Published: Thursday, 11th December, 2008 12:00pm

Lyden gives Moles derby win

Ascot United 0, Binfield 1

A LATE header from Ben Lyden earned Binfield the win in this highly competitive Berks and Bucks Cup clash at the Racecourse on Saturday.

Lyden's 88th minute strike ensured it was the Moles who took the bragging rights from a game that looked destined to go into extra-time.

Before the game both managers had tried to play down the effect it could have on their title aspirations, although Ascot boss Stuart Scammell admitted a big defeat for either side could be ‘psychologically' damaging.

Binfield started the better of the two sides, enjoying more possession but chances were at a premium.

The hosts began to get a foothold in the game as the half wore on but, with Jon Bennett being marshalled superbly by the Binfield defence, neither side could find a way through before the break.

As the second half wore on it looked like extra-time was a formality. Scott Williams threatened to prise open the Ascot defence with some devilish crosses but no forward could get on the end of them.

Then just as everyone had settled for extra-time, Danny Wing sent over a superb ball which Lyden headed powerfully past the despairing Dave Lyons.

Ascot: Lyons, Hallt, McGrotty, N Curtis, Boddy, S Curtis, Standing, Lunn, McIntyre, Mills, Bennett. Subs used: Corbett.

Binfield: Adams, Partridge, C Whitty, Millward, Fenton, Williams, Wing, Woozley, Withers, McClurg, Sargeant. Subs used: Lyden, Walsh, Callaway.

* Ascot boss Stuart Scammell said: "It wasn't the best match in terms of chances. Everything we did, they seemed to snuff out and everything they did, we seemed to snuff out.

"I thought they started quite well and were in the ascendency for the first 20 minutes but after that it was very even.

"I think there was only about three or four chances during the entire game, it was all played out in the middle of the park.

"To be fair to the lad it was a great header to win the game. He did really well, it was a super goal."

*Binfield boss Steve McClurg said: "It was a very good result. The game itself wasn't very good, we weren't at our best and I don't think they were.

"But I thought we did enough to win it. We restricted them to a few long range efforts and I was happy with that. We were tight and didn't give them much at all.

"I thought we had the better of the first half but they came into it more in the second. I was already preparing for extra-time when we got the winner.

"Danny put in a great cross and Ben did brilliantly to get his head on it. It was a great goal."

* Binfield and Ascot held a minute's silence before Saturday's game in memory of Ian Docherty who died recently from cancer.

Docherty, 54, enjoyed a long spell with Binfield while they were in the Reading League and also played for Bracknell Town.

Moles boss Steve McClurg, a friend of Docherty's for 40 years, said: "He was a great bloke and a very good player.

"He will be missed by everyone involved in local football."

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