Binfield FC’s resilient Moles fall to a 1-0 defeat against the Isthmian League leaders Basingstoke Town on Tuesday night.
George Reid’s 75th minute strike earned Basingstoke all three points to keep them at the top of the Isthmian South Central table.The Moles were reduced to ten men in added time after Massimo Giamattei was dismissed for a second bookable offence, which marked the end of a frustrating evening for the Moles, despite showing their ability to compete against the league’s top sides.
The first ten minutes of the game were fairly even and it remained that way until James Beauchamp managed to keep the ball under control in the area, but couldn’t manage to find the space to get his shot away. It was then when the game really started to open up and have some real fire. Simon Dunn’s spectacular 25-yard free kick came closest to breaking the deadlock for Basingstoke but his effort was equally matched by Harvey Rackley-Hayes in the Binfield goal.
Basingstoke came close again just before half time through Sam Argent as he broke through the Moles defence, only to be denied by the left hand of Rackley-Hayes, who again was a big presence, as he has been throughout the whole campaign.
Harvey Harry, who scored a brace in Binfield’s last match , came closest for the Moles after he managed to capitalise on a rare Paul Strudley error as he dropped Brad Pagliaroli’s cross, only to have his effort cleared off the line…
Basingstoke’s class pulled through, and their dominance and quality in attacking areas showed, when George Reid picked up the ball on the Basingstoke right hand side, before cutting inside and finishing into the far corner to send the Basingstoke fans behind the goal into pandemonium. This was Reid’s 12th goal of the season, in just 22 appearances, and he showed why he’s one of the most feared attackers in the Isthmian League.
Basingstoke showed their experience, and just why they’re competing at the top of the league, as they managed last fifteen minutes of the game superbly and managed to secure all three points.
Binfield’s frustrations from the night seemed to worsen as Massimo Giamattei was sent off for a second bookable offence, after a challenge on the half way line was punished by the referee.
Binfield FC
1 Harvey Rackley-Hayes, 2 Kai Hobbs, 3 Massimo Giamattei , 4 Jonathan Denton (Harrison Bayley 88′), 5 Liam Gavin , 6 Lewis Pegg, 7 Harvey Harry , 8 Connor Holland, 9 James Beauchamp , 10 Brandon Curtis (Kian Duncan 90′), 11 Brad Pagliaroli
Subs: 12 Harrison Bayley, 14 Kian Duncan, 15 Will Shaw, 16 Jake Fisher, 17 Tinomudaishe Mabukwa
Basingstoke Town
1 Paul Strudley, 2 Marcus Johnson-Schuster, 3 Callum Winchcombe , 4 Benjamin Cook, 5 Billy Upton, 6 Scott Armsworth, 7 Bradley Wilson, 8 Simon Dunn, 10 Paul Hodges (Lewis Hayden 90′), 19 Sam Argent (Dandre Brown 70′), 11 George Reid (Marcio Neves 82′)
Subs: 9 Dandre Brown, 18 Ben Mason, 14 Marcio Neves, 15 Nathan Smart, 12 Lewis Hayden
