Binfield and Northwood will commence battle for the third time in 8 days on Tuesday night after Northwood came from two goals down at the Iconic Stadium to force a replay in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Despite a tough afternoon against the same opponents on Bank Holiday Monday, the Moles started the brighter with some great link-up between Noah Chengun and Dontaye Whittaker. They had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Troy Murray found Finn Harvey down the right and his cross found Rechan Esprit but he couldn’t get his shot away with the goal gaping and the chance was dealt with.
They had another chance to take the lead when Zeid Hannachi found Whittaker who laid it off to Chengun but his shot was straight at the keeper.
Northwood grew into the half eventually and had a chance to take the lead when the ball found Deago Dunbar-Bonnie in the box after some swift build-up play. The Northwood full -back got his shot away but Harvey Rackley-Hayes was able to turn it behind his front post for a corner.
Binfield took the lead seven minutes into the second half when a ball over the top of the Northwood defence found Chengun who chipped the ball over Andrew McCorkell and into the back of the net. Northwood almost responded straight away when Dunbar-Bonnie put a ball straight across the six-yard box but Dan Lewis did brilliantly to turn the ball behind for a corner.
The Moles countered from that corner when Rackley-Hayes picked out Hannachi on the left who drove down the wing and found Chengun who’s first-time finish into the bottom right put Binfield 2-0 up.
Northwood pulled one back straight away after a long-throw found Harry Gallagher at the back post and he was able to finish into an empty net. Then after a period of sustained pressure, a crazy 20 minutes ended with Northwood equalising. A 2-on-1 from a Northwood short corner led to Dunbar-Bonnie having a short from the edge of the box which went through Rackley-Hayes and into the back of the net.
Both sides had chances to win it in the last ten minutes. George Winser’s last-ditch challenge denied Dunbar-Bonnie and then Rechan Esprit could only hit the side netting after a great run.
So, both teams will face off again on Tuesday evening with the prize being in the draw for the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.
