Moles push on with cup runs
ROGER HERRIDGE says Josh Howell is almost back to his best after the midfielder helped Binfield progress in two cup competitions.
Howell, who rejoined the club from Thatcham Town in August, filled in at right-back for the 2-1 Hellenic League Challenge Cup win over
Chinnor on Saturday.
He also started in the 2-0 win against Ascot United on Monday evening in the Floodlit Cup and scored in both matches to take his season’s goals tally to eight, more than any other Binfield player.
“Getting Josh back from Thatcham was a real bonus to us,” Binfield boss Herridge told The Wokingham Paper.
“He missed all of last season through injury when he left us. Now he’s come back and he just needed to play.
“Probably in the last week, we’ve seen the Josh that we know.
“He’s getting more and more confident and he’s getting that yard of pace back.
“I believe in Josh so I’ll play him, but there’s been times where I think he’s been a little bit frustrated and hasn’t quite been where he wants to be.
“That was going to be the case when he’s had a season out injured.
“In the last week, he’s been close to the player that we know Josh can be.”
Herridge’s charges went to lower league Chinnor and took a 2-0 lead into half-time thanks to goals from Howell and Sean Moore.
Rory Lonsdale pulled a goal back, but Binfield held on.
Howell netted another first half goal against Ascot before Ian Davies sealed the win as the Moles extended their run to one defeat in 10 matches.
Attention returns to the league with home games against Lydney Town on Saturday (3pm) before
Burnham come to Hill Farm Lane on Monday (7.45pm).
“We’ll go into those games with confidence,” said Herridge.
“You know what you’re going to get with Lydney.
“They’re a good group of lads. I don’t know what they feed them down there, but the whole side seems to be six foot five tall!
“We’ve had some decent games with them over the last couple of seasons.
“As for Burnham, who knows.
“They’ve signed 88 different players. By the time we play them on Monday, it could break the 100 barrier.
“There’s no point watching them because it could be just a totally different group of players by the time we play them.”