It wasn’t pretty, but Binfield completed a comeback on Monday night at a resilient Reading City in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division after heading in 2-1 down at half time.
Despite heavy rain and a postponement on Saturday, the Scours Lane pitch was deemed playable but made heavy work for both sides.
The one real moment of quality came in the opening 12 minutes when Binfield captain James Knight and Carlo Santoro exchanged a neat triangle of passes down the left, finding Danny Horscroft who dinked left in to the box and fired home at the near post past Matt Carr.
Gallery: Full gallery of Neil Graham pictures from the game here
The game turned within the space of a minute though, Rhys York and Ben Cook netting on 18 and 19 minutes to give the home side and new boss Simon Johnson a half time lead that held firm thanks to an acrobatic save from Carr before the break.
The second half saw Binfield apply the pressure but were unable to find a way through a City defence expertly marshalled by Damien Smith.
City were up against it in the second half and chances were at a premium for Johnson’s side. Josh Howell had the best chance for Binfield from the penalty spot but it was easily saved by Carr early in the second 45 minutes.
The game turned on the introduction of Eddie Lee, the Moles were without the suspended Ian Davies and Lee took the game to City.
His direct running earned a corner that Jemel Johnson headed home for a leveller on 78 minutes and he was then brought down in the box when one on one with Carr. Credit to manager Roger Herridge who was heard yelling for Howell to step up and take his second of the night.
Howell made no mistake this time, hammering the ball in to the roof of the net on 82 minutes to give Binfield an important win that takes them up to 12th in the Premier Division table.
Josh Howell from the spot, his second attempt from 12 yards.. pic.twitter.com/3nl3x1yLYI
— Football in Berkshire (@fiberkshire) December 3, 2018
Next up on Saturday for Reading City is a trip to Windsor’s Stag Meadow to face Virginia Water while Binfield have a trip to Tuffley Rovers in Gloucestershire, both games in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division.
Main image: Josh Howell by Neil Graham.
