Field Day

The Season So Far:

Being the first competitive match of both of these teams’ seasons we only have the abandoned 2019/20 season, and this summer’s preseason friendlies to talk about. The away side – travelling to Wiltshire from Berkshire for this game – compete at the same level as Westbury, albeit in the Hellenic Premier Division. When last season was halted Binfield were 2nd in the league, 13 points behind Westfields but with 4 games in hand over the leaders. Their final friendly resulted in a 1-1 draw at home to Beaconsfield Town of the Southern League Premier South; surely a morale boosting result for The Moles. Prior to that they won all but one of their warm-up games so should go into this FA Cup match full of confidence.

The hosts, who finished 12th last season in the Western League Premier Division, played their final friendly the day after today’s opponents’. Travelling to Badshot Lea, the Whitehorse Men found themselves at the wrong end of a 2-1 final score. The rest of their preseason was a bit of a mixed bag – losing to Longwell Green and Calne Town of the league below, but defeating Portland United, Radstock Town and Wiltshire neighbours Warminster Town. A 2-2 draw with Southern League Willand Rovers completed their preseason fixture list.

The Visit:

This evening’s weather was a marked improvement on when I last visited Meadow Lane. That was back last October, before Covid-19 took hold. In truth there was no tangible difference in operations – rightly or wrongly – save, perhaps, for people giving each other a wider berth. That being said I didn’t venture into the clubhouse or to the refreshments cabin where i’m sure measures had been put in place to help combat the pandemic. Tonight’s attendance would be capped at 300 and with that in mind I arrived in good time, enjoying the late summer sunshine and reveling in my first competitive football warm-up since March.

The most notable team news to report was the fact that both manager and assistant manager were in the starting XI for Westbury – striker Ricky Hulbert and reserve ‘keeper Lewis Porter respectively, leaving the coaching team to run the show from the sidelines. With the sun setting the game kicked off and the White Horse Men had the first go on goal – Callum Demkiv firing off target after 5 minutes. 6 minutes later an the home side could have taken the lead but the near post header from a corner flew just wide. The best chance of the half came after 17 minutes: a lethal ball fizzed across the Westbury goal was just out of reach of Binfield’s number 11, with shades of Gazza at Euro 96. Halfway through the half and another corner provided a chance for the Wiltshire team. One of their towering centre backs could only head straight a the yellow-clad goalkeeper, however. Ten minutes later and Binfield threatened again but a ferocious shot rocketed just wide. After that the game petered out, and I was also distracted talking to a work colleague whose other half was in one of the squads for today’s game. The half finished 0-0 and it was anyone’s game at this point.

Not long after the restart a great diagonal ball narrowly evaded the home number 20, and just a couple of minutes later the visitors went down the other end and took the lead. A low cross into the danger area found the menacing Asa Povey who finished high into the net. Shortly after and Binfield almost doubled their lead but the ball just got away from their number 11, allowing Porter to collect. Povey continued to use his pace to good effect; on the hour mark he escaped the Westbury defence but his cross-shot neither found the target nor a team mate. At the other end Demkiv would be disappointed to miss a somewhat empty net. His shot must’ve taken a deflection on its way wide as a corner was the outcome. A controversial moment followed as the ball found itself in the back of the Westbury net again, this time from a free kick. Everyone was sure the referee had blown his whistle but he was busy booking Porter for dissent. A strange couple of minutes. Westbury were pushing for an equaliser, but on occasion looked short at the back as they threw players forward. A good run forced a decent save from Grace in the Binfield goal who parried the ball out for a corner. The ensuing set piece led to a goalmouth scramble but United couldn’t force the ball over the line. And it would be another corner that would all but end Westbury’s chances of reaching the next round of the Cup. A lengthy injury break for the visiting 14, and then a corner hit deep to the back post and met by Willment who headed home. The Moles continued to push for a third – a shot deflected wide and from the resulting corner the target was missed. Westbury’s Sam Jordan headed just wide from a free kick with a couple of minutes left. It all boiled over as the seconds ticked away. Binfield – who had been somewhat embellishing some of the home side’s challenges from time to time – reacted to a rather iffy tackle on one of their players. The melee involved almost all of both squads. In the dying minutes Sam Jordan was rightly sent off for an ugly challenge, and Binfield ran down the clock.

The result was a fair reflection on the balance of play in the second half, however the home side could count themselves unlucky to not have at least scored or tested Grace more severely. Another enjoyable trip to Meadow Lane for me, and a welcome return of competitive football. I’m sure i’ll be back for another match down here soon.