BINFIELD gained some revenge for their 7-3 away defeat a month earlier by beating Royal Wootton Bassett 3-1 at Hill Farm Lane on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

It keeps up the Moles’ good run which has seen them suffer just two defeats in their last 19 games, leaving them sixth in the table, three points behind the fifth club, Flackwell Heath, but some distance behind the top four.

Binfield went into the match without young full back Charley Tuttle, who has joined National League South club Havant & Waterlooville on dual registration forms and played for 56 minutes in their 3-0 win at Bognor on Monday.

But they got off to a flying start with two early goals with Alex Colverd netting after nine minutes and Ian Davies two minutes later.

“A two-goal lead was the least we deserved, as we had played some great football going forward,” commented manager Roger Herridge.

But he was forced to shuffle his pack early in the second half with full-backs – Owen Powell and Jack Thompson-Wheeler – both having to come off injured. The latter was replaced by Usman Lalustaini, a recent signing from Flackwell Heath, and did well despite being in an unfamiliar role.

Bassett started to come more into the game despite having Jonathan Aitkenhead sent off following two yellow cards.

But the Moles, with Carlo Santoro looking prominent, continued to look dangerous in attack with Colverd and Davies forcing good saves from the keeper before substitute Luke Hayden raced through a tiring defence to put the issue beyond doubt with the third goal two minutes from time.

Herridge commented: “It was a good way to end the year. We’ve lost just two league games in the last 19 and we still could have a say in the title race as it hots up as the big three (Highworth, Thatcham and Bracknell) still have to come to our place in the second half of the season.”

Binfield were due to have hosted Bracknell on Wednesday of last week, but it was called off following heavy rain. It would have been played had it been played on its original date, Boxing Day. Their next fixture is away to Shrivenham in the Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Cup on January 13.