Jack Broome gets the ball rolling as Binfield ease past AFC Aldermaston

Binfield midfielder Jack Broome.
Jack Broome. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

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Binfield eased through their Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Cup second-round tie on Tuesday, defeating AFC Aldermaston 5-0 at Hill Farm Lane.

The Moles totally dominated the game as one would largely expect when a top Premier Division side takes on one from the lower reaches of Division 1 East and could so easily have won by a wider margin.

There were a few changes to the starting line-up with the managers Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers giving certain players valuable minutes on the pitch and they all fitted in well to their roles – proof that the whole squad are one unit when it comes to training and match preparation.

Jack Broome got the ball rolling with a well-taken goal in the 11th minute, but it was nearly half-an-hour before they doubled their lead via Adam Cornell, who was quick to seize on a rebound. It was a much-needed confidence booster for the striker, who earlier had seen his header come back off the post.

In the first half, the visitors had defended well whilst also launching a few which kept the Moles defence on their toes although it was never sustained pressure.

Aldermaston were led by former Binfield defender Gary Smith, who played on despite suffering a facial injury early in the game.

The second half saw Moles enjoy even more possession than they had in the first and it was inevitable they would add to their tally even though Iain McCulley was performing well in the Aldermaston goal.

But he was caught well out of position in the 76th minute and paid the price as Sean Moore found the net from a very tight angle to make it 3-0.

In the 4-4 draw with Windsor, the Moles skipper scored twice in a little over four minutes, but he didn’t need as long on this occasion, as two minutes later he crashed the ball into the net from around 30 yards. So two excellent goals from Sean, who is in the form of his life at the moment, and it takes his season’s tally to nine so far, six coming in the last three games.

Jemel Johnson. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

Substitute Jemel Johnson, who had replaced Cornell after 69 minutes, sealed a good night’s work for his team by netting their fifth goal four minutes from time.

Aldermaston, who had Adam Price sent to the sin-bin in the 80th minute for dissent, deserve some credit for not giving up, but again they were made aware of the gap that exists between the divisions, having lost by the same margin at Premier Division side Brimscombe & Thrupp in the Buildbase FA Vase last Saturday.

For the Moles, it is now nine goals scored in two successive home games, but they will undoubtedly find it much more difficult to break down a Fairford Town rearguard this Saturday – and it might mean a little bit of Moore magic from captain Sean if Binfield are to maintain their unbeaten run in league games.

In their last away league game, Fairford lost 2-1 at fellow top-three side Reading City despite being deservedly ahead at half-time through a Ross Langworthy goal.

Fairford’s fixture against Tuffley Rovers last Saturday was called off on the advice of the Hellenic League following a positive Covid-19 test for a Tuffley player.

Bluefin Sport Hellenic League Challenge Cup

Binfield 5-0 AFC Aldermaston (7:30 pm)
Holyport 2-4 Risborough Rangers (7:30 pm)
Kidlington Reserves 2-2 Wallingford Town (7:30 pm) Kidlington win 5-4 on penalties
Royal Wootton Bassett Town P-P Hungerford Town Swifts (7:30 pm)
Virginia Water 1-0 Yateley United (7:30 pm)
Wantage Town FC Development 3-1 Woodley United
Wokingham & Emmbrook 3-0 Chinnor (7:30 pm)

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