide and was cleared by Town's excellent centre back, Paul Alder.
And so the winners had to be decided by penalties. With Dan Weait's brilliant penalty saving form this season, Moles fans knew they were in with a good chance.
Both sides performed brilliantly from the spot, with the first 17 kicks successful.
For the Moles, Ian Davies then 18 year old Jake Butler calmly converted, Before Carl Withers, Callum Whitty and keeper Dan Weait completed the Moles first five. Now into sudden death, with the advantage of going first, Paul Shone blasted home, followed by Carl Davies.
Dan Weait got a hand on Mark Flanagan's 7th kick for Town, but the shoot out continued. A relieved Garry Callaway blasted into the roof of the net between Walker's hands, before Dave Fenton slotted home the Moles 9th kick.
Paul Alder then stepped up to strike Town's 9th, but this time Weait made a fine one handed save to his left to set the Moles celebrations in full flow. Especially hard on Alder who had an excellent game in the heart of Town's defence.
So the Moles incredible cup success continues, coming out on top in a closely fought match where they had to defend for their lives on several occasions.
Can the Moles bring a third cup back to Hill Farm Lane this season? There's still plenty to do in the Challenge Cup, but it's certainly possible on this form....
BINFIELD; Weait, Whitty, Fenton, Callaway (capt), Shone, Withers, Wing (Butler 119), Suarez, I Davies, C Davies, Tanfield (Nebbett 97), Subs not used; Hancock, Mortimer, Rowland
