BINFIELD’S aspirations of being a top six Hellenic Premier clubs this season suffered a set-back on Saturday when they crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Kidlington, writes Dave Wright.

However, the scoreline failed to reflect the whole game as the Moles were marginally the better side in the opening stages and, despite trailing 1-0, were certainly not out of contention with an hour gone.

But Roger Herridge’s men were over-run in the last 30 minutes and conceded five goals for the first time in two seasons.

This was the only Premier Division fixture played on Saturday – and Herridge probably wished it had also fallen foul to the wet weather.

The Moles had probably never previously seen as much grass on a pitch at this time of the season and it raised the question of when it was last cut.

Players also had to contend with a bright sun and a breeze.

“Conditions were not ideal,” admitted Herridge. “It was a difficult afternoon for football, but they [Kidlington] obviously dealt with it better than we did.

“They are definitely one of the best sides, if not the best side we have met this season – and I’m not trying to make an excuse for getting beaten 5-0. They were very clinical in their finishing.”

If his own side had been sharper in front of goal, they would have taken an early lead. Moles, seeking revenge for a 2-1 home defeat last month, looked dangerous with Josh Howell causing plenty of problems down the left.

Jemel Johnson fired in a 25-yard drive that keeper Sam Warrell could only push aside. James Knight was first to react but the Binfield midfielder skewed the ball wide.

Knight, Howell and Liam Ferdinand were then involved in a fine move that ended with Johnson heading over from a good position.

But the Oxfordshire side, whop have dropped only one point at Yarnton Road this season, started to look dangerous on the break and took the lead just after the half-hour mark.

Eric Odhiambo fired over a high free-kick from the left which appeared to get caught in the wind. No Binfield defender went for the ball, leaving centre-back Henry Owen unchallenged as he headed Kidlington into the lead.

In the next minute, Lewis Coyle wasted a good chance to increase his side’s lead.

The Moles came with a yard of equalising early in the second half. Warrell, under pressure from Ferdinand, dropped the ball and it looked to be creeping towards the net, only for home defender Mark Flanagan to clear the danger.

Another opportunity fell to Ferdinand when he raced through, but the striker, making his return from injury, had the ball whipped off his toes by Chris Weedon.

Moles continued to attack, but the men in green added their second goal in the 61st minute when Anaclet Odhiambo darted through the middle before chipping the ball over the onrushing Nathan Silver.

Herridge then changed his formation, substituting industrious midfielder Chris Dean for forward Brad Brown.

But the plan backfired as in the 68th minute, Owen finishing off a move involving the two Odhiambo brothers to make it 3-0.

Seven minutes later, Lewis Coyle curled in a free-kick for the fourth goal and five minutes from time Anaclet Odhiambo completed the scoring.

Binfield, suffering only their second away defeat in the league this season, slip to eighth in the table.