Binfield settle for a point
Binfield 1 Ascot United 1
ROGER HERRIDGE was left rueing missed chances as Binfield were forced to settle for a point against high-flying Ascot at Hill Farm Lane.
The visitors took the lead when former Binfield man Harry Laflin netted from the penalty spot but Jemel Johnson quickly levelled up.
That is how it stayed, although there was late drama when both teams saw a man sent off with Gary Smith and Fabian Etienne given their marching orders.
“I felt we were the more likely winners, certainly while it was 11 v 11,” Herridge told The Wokingham Paper.
“I thought we were a little bit wasteful in the first half.
“We got into some good areas and we just lacked a little bit of quality in our final ball and things didn’t quite drop for us, whereas on another day they might’ve done.”
He added: “We’ve gone 1-0 down against the run of play but we reacted well.
“I thought Ascot improved in the second half but I still felt at 11 v 11 there was only going to be one winner.
“Ascot had some young legs they brought on and they stretched us a little bit. In the last 10 minutes they had some good opportunities and could’ve nicked it.
“We’ve gone from being disappointed three quarters of the way through the game that we aren’t in front to the last 10 minutes where you’re pleased to hang on for a draw.”
With a mounting injury list, Herridge had to call on some favours to field a competitive side on Monday evening.
Bracknell Town duo Sean Moore and Carl Davies both stepped in to play for Binfield, with the latter filling in up front as Eddie Lee wasn’t risked having played 90 minutes for the County FA side the previous day.
“It happens to us all but we have had some bad luck with injuries and that’s always going to affect you,” said Herridge.
“I had to work really hard on
Sunday to make sure that we had a competitive team out last night. “We borrowed Sean (Moore) back from Bracknell, Carl (Davies) gave us his 90 minutes dual registered to play at centre-half because I didn’t think Browny (Jeff Brown) was going to be able to play. But Browny played through the pain barrier and I rekindled the old Davies and Davies strike force.
“At the end of the day it was needs must.”
Herridge hopes to have Josh Howell back fit to face Wantage Town away in the Hellenic League Cup on Saturday and Premier Division clash at Abingdon Town on Tuesday night, but Carlo Santoro joins Jack Thomson-Wheeler and Khalid Senussi on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
BINFIELD: Grace, Shaw, Brown, Smith, Tuttle, Moore, Knight (c), Horscroft, Johnson, C. Davies, I. Davies (Peacock 78). Subs not used: Gavin, Piercy, Withers, Lee. Attendance: 187.