Late disappointment for the Moles as Hanworth Villa salvage a late point at Rectory Meadow.
Elijas Bagdonavicius’ first-half strike was cancelled by Hanworth Villa substitute Bruno Robertson-Tingle in stoppage time after a second-half onslaught from the hosts.
Binfield started the game well with a couple of half-chances in the opening ten minutes. The first came from some great play down the left from Rechan Esprit, who’s low cross found Dontaye Whittaker who had time to take a touch in the area, before his shot flew high and wide of the Hanworth Villa goal. It was Whittaker who had the Moles’ second chance, as the ball found him again in the area but his first-time shot was comfortably saved by former Moles stopper Harvey Rackley-Hayes who left the club in January.
The Moles found their groove and found the all important breakthrough on the 42nd minute when Elijas Bagdonavicius saw the host’s goalkeeper off his line and tried his luck from range. Rackley-Hayes did well to get a strong hand on it but it wasn’t enough and the ball found the back of the net, to spark joy amongst the Moles’ faithful.
Hanworth Villa almost found themselves level instantly but for some excellent work from Killian Barrett as he made 2 great saves in as many minutes to keep the Moles ahead. The first, a fantastic fingertip save to his right hand side before a free-kick looked destined for the back of the net before he got two strong hands on Theo Crawford’s shot and parried the ball behind for a corner.
The start of the second-half was the same as the first, with no real clear-cut chances for either side, with both trying to get the ball into the box by any means possible (especially long-throws due to the blustering weather conditions at Rectory Meadow.)
The hosts continued to challenge the Moles defence, with more long-throws but couldn’t create much with Connor Jeanes and Luke Wayborn doing well to remain solid in defence and clearing their lines well.
Hanworth Villa managed to find the equaliser late on though, as substitute Bruno Robertson-Tingle fired home after the Moles failed to clear the final long-throw of the evening, sparking a fiery final few minutes. Despite the hosts looking the most likely to find a second goal, they were unable to and the points were shared.
That means the Moles have now picked up 10 points in our last 6 games, in a real turnaround in fortunes and next up, is Corinthian Casuals at The Iconic Stadium on Saturday afternoon, come and back the boys as we look for three Isthmian League points.
