Moles stutter to the finish line

BINFIELD’S stutter towards the end of the league campaign continued with back-to-back defeats.

The Moles were outclassed by high-flying Thatcham Town 5-0 on Saturday before a surprise 3-2 loss at relegation-threatened Highmoor Ibis on Monday night to slip to seventh in the table.

The clash with Thatcham, who arrived at Hill Farm Lane 35 games unbeaten, got off to the worst possible start for the hosts.

Shane Cooper-Clark did the damage, putting Thatcham ahead with a first-minute header.

The home side held firm until just before the break where they conceded twice more through Cooper-Clark and Harry Grant as the Kingfishers raced into a 3-0 lead.

Ekow Elliott added a fourth just past the hour mark before Cooper-Clark completed his hat-trick to round off a resounding 5-0 victory.

“Easy to say we had an off day but that would take away from Thatcham,” said Binfield boss Roger Herridge.

“They are about as good a side you will see at step five. Never gave us a sniff, never let us play and battered us in all honesty.

“Boys worked hard to the end but we came up well short.”

BINFIELD: Craven, Thompson-Wheeler (Smith 82), Powell (Gavin 74), Knight, Brown, Gerrard, Shaw, Fitzgerald (Colverd 70), Davies, Commock, Santoro. Subs not used: Campbell, Gritt.

Attendance: 123

And the Moles again got off to a nightmare start against Highmoor.

The deadlock was broken in just the second minute when Anthony White lobbed Henry Craven.

That is how it stayed until just before the hour mark when White struck again, cutting in from the left and firing home.

And the game was won 10 minutes from time with Mitchell Parker on target to open up a 3-0 lead.

Despite consolation strikes in the closing minutes from Kane Fitzgerald and substitute Sanchez Commock, it was a day to forget for Binfield as Highmoor moved out of the relegation zone.

“Been a disappointing week football-wise,” said Herridge.

“I can’t knock our work-rate but that alone has not been good enough to get positive results. Need to pick ourselves up for Saturday now.

“Well done to Highmoor Ibis, the front three were top drawer.”

Binfield host Longlevens on Saturday

(3pm) for their final league game of the season before focus switches to the Perpetua Press Floodlit Cup final against Thatcham on April 30 at Windsor.

BINFIELD: Craven, Thompson-Wheeler (Powell 80), Shaw, Knight, Gavin, Smith (Commock 69), Santoro, Gerrard, Davies, Fitzgerald, Moore (Campbell 70). Sub not used: Gritt.