Binfield Torpedoes 0 - 1 Finchampstead Athletic  

10.30 kick off.  Saturday 28th  2007.  Venue : Stubbs Lane.  League Match. 

Conditions : Warm Windy and Sunny.  Pitch firm. 

Attendance - 16.  

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

After last weeks heroic comeback, today's performance was a bit of a disappointment, as the Torpedoes season ends in a whimper. We know the boys can play a lot better ... but today was just one of those days.  

First Half  

The least said about the first half the better. A very lacklustre start and not much energy being expended by anyone. Josh took a nasty knock and had to come off.  Suffice to say the best Torpedoes player was Seb and he wasn't even on the pitch as he went off on a quest to find the elusive key to the Binfield toilets.  

    

Second Half  

The second half started much as the first had ended, Finchampstead scored a good break- away goal, Jamie being beaten at the near post for the first time in the season. It was only in the last ten minutes that the boys started to get stuck in and get the home crowd behind them. Billy and Michael were running at people and the tempo for the Torpedoes went up a notch or two. Josh had a shot from distance and Adriano was getting involved. Louie, Seb, Ollie and Angus suddenly started playing. However time was against them and the final whistle went to a rather strange and scrappy game.  

A slightly puzzled management distributed the post match sweets wondering if it had been something they'd said !  

Man of the Match - Adriano. "Pound for pound and inch for inch" the midfield pocket battleship.  (For Artur - kilo for kilo and centimetre for centimetre.)  

Over the season the boys should be very proud of all their efforts. They have played some fantastic football and always kept us entertained. From winning the  "B" league to "A" league mid table respectability in one season is a major achievement. Special thanks to Trevor and Steve for all their managerial skills, coaching and patience !!  

Binfield Torpedoes 1 - 1 F.C. Bracknell Arrows.  

10.30 kick off.  Saturday 21st April 2007.  Venue : Stubbs Lane.  League Match.  

Conditions :  Hot and Sunny, Pitch firm.  

Attendance - 28.  

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

Today the Torpedoes came up against the team that had knocked them out of the cup earlier in the season, another tough game but this time honours were even.  

First Half.  

The boys were determined not to be out-muscled by the strong opposition and gave as good as they got. Tackles were flying in and this was not a game for the faint hearted. Although the boys were playing some neat passing football, the final ball never quite fell kindly for them to have a clean strike at goal. Louie, Billy and Josh combined well to put Seb in with a half chance and Michael made a bursting run down the right wing to send over a cross that Billy smashed narrowly wide. Bracknell were a strong and direct team forcing the boys back, Ollie and Angus were having plenty to do. Adriano was tigerish in the tackle and full of energy as usual, but Bracknell kept applying pressure. Eventually they scored a goal almost identical to their opener in the cup match - a well taken corner that somehow was bundled in at the near post. The goal did not deflate the Torpedoes and they continued to play some good attacking football. Louie was distributing the ball well and Seb, Ollie and Angus battled hard - it was vital the team did not concede a second goal. The fact the boys went in at half time only one - nil down was down to one person ... Jamie. Several saves that on another day would have been classed as brilliant were merely routine compared to the point blank save he made, followed by a spectacular one- handed low dive to his left to keep the ball out. Billy worked hard to track back and clear the ball to safety. The half time whistle went ... Jamie had kept the Torpedoes in the match, they still had a chance to prove a point, it was now up to the others to raise their game for the second half.  

Second Half.  

The second half was a gritty performance from the boys, they never gave up and began to turn the game more their way. Although never dominating the game they seemed to have a bit more in reserve to push for that all important equaliser. Emotions were running high, none more so than when Michael skipped past his defender to race through on goal, just as he unleashed his shot he was bundled over, the ref waved play on... murmurs from the home crowd mentioned something about Specsavers. A distraught Michael was wisely taken off by the management to cool down. Meanwhile, Billy, Adriano and Louie were battling hard in midfield, and Ollie and Angus were holding Bracknell at bay with Jamie having a quieter second half. Finally, Seb played the perfect through ball to put Josh one on one with the keeper. Josh always looked in control and he took his goal with a nonchalant confidence that is becoming his trademark. The boys continued to press forward in search of a winner, but had to be careful of a Bracknell counter attack. The final whistle went, the Torpedoes had earned a point, thanks to hard work .... and Jamie.  

The management and the newly appointed "El President Supremo of all things Football" praised the boys for their performance.  

Goals : Josh  

Man of the Match - Jamie.