Bracknell Town complete ‘ruthless’ comeback while Binfield stun leaders Leatherhead with five goal haul

The Carl Davies effect is in full-swing at Bracknell Town as the Robins shocked visitors Sholing on Saturday with a stunning comeback from 2-0 down in the Southern League Premier Division South.

With 83 minutes on the clock, Bracknell were 2-0 down to goals scored in the first half by Jake McCarthy and Tommy-Lee Higgs and staring at a second straight defeat after an impressive run of form that included five wins and two draws from the last seven games.

Giovanni McGregor fired the starting pistol on a four-goal comeback with a tap in from Arthur Gregory while Gabe George levelled from distance in the third minute of injury time.

You’d think the majority of fans would have gone home happy with a point at that stage, but the turnaround since Davies’ reappointment has seen the Robins climb from the bottom of the division to mid-table and develop a solidity.

Throw captain and match-winner Seb Bowerman back into the mix – his 96th and 98th minute strikes – and you have a side that is 10 points off the play-offs having recently beaten Farnham Town and Wimborne Town and Uxbridge.

At full time, Davies was full of praise for his side, saying to the club’s media team: “Even at 2-0 down, we kept our identity, we kept doing what we know we can do and we were patient. I didn’t think we’d leave it as late as we did but once we got the goal I think we were ruthless and made up for our lack of finishing prior to it. I think it was a fair scoreline on reflection of chances created. They had a good chance to go 3-0 up in the second half where he’s hit it wide, but other than that I can’t remember them testing Zaki at all.”

In the Isthmian League South Central Division One, Binfield are quietly going about their business with 10 points from their last four games – including Saturday’s impressive 5-4 win over leaders Leatherhead.

Ross Weatherstone’s side remain in the relegation zone but pulled off a comeback as remarkable as their Berkshire neighbours – albeit from 3-0 down at half time.

A second half fightback was led by Nathanael Boakye who scored on 52 minutes while Amari Fashanu and Kickie Dzimba levelled the scores on 64 and 69 minutes before Fashanu again and Boakye on 87 from the penalty spot made it 5-3.

There was a late Leatherhead response but the Moles held on to inflict only a third league defeat of the season on the table topping Tanners.

Results in Brief

Reading City’s FA Vase dream is over after a spirited fightback from Eastern Counties League Division One Lymore Gardens. The Cityzens were good value for their 1-0 half time lead, but were unable to keep the pressure on the visitors who scored twice in the second-half, the second a delightful looping strike from out wide. Windsor & Eton remain in the Vase after their match at home to Fisher was postponed. They go again next Saturday.

Holyport kept in touch with the sides above them in the battle to avoid relegation with a 3-1 win at home to play-off chasing Hilltop. Harry Laflin and Amari Dumont (2) the scorers.

Curtis Angell scored twice for Thatcham Town as the pressure eased on the West Berkshire side in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South. The Blues beat Camberley Town 2-0 at Krooner Park.

One side that did make it to Wembley on Saturday were Woodley United who remain in play-off contention in Division One. The Kestrels have still only lost two games this season and a late Dylan Clark equaliser prevented a third on Saturday against the aforementioned Lions in a 1-1 draw. There are just three points between Woodley in fifth and leaders Bedfont, with Jordan Blake’s side having games in hand on the sides around them.

Double 3-0 scorelines in the Enterprise National League South as well as Maidenhead United beat struggling Enfield Town to make it back to back wins while and Slough Town put the disappointment of Saturday’s defeat to bottom side Chippenham Town behind them with a win at Hemel Hempstead Town.