Saturday 27th October 2012 @3pm
Hellenic League Premier Division
SHRIVENHAM 2-4 BINFIELD
Barrington Park, Highworth Road, Shrivenham
Admission: £5 including programme (A5, 32pp)
Attendance: 62
FOOD: My own Cheese & Tomato rolls
DRINK: Guinness Can: £3
I set off today with the intention of watching Cirencester. However, with M25 at a standstill between Junctions 9-11, I thought of Reading Town and I took my now familiar detour through Cobham and took the A331 and A327 to Reading. Having an hour to spare, I carried on the M4 aiming for Swindon Supermarine. Turning the Sat Nav on when approaching Swindon, it failed to provide me with the location, choosing to send me to a supermarket and industrial estate??? With kick off fast approaching, I remembered looking at Shrivenham on T'net during the week so at 2.45, I headed for Barrington Park and arrived with 2 minutes to spare.
The ground is set back from Highworth Road and parking is available in Martens Road. The facilities are situated behind the top goal, with Sky Sports News in the clubhouse and a separate tea bar selling hotdogs and chips as well as hot drinks. A warming shelter is in front of the clubhouse where half the crowd gathered afforded some protection from the biting wind. The only other cover is on the dugout touchline corner in the form of a small Atcost seated stand.
With Binfield and Shrivenham at opposite ends of the table, I was not surprised to see Binfield take control throughout the game, but Shrivenham put in a spirited performance in front of their new manager. Surprisingly, it took 23 minutes for the first goal, a delightful 25 yard free kick by the young left back Jordan Rowland, scoring his first goal with his mother sat just in front of me, more than delighted. Shrivenham drew level about 5 minutes before half time, when a cross deep in from the left was flicked on by Leighfield in front of the keeper to level for half time.
The match turned early in the 2nd half, firstly from a corner early in the second half was headed in from Binfields Gary Sargeant. Then, when Jack Goodenough, the Home keeper, misjudged his positioning and caught the ball outside his area. An inevitable but unfortunate red card later meant a non specialist substitute went in goal. A gutsy 10 man performance kept the score at 1-2 until the last 20 minutes, when a speculative strike was fumbled by the replacement goalkeeper, who obviously wasn't Goodenough, allowing Johnson to tap in at close range. Shrivenham didn't give up and reduced the arrears with 10 minutes left as a corner to the far post was volleyed in by Rivers. A last 10 minute onslaught by Binfield was rewarded by a 4th goal, scored by Bowerman, a substitute for some reason but he is a skillful forward with a super touch and shot into the corner from 12 yards.
A tough first fixture for new manager Les Gill but he has instilled some team spirit. Binfield again look a decent side in this league. A friendly club and worth a visit for those who haven't been to Barrington Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment