Windsor v Binfield Cup semi...

[Fuzzy Royal]

So, a wet, windy evening in deepest darkest Berkshire, or just ten mins up the road to be fair.

 

First things first, great playing surface, especially considering the conditions, but even so the ball rolled well, a bit soft but very good.

 

On to the game, well one incident dominated the evening, but I will get to that in time. the first half was a dour affair in all honesty. Windsor started well but Binfield scored a good goal against the run of play and then Windsor just seemed to stop playing. Binfield should have scored a further two before half time but some abysmal finishing, after some even more abysmal defending by Windsor, kept the half time score at 1-0.the rain picked up a bit and the second half didn't look very appealing.

 

I am guessing Micky said a few harsh words at half time as Windsor came out a bit fired up. Windsor attacked well and were getting closer when a free kick was awarded about 25 yards out (I am guessing by the time Laza gets home it will be 40 yards plus). Having disappointed from similar positions earlier in the game he produced an absolute pearler and the keeper didn't bother to move. 1-1 and Windsor suddenly looked more likely to win. Attacking down both wings the goal looked most likely to come from there. 

 

so Windsor get a corner, the ball is crossed in and for no reason the Binfield defender punched the ball away. We had looked unlikely to score from corner deliveries and this seemed strange. Laza stepped up and lashed the ball into the net, much to the relief of teh Windsor fans who had seen more pens missed this season than i can remember!!!

 

But Binfield pushed, with Windsor hitting on the break. Another goal looked likely but at which end, the quality wasn't great but a a goal did look likely with Windsor unable to hold onto the ball and Bindfield dominating possession. And then it happened, the moment, the talking point.

 

 

So, Binfield get a free kick about 5-10 yards up the pitch from the left hand corner of the 18 yard box. As the players move back up field and the Binfield player goes to get the ball Jason for some reason kicks the ball into the corner of the pitch (only 5-10 mins left so obvious time wasting). Clearly a yellow card, but no, the ref decides not to show a card as he has done all game. letting lots go and trying to let the game flow. this clearly incensed the Binfield players who surround the ref and tell him that he should have booked Jason. Maybe one uses a naughty word as the ref shows a yellow, then another player says something rude and another yellow card. Clearly the third player doesn't understand as he seems to question the referee too ardently and a third yellow card. So that's that, well no, two of the players clearly feel very strongly and put their case once again to the ref. Now referees rarely do this (and I think they should more as it is what players need!!!) but he produces two further yellow cards and the two silly billies have to leave the pitch.

 

now as a manager I would be disappointed that 5 yellow cards were shown for one, pretty minor, incident. Binfield were still in this game and this cost them the opportunity to get the goal they needed. As a Windsor fan it was hilarious and good to see a ref  stop this incredibly annoying and irritating habit of whinging and moaning at the ref. As a Binfield fan I would be annoyed he didn't book the Windsor player but more annoyed that my players couldn't shut up and get on with the game. The ref didn't have a bad game, he missed a few challenges here and there, he could have booked a few players earlier but he didn't, and that actually isn't a bad thing. Its easy to say when you win, but I have berated refs much more when we win than lose, and praised refs when we lose when necessary. 

 

So we are in a final, a battling strong performance that lacked something, a controlling element, a strength in defence, a penetrating force up front or someone just to hold the ball up up front. i just don't know but not our best performance. But if we keep winning I'll take it and I am looking forward to that final day out :-)

 

 

[mal316]

Fuzzy, I am sure that the pen came from a long throw not a corner, although when Laza is involved there isn't much difference.

 

As for the 'debacle' I think it was 1 yellow and 2 reds.  If it had been five yellows then two of the players would have had three as they had both been booked earlier.

[Mrs_Cat]

It was nice to actually see a game of football, a full blooded cup tie played in the right spirit by both sides for the most part.

 

As Fuzzy said we were lucky to only be one goal down at half time, they had a couple of excellent chances, one resulted in a poor finish and the other we was fortunate the ball took a horrendous bobble just as their player was about to shoot. 2nd half we looked much better and at least created some good openings and got the ball on the deck and played a bit.

 

If I was a Binfield supporter I would be seething with the red card "incident" as the whole thing could have been avoided it the ref had rightfully booked Sheehan for obvious time wasting, that’s not a criticism of Sheehan who was again excellent. At one stage the ref seemed to be just thrusting his card in any direction, it was like a Paul Daniels magic trick "pick a card any card".

 

However apart from the "incident" I too though the ref was decent, he wasn't whistle happy, he seemed to accept the conditions and let the game flow without letting the game get out of hand, unlike the idiot at Alton the other week.

 

Anyway well done to the lads for reaching our first cup final (hopefully the first of many) and going a step further than the all-stars managed a couple of seasons ago!