The boss reserved special praise for Josh Howell, Aaron Rowland and Seb Bowerman, who all excelled in the Moles’ 4-2 cup win at home to Abingdon on Monday night.

Howell scored twice to take his tally to four goals in three games, while Rowland dominated midfield and Bowerman’s trickery caused problems all evening for a vastly experienced visiting side.

Rowland and Howell are just 18, whilst Bowerman is 19, but the trio have established themselves as first-team regulars under the Binfield boss’ leadership.

And Herridge was quick to talk them up following a superb display that helped Moles progress to the next round of the Flying Press Floodlit Cup.

“It’s fantastic to see them shine,” he beamed. “Josh Howell has been brilliant lately. He had a tough time of it in the first-half on Monday, but he stuck at it and got his reward in the second-half with two goals.

“He’s got so much quality. They would have known all about him as he scored a great goal at their place earlier in the season, but now he’s grabbed another two. He’s away this Saturday and we’ll really miss him.

“I also thought Aaron Rowland came of age. He was in midfield up against a lad twice his weight and he was getting kicked and bullied, but as the game went on the better he got.

“He was a player I thought deserved a first-team chance when I got here and he’s played well and taken it.

“He’s had to be patient at times as you have to protect youngsters and not play them every game.

“I asked him to trust me but he also asked me to trust him and it has worked out as he’s gone out there and performed well.” Bowerman also drew praise from Herridge after another fantastic display that tore the visiting defence to pieces.

And the boss was quick to point out the selection headache that the younger players are giving him.

“They’re great lads,” he said. “You’ve got these youngsters keeping more senior players out of the side, and that can only be a positive. “My belief is well known from my former club and I’m very much of the belief that if you’re good enough you’re old enough, and they’ve got real quality.

“They add a lot to our squad and we’re lucky to have them, but it shows what we’re doing. Sometimes I feel they don’t get the credit they deserve.

“We’ve also got a 17-year-old left back in Marcus Lumb who can add to the squad.” The Moles recorded back-to-back wins in the week as they ran out 3-0 winners at Newbury on Saturday before beating Abingdon 4-2 in Hellenic Floodlit Cup on Monday evening.

A brace from Howell and Dickens was enough to beat Abingdon, whilst Carl Withers, Howel and Jemel Johnson netted at Newbury to seal Binfield’s first win in three league outings after a loss and a draw.

The Moles have three home games in succession over the festive period, starting with Flackwell Heath this Saturday (3pm), before welcoming Bracknell Town and Holyport to Hill Farm Lane.