Binfield 2 – 2 FC Bracknell Royals - 26th Jan 08 League
It was nice to get a game in after 2 weeks break, and the lads started in confident mood.  You never know with some teams; which one will turn up on the day, and that is certainly true of FC Bracknell Royals, this week they brought a strong team.
  
FCB started well, it seemed to take a while for Binfield to get started, and they were soon punished as an attack on the left wing lead to a great shot from a narrow angle giving Matthew no chance as it went into the roof of the net.  This spurred Binfield into action and a good battle developed.  FCB defended well and managed to deny any Binfield pressure being converted into goals.
  
We then went into uncharted territory as Binfield then went further behind when a throw-in went wrong and was blasted in from the edge of the area, again into the roof of the net.  We’d never been 2 goals behind this season.
  
The second half saw Binfield determined to rescue the game and make the best of the wind now at their backs.  Again it was a good competitive half, with both teams making it difficult for the other to play flowing football.  Binfield pressed hard and Mohamed had a good shot go wide.  Then a kick from the hands of Matthew caught the wind and bounced over the FCB defence for Jacob to chase.  He didn’t need a second invitation and raced through to coolly slot the ball home into the corner.
  
The fight-back was now in full swing as Binfield penned FCB back looking for the equaliser.  FCB held out, also launching some good counter-attacks, but into the last 5 minutes Mark struck with a superb goal hard into the corner of the FCB goal.  Binfield pressed hard for a winner but were denied by good defending and it finished, (much to the relief of FCB), 2-2. 
  
I would have been happy with that score at half-time and it is a great credit to the team that they worked so hard to get back in the game and never gave up, with Mark leading from the front and inspiring the team.
  
Man of the Match: Michael gets the honour this week, he didn’t put a foot wrong that I saw, anticipated and intercepted the ball well, jockeyed and tackled, cleared the ball and made the best use of possession where possible.  Well done – keep up the good work.
  
It was a much harder game than we were used to this week and we were a bit slow to get started.  FC Bracknell made it hard through their fast closing down, big clearances, and all-round good footballing skill.  It was a really exciting game to watch with credit due to both sides and a draw was probably a fair result.
  
Both the FCB goals could have been prevented with better closing down, we need to improve on that.
  
This is the level of football we will encounter if we get promoted to Division 1 and I thought the team acquitted themselves admirably.  FC Bracknell remain the one team we haven’t beaten, and that was a bit disappointing, but I would remind you we have improved massively over last season’s performance where we lost both games – the second one, 6-1.  It was a brilliant fight-back and we remain unbeaten.
  
Team:  Ross, Mohamed, Ben W, Lordy, Daniel, Michael, Lewis, Oliver, Alexander, TC, James, Mark, Matthew, Tom N and Jacob.