Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers face some extremely difficult decisions this week as they prepare to put the village of Binfield on the national sporting map.
It concerns naming their team to face Warrington Rylands in the Buildbase FA Vase final at Wembley on Saturday (12.15pm ko).
Skipper Sean Moore explains: “We have 21 good players to choose from, but only 18 can be named in the match-day squad.
“It is good in a way to have so many to choose from, but it’s going to be a difficult job for Jamie and Carl, though I am sure they will make the correct decision in the end.”
Among the decisions the Joint-managers will have to make is do they retain Kensley Maloney or recall George Short in midfield.
With Short suspended following two bookings, the dual-registered Maloney came in against US Portsmouth and had an excellent game. Short, however, offers extra height at set-pieces at the opponents’ end and is one of the regulars used in the penalty shoot-outs.
Due to injuries to Asa Povey and Josh Helmore, leading scorer Moore has been playing on the wing with Liam Ferdinand, in the middle, a move that has paid off with Ferdy getting four goals in the last two ties.
Moore continues: “Jamie and Carl asked me to do a job and I will do anything for the team to try and make sure we win the game. I prefer playing down the middle, but they asked me to play out of the wing for the last two games and I have taken that in my stride. I am happy to do that as long as we win the game.”
Among those likely to be on the bench is Jemel Johnson, who had a similar role when he was with Thatcham Town in the 2018 Vase final and he came for the last 20 minutes of his side’s 1-0 win. Ferdinand was also in the squad but the former Bracknell Town striker was cup-tied and so unable to play.
Moore confirmed he will continue to take penalties if required to so in the final, having missed one at Portsmouth.
“We have had four penalty shoot-outs and I scored in the first three which is not a bad ratio,” he stated. I think I was a bit too indecisive where I was going to put it last time where I am always pretty confident, but I will always back myself and the boys will always back me to score every time. I won’t be shying away on Saturday, that’s for sure.”
Binfield trained last Saturday in addition to their regular Tuesday and Thursday sessions with Moore confirming: “We are preparing for the final much the same way we have done for all the previous rounds although obviously there is more excitement around squad this week.
“I am confident we will go there and get the job done.”
