BINFIELD FC maintained their fine start to the season with a hard-earned 3-0 win over Highmoor at Hill Farm Lane on Monday, writes Dave Wright.

It was their sixth win in eight Hellenic League games and keeps them top of the Premier Division, although they have played more matches than most of their rivals.

The Moles got off to a flying start with Liam Ferdinand hitting the post early on before taking an 11th-minute lead through a hotly-disputed penalty.

Sean Moore’s shot struck the arm of Calam Gallimore, who was standing just six yards away.

Referee Jonathan Was pointed to the penalty spot and Ferdinand made no mistake, beating his former Binfield team-mate Nathan Silver.

Even Moles manager Roger Herridge admitted the penalty decision was harsh.

Highmoor, previously unbeaten in the league, came close to a quick equaliser with Jamie Piercy firing against the right-hand post.

Yashua Romeo also went close for Highmoor before half-time.

“We told our lads at half-time that we would need a second goal,” Herridge revealed later.

But that didn’t come until the 77th minute.

Substitute Matt Jones saw his effort turned away by Silver at the expense of a corner.

Alex Luis took it and centre-back James Charlton turned the ball over the line from close range for his first goal for the club since joining from Wokingham & Emmbrook.

Jones also had a hand in the third on 82 minutes. He pressurised Silver into punching the ball straight to Luke Hayden, another of the Binfield subs, and he drove the ball firmly into the net from nearly 15 yards.

Hayden, 17, had made his first-team debut on Saturday when the Moles defeated Milton Keynes Academy 3-1 in the Bluefin Cup.

The home side took a 20th-minute lead, but Liam Ferdinand, with strikes in the 35th and 42nd minutes, and Sean Moore, on 40 minutes, saw Binfield lead 3-1 at half-time.

Herridge said: “The first half-hour was uncomfortable for us and we were outplayed, but we rallied late in the first half to score three goals.

“We were much better in the second half and the only disappointment was that we never turned possession into further goals.”

Binfield are away to United Counties League side Buckingham Town in the FA Vase on Saturday (3pm) and then face a major test of their credentials when they take on free-scoring Thatcham Town at home in the league next Tuesday evening (7.45pm).