BINFIELD crashed to a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Reading City at Hill Farm Lane on Monday despite twice taking the lead and playing against 10 men for the last 25 minutes, writes Dave Wright.

A crowd of more than 250 saw the Moles run ragged by Mitchell Parker, who scored four goals and set up the other in a sensational one-man performance.

The on-fire striker was unstoppable, his pace and speed of thought proving far too good for a Binfield defence, who had conceded only one goal – a penalty – in their previous four matches.

They had been gifted a fifth-minute goal when winger Jack Powell, back helping his defence, intercepted a cross heading towards Carlo Santoro and from near the edge of the area lifted the ball over his own keeper Eddie Cavanagh into the net.

Binfield suffered a blow when Ian Davies was forced off injured after just eight minutes, but went close to increasing their lead through Jemel Johnson, who turned a cross inches wide of the post.

City levelled the scores in the 27th minute when Parker, from out on the right, curled the ball over keeper Chris Grace into the far corner and shortly afterwards he shot narrowly wide.

The visitors, seeking their fifth win in six league games, were starting to get on top, but shortly before half-time they gave away a penalty by bringing down Danny Horscroft and Sean Moore made no mistake from the spot.

However, Binfield’s lead did not last long as less than a minute into the second half Parker made it 2-2.

Two minutes later Grace had to use his feet to deny Parker scoring again, but the keeper could do nothing on 56 minutes when John Dennis threaded a superb pass into the path of Parker, who took the ball in his stride and slotted it low into the net for a top-quality goal to complete his hat-trick.

City were looking sharper all around the park and even when they were reduced to 10 men in the 68th minute following a second yellow card for Chris Gerrard they continued to dominate the game.

While Binfield never looked like scoring again, the visitors always threatened going forward and they ended the game in great style with two late goals.

Dennis was allowed to run right across the area to head home Parker’s free-kick from out near the left-hand corner and in stoppage time Parker waltzed his way through without being seriously challenged to complete the rout with his fourth goal.

It had been a totally different story at Hill Farm Lane last Saturday when Binfield thumped Frimley Green 5-0 in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase.

It took the Moles some time to get going, only one goal coming in the first half, but they stepped up a couple of gears after the break and there was no stopping them.

Assistant manager Paul Clayton commented: “We were disappointing early on and the game was scrappy, but there was a big improvement in the second half. We were sharper, moved the ball around well and we won comfortably in the end.”

The Moles took the lead in the 33rd minute through defender Jeff Brown, who from Charlie Tuttle’s lay-off curled the ball home from 25 yards.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half it was 2-0 thanks to Carlo Santoro, who smacked a left-footer past keeper Harry Stevens.

This second goal spurred Binfield on even further and substitute Tafari Downes marked his debut by making it 3-0 in the 67th minute.

Horscroft extended the lead after 74 minutes following good work by Khalid Senussi.

And three minutes later right-back Jack Thompson-Wheeler found the net with a superb long-range drive.

In the next round, Binfield will be away to Wessex League side Stoneham on September 15.