BINFIELD manager Roger Herridge is relishing the chance of producing an FA Cup giant-killing on Saturday as his side look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
The Moles face a difficult away tie in the FA Cup first qualifying round against Harrow Borough, who play two steps above Binfield.
Both sides go into the match full of confidence with unbeaten streaks to protect. Binfield sit top of the Hellenic Premier League having won four and drawn one of their opening five games, conceding just one goal in the process.
Meanwhile, Harrow are also unbeaten in the Southern League Premier Division with a record of three wins and two draws.
“There is a lot of money to be won in the FA Cup for smaller clubs like ourselves,” said Binfield manager Roger Herridge.
“There’s a big incentive for us on Saturday, albeit if we come through it will be something of a giant-killing.
“They’re a far senior club to us, they play two levels above. They have lots of players on contract and are unbeaten at their own level which shows the level of the task for us on Saturday.
“It would have been nice to have drawn a side at the same level as us, there’s still plenty of those sides left in and we might have had more chance of progressing.
“But it’s a big opportunity for us, it’s a free hit and we’re under no pressure because we’re expected to go there and get beat but sometimes you have to be aware of the underdog.
“The assistant manager of Harrow Borough, Darren Wilkinson, is a friend of mine. When I was manager of Wokingham & Emmbrook, he was my assistant for one season so I’m looking forward to catching up with him again.”
The Moles have already enjoyed some cup success this season, with their latest tie ending in a 1-0 triumph over Virginia Water courtesy of a Josh Helmore goal in extra-time.
“The FA Vase is a competition I don’t have a great record in, so in the build-up to the game I was fearing the worst.
“Unfortunately Sean Moore dropped out after failing an injury test earlier in the day and both James McClurg and Karl Davies had to drop out. The build up to the game could have been better, we were down to bare bones so it was pleasing to get through a tricky tie.
“We would have preferred to have won in the 90 minutes. We were by far the better side in the first half, their goalie made a couple of great saves.
“The second half was more even, but at no time did I ever think we would lose the game based on the balance of play so it was nice to see Josh Howell score the goal in extra-time and then it was a case of seeing the game out.
“The cup competitions are very important to us, we’d like to go on a run in the FA Vase.
“There are rewards to be won in FA competitions and a side from our level has to win it. Thatcham won the FA Vase two years ago, the same year they won our league, it was great to see a local side do that.
“We’ve underperformed in my time here in this competition, so it would be nice to put that right this season and hopefully go a long way. It takes a very good side to win it, and a bit of luck, but I would like us to fare far better than we have in recent years.”
