Binfield Torpedoes 3 - 0 Sandhurst Town Falcons 

10.30 kick off.   Saturday 11th Nov 2006.   Venue : Stubbs Lane

Conditions :  Sunny & Cold.  Pitch firm 

Attendance - 25 

A comfortable win for the Torpedoes with the whole team playing well.  

Unlike the Torpedoes normal style of play they started very brightly, with excellent movement and passing straight from the off. It didn't take long for Seb to slot home a well worked goal, quickly followed by another close range goal from Billy. With the game already looking over after 10 minutes the Manager decided to shuffle the pack on a regular basis with all the players having a stint in unfamiliar positions. This eventually led to Angus leading the line as a striker, laying off the ball to Billy, who hit one of his trademark "specials" to give the Torpedoes a three nil lead. The team continued to dominate the match forcing numerous corners, but couldn't increase their goal tally. The team defended confidently and Jamie had one of the quietest games he'll ever play. The whistle went and the Torpedoes had won without really getting out of 2nd gear. In fact, it was probably the Manager that expended most energy sorting out the subs and shuffling the positions !

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

Goals : - Seb,  Billy (2.) 

Man of the match – Seb

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Binfield Torpedoes 3 - 1 Whitegrove Hornets 

Cup game 

9.00 kick off.   Saturday 4th Nov 2006.  Venue : Stubbs Lane 

Conditions :  Sunny & Cold.  Pitch firm 

Attendance - 20 

A good win for the Torpedoes.... is this the start of a Cup run ?? 

First half 

On a cold morning it took a few minutes for the boys to warm up, but after a short while the team were passing the ball well on a frosty surface. An intelligent pass from Josh, a quick turn and shot from Michael opened the score for the Torpedoes. More good passing moves followed involving Billy, Adriano and Josh and the Torpedoes were unlucky not to increase their lead. Seb and Louie were patrolling midfield and Adriano was covering every blade of grass, full of energy as usual. Ollie and Angus were showing a solid defensive display working as a partnership .. was it telepathy ? Strong forward play from Josh, Seb and Adriano forced the ball into the area where Billy reacted sharply to score a poacher's goal. The half ended with the Torpedoes well worth their two goal lead. 

Second Half 

Jamie had had very little to do in the first half and as a consequence was frozen !  The Management decided it was time to give him another run out as a striker with Adriano taking over in goal. Surprisingly Jamie was not the "battering -ram striker"  the management thought he might be, but a striker with a fast turn of speed and a deft touch, holding the ball up and linking well with his midfield team mates. Jamie was unlucky not to score with a neat chip, but he did help lay the ball off for Billy to hit another of his powerful long range shots into the net to give the Torpedoes a three goal lead. Adriano was proving a reliable replacement in goal and his kicking and handling were excellent. He could do nothing to stop the shot from Whitegrove that ended a good passing move from the opposing team. As the game started to slow, Louie still seemed full of energy and his forceful runs nearly helped the Torpedoes increase the lead. Ollie was moving the ball forward well, and when the defence needed help Angus was always on hand to steer the ball away from the danger area.  

The final whistle went and the Torpedoes name will go into the hat for the next round. 

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

Goals : - Michael,  Billy (2.) 

Man of the match - Jamie.  (The goalie is a striker as well !)

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Ascot United Racing. 1 : 1 Binfield Torpedoes 

9.00 kick off.   Saturday 21st Oct 2006.  Venue : Ascot 

Conditions : Overcast & Mild, pitch soft 

Attendance - 15 

The Torpedoes produced a Jeckyl and Hyde performance, moments of brilliance and moments that were not so brilliant. However, they can take a lot of encouragement from the way they fought back against a good opposing team, and that they created so many chances that could have given them a win. 

First half 

The early start must have affected the Torpedoes, with the odd exception, the players seemed lethargic. The tackling and chasing down of opponents was almost non existent, the energy levels and concentration were not up to their usual high standards. So much so that Ascot seemed to walk the ball into the back of the net unchallenged to take an early lead. Even going a goal down did not wake the team up, and it was a full ten minutes before the game started to swing back in favour of the Torpedoes. Slowly Billy, Louie, Michael and Seb were winning the 50 / 50 balls and Josh was making good progress in his favoured left wing position. Adriano was getting into good positions and was unlucky not to score with two good chances, Billy put a shot agonisingly wide, and Josh went very close with a long range free kick. Eventually Adriano had another chance that he placed into the bottom corner to level the scores, another well taken goal that is becoming his trademark. Ascot were proving a tough opposition and their tackling and defensive play was very impressive. Jamie had to make sure of his positioning to be in the right place to stop a powerful shot, and he also reacted sharply to turn another goal bound shot round the post for a corner.The half ended all square. 

Second Half 

Ascot started the second half well, but Ollie and Angus were running everywhere, closing down and tackling anything that moved. Ollie in particular kept his head when others were panicking, and his no nonsense defending and good distribution calmed things down at vital moments, and the whole team started to raise their game. Josh was again the power in midfield moving the ball quickly up to the attackers. Billy was making strong forward runs and had a shot that hit the side netting and Michael had a half chance that went just wide. Seb and Louie were now getting stuck into the opposition and the game was heating up, with chances at both ends. Jamie made another great save, diving bravely at the feet of an attacker, and in the closing stages Michael had a shot from distance that was arrowing for the top corner, only to see an amazing save by the Ascot goalie thwart him, Adriano just failing to get the rebound on target. The final whistle went, and both teams seemed relieved that they had not lost rather than disappointed about not winning..  

Various excuses were banded around for the first ten minute lethargic spell.  1.) The early start.  2.) The drizzle.  3.) Late nights.  4.) The long grass !  5.) The slightly smaller pitch.  ...   not to mention the fact that Ascot were a very good unit and they did not let the Torpedoes settle into their normal passing game. 

