LIAM Ferdinand struck twice as Binfield defeated leaders Thatcham 2-1 on Monday to return to the top of the Hellenic League table, writes Dave Wright.

“At the start of the season I don’t think many people would have predicted us to be up there in the second week of September,” said manager Roger Herridge.

“We are surprising people at the moment and I am elated for the players.

“There is a good team spirit here and that can get you a long way and we will enjoy being top of the table.”

He added: Thatcham are a very good side and I’m in no doubt they will be in the top two at the end of the season.

“Last season we were getting rolled over by teams like Thatcham and Flackwell, but I don’t see that happening this season.

“That said, there are still a lot of things we need to improve on. For a start, we gave away far too many free-kicks with challenges you would expect to see on a Sunday morning.

“Thatcham were dominant in the first half; they put us under all sorts of pressure and were fortunate to be one up at half time.

“They absolutely battered us, but that said, how many times did Garry (Aulsberry) have to make a save, they didn’t work him.”

Herridge heaped praise on his centre-backs James Charlton and Michael Walton, saying: “They were immense for the whole 90 minutes.

“Shane (Cooper-Clarke) scores goals for fun, but we didn’t give him a sniff tonight.”

Herridge also gave a special mention to young right-back George Lock, who dealt admirably with Callum Willlmoth, whom the manager described as “one of the best players in the league.”

Another to earn the plaudits was Ferdinand, who was a constant threat to the Thatcham defence despite playing in a slightly deeper role than usual.

In front of a crowd of more than 200, he missed an early chance and moments later saw another effort pushed away by keeper Chris Rackley.

Ferdinand – Binfield’s player of the month for August – opened the scoring five minutes before half-time from the penalty spot after Luke Scope had been brought down by Gareth Thomas.

And he doubled the lead just before the hour mark when he finished off a good move down the Binfield right-flank involving James Knight, Jake White and Scope.

Ferdinand then set up a golden opportunity to Sean Moore but he failed to take it despite having two attempts to beat Rackley.

Having made a double substitution, the Kingfishers didn’t give up and pulled a goal back five minutes from time when Thomas turned in a corner.

Despite late Thatcham pressure, Binfield held out to secure their seventh win in nine games and go three points clear at the top of the table.