Binfield Arrows 3 - 0 Binfield Torpedoes 

10.30 kick off.  Saturday 27th Jan 2007.   Venue : Stubbs Lane.  League Match.

Conditions :  Sunny & Cold.  Pitch firm.

Attendance : 30

A twenty two game unbeaten run, stretching back over a year, finally came to an end at Stubbs Lane today. The boys should take great pride in this record which will be hard to match, but with the Torpedoes anything is possible!  After the heroics of the Torpedoes debut "A" League match the boys were brought back down to earth after this reversal.

First Half

The team started slowly and they seemed a little in awe of the opposition and gave them too much time on the ball. It wasn't long before they were 0-2 down as the Arrows showed more determination, and a quicker tempo. The Torpedoes had a couple of chances to score, hitting the post, and the best of which was acrobatically cleared off the line with a remarkable overhead kick. But more good movement ended up with the opposition scoring another well worked goal to take a 3-0 lead.

Second Half

At 0-3 down the Torpedoes supporters were worried that the game may become a rout. But the boys heads did not drop and their second half performance was miles better than the earlier half. Tackles were now going in and the opposition found it harder to get through the Torpedoes defence. More movement up front and good passing and running off the ball made the second half more of a contest, so much so that the boys should take heart from holding a good team to 0 -0 in the second half. It will do the boys no harm to lose to a team that played better on the day and they accepted their defeat with dignity as the Arrows were magnanimous in their victory.

Points to note.  Calls for the managers' heads are a bit premature !   Yellow bibs - Yuk !!   Torpedo management amazingly managed to stay within their technical area.  The ref had a poor game but is a man of high moral standing and could not be bribed, despite numerous attempts. Torpedoes and Arrows Mums mingled together and talked "shopping".

Binfield Players : Adriano  Angus, Billy, Jamie, Josh,  Louie, Michael, Ollie, Seb.

Man of the Match - Josh.  (At three nil down with one minute to go he was still running his socks off.)

Pinewood Pumas 0: 2 Binfield Torpedoes.

10.40 kick off. Saturday 13th Jan 2007. Venue : Pinewood. League Match

Conditions :  Mild Cloudy & Drizzle. Pitch muddy.

Attendance : 26.

First Half.

The game started with the management and Torpedoes supporters more nervous than the boys, who appeared calm, fully motivated and ready for the battle ahead. The first ten minutes were played predominantly in the Torpedoes half as Pinewood looked for an early goal. Any defensive worries were soon put to rest as Angus and then Ollie made crunching tackles and clearances that seemed to fill the whole team with confidence. Ollie was everywhere chasing down his man and not flinching in the tackle, Angus was always on hand to clear the ball to safety and Pinewood were kept at bay. The Torpedo midfield now started to push forward, and a great move from Josh, Billy and Louie set up Adriano for a shot that was blocked at the last minute. Michael had a powerful run that forced the play towards the Pinewood goal. Pinewood then pressed forward in numbers, but again the Torpedoes defence held firm. A quick counter attack involving Seb, Billy and Josh put Adriano in with a chance that he did not waste, beating the goalkeeper from six yards to give the Torpedoes the lead. The half time whistle went with the Torpedoes one up, but with the management warning of a Pinewood backlash.

Second Half.

The Pinewood onslaught duly came. Jamie made three agile and brave close range saves to deny Pinewood a certain goal. Jamie then pushed a shot round the post with another great dive. Pinewood worked the ball well and created numerous chances to equalise, but a combination of wayward finishing, good luck, and more solid defending from Ollie and Angus kept Pinewood out. The entire midfield of Josh, Michael, Billy, Seb and Louie held a line in front of goal to break down moves and get vital blocks in. Pinewood seemed to be getting frustrated that all their pressure had not produced the equaliser and started to shoot from distance - which did not trouble Jamie in goal. Again Pinewood pushed forward, committing more players up front, when the move broke down Michael quickly took the ball forward into midfield and fired a long pass that put Adriano clean through one on one with the Pinewood goalie. Time seemed to stand still, as Adriano calmly drew the goal keeper off his line before placing the ball in the corner of the net for a classic break-away goal. The two goal cushion took the pressure off the Torpedoes and they played the rest of the game settling for their hard fought victory.

The final whistle went. The management appeared stunned and for a short while were speechless. A close call between Ollie and Jamie for Man of the Match emphasized the pressure Pinewood had put on the Torpedoes. Ollie got the final nod and just about managed the energy to lift the new trophy.

Goals : - Adriano. 2 very special goals for different reasons.

Man of the Match - Ollie the tackling machine..