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

Goals : - Adriano. 

Man of the match - Ollie.  (Calm and confident in defence.)

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Binfield Torpedoes  5 : 0 . Finchampstead Royals 

10.30 kick off.   Saturday 23rd Sept 2006.  Venue : Stubbs Lane 

Conditions : Sunny & Warm, pitch soft 

Attendance - 18 

Both management and spectators started the morning wondering which Torpedoe team would turn up, the one of the previous game, or the one that we know can play a stylish passing game.... fortunately the latter, and the Torpedoes supporters had much to cheer about. The history between the two teams in previous meetings had always been close, with Finchampstead proving to be a "bogey team" for the Torpedoes .... until today. 

First half 

An early goal from Michael, cutting in from the right to strike a crisp shot that buried itself into the corner of the net, was just the start the Torpedoes needed. The game settled down with good end to end play before Michael, Louie and Josh combined in midfield, putting Josh through on goal with a powerful run, to score a goal reminiscent of Roy Keane in his prime. Finchampstead now urgently sought a way back into the game, but again Jamie was in control of his area and his full blooded dive at the feet of an attacker set down a marker that he was determined to keep another clean sheet. Jamie was helped in his effort for a clean sheet by more excellent defensive play by Ollie and Angus who won vital tackles to stop further attacks. The first half ended with the Torpedoes deservedly ahead. 

Second Half 

The second half started with Seb, Adriano and Billy controlling midfield. Josh, now in attack, did a neat back heel to put Seb in for a strike at goal that hit the post, only for Adriano to sweep the ball into the net for his first goal as a Torpedoe. Three nil up meant only one thing - time to release Jamie !! - with Michael taking over in goal. Billy was now enjoying plenty of space in midfield and was making intelligent runs into the corners to put over great crosses, one of which Jamie just failed to connect with. Jamie and Louie were making sure Finchampstead were kept at bay and Jamie showed good skill to beat his man and also put in a good cross. Billy got his deserved goal as he reacted sharply to a goalkeeping error to score from close range. Finchampstead were now ready for the full time whistle, but not before Adriano collected the ball just outside the area, advanced unchallenged to smash in the Torpedoes fifth and final goal. 

The Torpedoes had played as a team and played very well, but you had to feel sorry for Finchampstead, nothing had gone right for them.

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

Goals : - Michael, Josh, Billy, Adriano (2). 

Man of the match - Louie.  (A great debut for the Torpedoes.)

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Ashridge Park 0 : 1 Binfield Torpedoes 

9.00 kick off.   Saturday 16th Sept 2006.   Venue : Cantley Park. 

Conditions : Cloudy & Cool, pitch firm. 

Attendance - 17.

 A great goal keeping display from Jamie, taking full command of his area and making positive and brave decisions. This backed up by the ever reliable Josh in defence and the tackling twins kept a clean sheet for the Torpedoes. Otherwise a match of few chances generally bogged down in midfield with the two teams cancelling each other out. The match finally swung the Torpedoes way when Seb was in the right place to punish a defensive mix up from very close range. Ashridge can count themselves a bit unlucky ! 

For the Torpedoes the highlight of the morning was each being given a new pair of  Binfield F.C. socks !! 

Goals :- Seb. 

Binfield Players :  Michael (capt) Adriano, Angus, Billy, Jamie, Josh, Ollie, Seb. 

Men of the match - Angus & Ollie   (The tackling machines - both of them !.)

Binfield Torpedoes 1 : 1 Whitegrove Rangers

 

11.45 kick off.   Saturday 9th Sept 2006.   Venue : Stubbs Lane.

 

Conditions : Sunny & Warm, pitch firm.

 

Attendance - 20.

 

Binfield Players :  Seb.(capt) Adriano, Angus, Billy, Jamie, Josh, Michael,  Ollie.

 

Despite going a goal down against a tough team, the Torpedoes proved their resilience as they raised their game to gain a hard earned point ....and could have nicked all three in the last minute.

 

First Half

 

The Torpedoes were mainly on the back foot, good defensive play from Adriano and Josh kept early Whitegrove attacks at bay. Jamie made a fantastic save, bravely diving at the feet of a Whitegrove attacker, and stopped a certain goal. Whitegrove then missed another good chance as the Torpedoes rode their luck. A good move between Michael and Adriano managed to get a half chance shot at goal that was just wide. Another Torpedo attack was well defended by Whitegrove and the ball was forced out for a Torpedoe corner. With the Torpedoes committing too many players forward for the corner, it resulted in a fast break away, and a cool finish to give Whitegrove the lead that their first half performance deserved.

 

Second Half

 

The boys heads did not drop, instead the exact opposite, they matched Whitegrove tackle for tackle - with excellent defensive and positional play by Josh. Ollie and Angus were giving as good as they got against a hard tackling and physical opposition. (All tackles from both sides were strong but fair.) Seb was now on, linking up midfield and attack, and the passing was beginning to flow through his quick thinking and unselfish play. Ollie and Adriano forced a corner with persistent closing down of the Whitegrove defence. Michael took the corner, but instead of firing it into the six yard box, he found Billy unmarked in a deeper position just outside the area. Billy was quickly closed down, but with a combination of skill and strength he turned his defender and lashed an unstoppable left foot shot into the Whitegrove goal.

 

In the closing stages both teams had chances but the Torpedoes seemed to be on top, and Adriano was desperately unlucky not to score as his shot hit the post and was cleared to safety by the Whitegrove defence.

 

Goals - Billy.

 

Man of the match - Angus. (The tackling machine.)