Binfield FC’s side, managed by Steve Humm, fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat against a well drilled Newport Pagnell Town side in the Berks and Bucks County Cup final on Sunday afternoon. The defeat comes as heartbreak for The Moles who’s valiant effort still meant they couldn’t bring the county cup trophy home for the second time in as many seasons…
Despite finishing goalless, the match itself was an entertaining one with both sides looking to play some great football. The Young Moles were defensively solid, but struggled to find the breakthrough in the 70 minutes of the tie.
The second half was another with very few big chances, but Jack Saleh, who was rarely called upon in the first 35 minutes, made two crucial saves late on to take the game to penalties… The first crucial save came mid-way through the second half when he managed to use his height to deny Newport’s 14 by tipping his 20-yard-effort over the bar. The second was probably the pick of the bunch with the Binfield stopper tipping the Newport Pagnell’s captain and number 5’s free header around the post from point blank range…
Those two saves were what earned the Binfield stopper his “player of the match award”, which was voted by representatives of the Berks and Bucks FA in attendance.
The penalty shoot-out was one of high quality, with both sides finding the target from all of their penalties, with the Young Moles being denied on their 4th and 7th attempt before Newport Pagnell Town converted all but their second (thanks to a Saleh save to his right hand side) which meant they were victorious and took home the trophy…
The loss shouldn’t be a dampener on this Binfield side, as this is their second county cup final in two years, but the penalty defeat meant they couldn’t be champions two years in a row after they were winners of this competition last time out…
You can see the Young Moles collecting their runners up medals over on our YouTube channel NOW!
