Following the Boxing Day matches and the Binfield/Ascot United derby a day later, we’ve got feedback from some of the key players.
FootballinBracknell was at the fiercely competitive Boxing Day derby where Finchampstead prevailed 2-1 over local rivals Wokingham & Emmbrook in a match where both sides ended with ten players.
Sumas manager Clive McNelly was upset at the performance of the match officials feeling big decisions went their way but Finch gaffer Jon Laugharne spoke exclusively to us saying “We were impeccable in our attitude and behaviour and thoroughly deserved our victory, all the praise goes to the players who were excellent, we played the last half hour with 10 men but anyone watching would’ve thought Laugharne cheated and put a 12th man on. Finchampstead deserved the victory, we now move onto Headington”.
The following night, the Moles hosted the Yellamen and won courtesy of a late goal but Binfield manager Roger Herridge admitted his side were lucky “To be honest, I felt sorry for them (Ascot). I thought they were the better side.”
Sentiments echoed by Ascot joint-manager Paul McGrotty who said “I thought we deserved all three points,” said McGrotty, “To be totally honest, I thought we were the better side. Had we taken our chances, we should have been 3-0 up. We hit the crossbar and had one off the line in the first half, so we could have gone in 2-0 at half time. They (Binfield) were dangerous, but most of them came from long-range efforts which were pleasing defensively. In the second half, we had a couple of one on ones with their keeper which we should have taken. I thought we could win the game, but then came the sucker punch at the end. It was not even a free kick, but it was still a poor goal to concede. Then it looked as though we were back in it. It (goal) was given offside to a lad (Dan Davies) who had run from behind Jesse Wilson who had headed it on. So it was bitterly disappointing. But this game sums our season up unfortunately. We were unlucky not to have taken a point off Bracknell last week; we’re not having much luck at the moment.”
The main positive to emerge from the game for Ascot was the performances by their new strike-duo of Matt Forder and Luke Wilson. They were two of the smallest players on the park but caused the Binfield defence plenty of problems with their pace and willingness to run at opponents. With a bit more experience and steadiness in their finishing, they would certainly have put their names on the score sheet.
Between them, they hit the crossbar, shot hurriedly wide, were denied by keeper Mo Nyamunga or by a timely challenge. McGrotty commented: “Matthew is from our youth and development squad, came in for his debut and Luke also did well. Our game plan today was a couple of young lively lads up top and they caused Binfield a lot of problems. We were really pleased with them.”
Meanwhile, Bracknell Town captain Carl Davies spoke to Bracknell News’ Dave Wright about the Robins title push “Promotion is the aim. At the start of the season, if you offered me where we are now, I would have bitten your hand off, so obviously, I am very pleased with how things have gone before. Until recently we had predominantly played away games, so we are very happy where we are in the table at the moment. Now we’ve got this far, the aim is obviously to try to win the league.”