With Paolo Bagatti,James Byerley and Joe Naylor unavailable we managed to get a 14 man squad together against 4th in the table Binfield.

I have emphasised all season the commitment of this group of players over what is proving to be a long and difficult season. As an example 2 teams who started in the season in this Division have folded one certainly with far better facilities than ourselves.

But it has to be said that all 5 goals (including the first in the 4th minute and the second after 15 mins) were largely caused by individual mistakes. This gave us an impossible mountain to climb.

Having conceded the 2 early goals we stayed in the game and with Redha Zekri working hard up front we created a couple of chances and had one disallowed for offside.

On 44 minutes with Liam Gorman, who continues to frustrate, off injured we conceded from a corner to effectively put the game to bed.

Playing down the slope we changed from 4-3-1-2 to an attack minded 4-3-3 to get something from the "contest". For 10 mins we looked likely to score only for yet another error allowed the opposition to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Ironically we then took the game by the scruff of the neck and by turning their defenders we looked more and more likely to score. Sure enough on 60 mins James Shaw lashed in one of his specials from the "D " and within 3 mins Tom Shaw showed excellent control and awareness to take down a long cross field ball and cut the deficit to 2. Our opponents switched to a back 4 to try to repel the stream of attacks only for their lead to be extended with another poor, poor mistake after 75 mins.

Refusing to lie down we cut the deficit once again with another James Shaw finish from a free kick which went directly into the net.

Was it possible we could force a draw? The moment came and went when another free kick conceded by a beleaguered defence resulted in James Shaw rattling the crossbar.

We once again changed shape and played 4 up front but there was not enough time left.

Our opponents deserved the win but the manner was disappointing from our point of view. On the plus side Teddy Paul, Ross Hazel, Will Bisney and Alex Wilkinson from our U18 side more than played their part and if they can take on board the lessons learnt it will stand their future football education in good stead.

Team: M.Richardson. N.Holden, G.Terblanche, D.Smethurst, M.Bulpit(R.Hazel), R.McMahon (A.Wilkinson) ,J.Shaw, T.Paul. T.Shaw. L.Gorman (W.Bisney).R.Zekri.

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