BINFIELD FC had to settle for a point from their longest trip of the season after Lydney Town equalised late on in a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

The Moles started brightly with Mark O’Connell a threat on the right and Jack Gibbs twice coming close, with an early shot shaving the post his best effort.

On 20 minutes, O’Connell again got to the touchline on the right and when his pull back found it’s way to the returning Brad Brown, the striker could not beat goalkeeper Richard Thomas.

Lydeny opened the scoring against the run of play three minutes later. A questionable free-kick was awarded to the hosts and Declan Morley-Lynne’s well thought-out 25-yarder went through a crowd of players and into the far corner.

Buoyed by their goal, the hosts were almost 2-0 up on 38 minutes, when James Morse found space in the box to turn and shoot – but Nathan Silver threw up a strong hand to parry, with a fine point blank save. Binfield finished the half on the attack again, with Brown forcing a corner. Lewis Leonetti met Jack Gibbs’ in-swinger, but found the side netting as a storm started.

Binfield levelled early in the second half when Leonetti met another Gibbs corner, and after his first header at the near post was blocked, his driven centre ricocheted into the net.

Back in the match, the Moles looked more dangerous with every attack and when O’Connell’s pace took him free of his full back on 55 minutes, he raced into the penalty area from the right and finished perfectly over the outcoming Thomas for his first Binfield goal.

Three minutes later and Binfield thought they were 3-1 up, when Chris Dean finished from six yards after a goalmouth scramble from Jack Broome’s free-kick. But the Moles celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, which looked harsh given the only Binfield player past the last two men was on the goalline, not interfering with any defender and didn’t touch the ball.

The Moles continued to press for a third and another O’Connell break down the right ended with Brown’s attempted control falling safely into Thomas’ hands.

And Brown was thwarted again late on, bursting through to shoot, but Luke Barker did brilliantly to deflect his shot wide. Moments later, Leonetti had another chance for the Moles to seal the win, but after his header rebounded kindly, the ball fell just behind the centre half and his weakened shot slowed in the muddy goalmouth. Thomas made another super save on his goalline to grab the ball and keep his side within one.

As the half wore on, Lydney, too, had their chances and came close three or four time as twice shots flashed across the face of goal, before Morley-Lynne headed over from six yards. However, the hosts did grab an equaliser when substitute Billy Guest headed in from five yards after a right-wing corner was headed back into the danger area.

Tom Adams made another replacement appearance for the Moles and battled hard for 15 minutes to find a goal, with one left-footed shot well blocked, before the Moles youth team star almost played in fellow substitute Callum Carlisle.

But in the end, honours were even to leave Roger Herridge’s men eighth in the table.

Binfield’s game against Ascot United was postponed on Monday due to a waterlogged pitch at Hill Farm Lane, and will now be played tomorrow (Thursday, 7.45pm).

They then travel to Flackwell Heath in the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup quarter final on Saturday (3pm) before returning to league action at Highmoor Ibis on Monday (7.45pm).