The Hellenic League Premier Division clash between two sides with title aspirations burst into life in the very first minute as the visitors had midfielder Jerome Coultress sent off for a perceived headbutt on Moles’ star Ian Davies.

And the striker, who was to prove a thorn in Highmoor’s side throughout the afternoon, had a chance to give his side the lead but missed his kick from eight yards out shortly after.

Binfield were well on top in the opening stages as Ibis struggled to adapt to having to play with 10 men, and Jemel Johnson could also have scored but he failed to convert from Davies’ cross.

However The Moles did eventually take the lead when Davies outpaced the defence before curling home a delicious left-footed strike from the right hand edge of the penalty area.

The impressive Josh Howell then whipped a ball across the face of the goal which none of the hosts’ players could get a touch on before Johnson headed at goalkeeper Cameron Smith from five yards out as Binfield threatened to run riot.

And they took a deserved 2-0 lead from the penalty spot when Seb Bowerman picked himself up after being bundled over to double his side’s advantage in the 22nd minute.

It could have been three almost immediately when Smith - who endured something of a nightmare first half - fumbled an Alex Luis free-kick and Davies nudged the loose ball just wide.

Highmoor had not really been in the contest but they proved why they are top of the league just two minutes later.

Binfield’s much-changed defence - which was missing regular centre backs Dave Woozley and Callum Whitty and right back Gary Callaway - was unable to deal with a surging run from Sanchez Commock which the striker ended by pushing the ball past Dan Weait in the Binfield goal.

However the Hill Farm Lane side extended their lead again just after the half hour, as Howell’s fierce shot struck the post and Davies was on hand to tap home into an empty net from two yards out.

The large crowd was then treated to a magnificent goal from Highmoor’s Jordan Brown - a man who had signed for Binfield in the summer before returning to their opponents.

The left winger bamboozled debutant Reece Medway before cutting inside and unleashing a powerful 25-yard strike into the top right hand corner of the Binfield net.

The same player blotted his copy book just before half-time, however, picking up a yellow card for dissent.

The first half fireworks were not to be repeated as the second half began at a more pedestrian pace, but Smith atoned for his nervy first-half display with an excellent diving save to keep out another Luis free-kick.

The goalkeeper then made more comfortable saves from Johnson and Bowerman, and the hosts were eventually made to regret their profligacy in failing to score a fourth goal as Highmoor snatched a point at the death.

From a Binfield corner, Ibis cleared the ball long and the ever-willing Commock did well to retrieve it before whipping a ball into the Moles’ penalty area.

Luis managed to block the initial cut back, but Commock reacted quickest and laid the ball on to the unmarked White who dispatched the ball past Weait to send the Highmoor Ibis players wild.

There was still time for Brown to earn himself a second yellow card for a reckless slide tackle, leaving the visitors to try and survive a final Binfield push with just nine men.

And The Moles so nearly put the seal on a pulsating contest when Howell’s cross-cum-shot was tipped wide by Smith, but they had to settle for a point.