KENSLEY Maloney fired a dramatic late winner to put the seal on a memorable night in the history of Bracknell Town FC, writes Dave Wright.

He came off the bench to earn the Robins a 3-2 win over local rivals Binfield in the first Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division game to be played on the new 3G pitch at Larges Lane on Tuesday.

“Yes, it has been quite a night for the club,” said manager Mark Tallentire after seeing his side move up to second place in the table.

“Everything about it was fantastic. It feels great to be back home and the crowd was unbelievable.”

The attendance of 476 was considerably more than many people had predicted.

They didn’t have to wait long to see the opening goal, with Joe Grant turning the home from close range in the eighth minute.

Robins continued to enjoy more possession, but were unable to add to their tally before the interval.

“I thought in the first half we were head and shoulders above them and should have been 3-0 up at half-time,” said Tallentire.

“The only thing I wasn’t happy with, was our goal conversion rate.”

Binfield, having adjusted to the pitch, started to improve late in the half and needed just four minutes of the second half to draw level, albeit with a fortunate goal. Home defender Alex Rodrigues attempted to chest Sean Moore’s cross back to keeper Chris Grace, but only to send it wide of him and into the net.

However, the wheel of fortune turned the other way on 58 minutes.

Binfield skipper Alex Luis could not get out of the way of Grant’s cross and the ball hit him on his hand. Referee Lee Suggett awarded a penalty and Seb Bowerman made no mistake, taking his season’s goal tally into double figures.

Three minutes later the scores were back level with Moore hammering in a shot that moved in the air before flying past keeper Chris Grace.

With the clock ticking down, the game looked to be heading for a draw, but that was until the last five minutes.

Binfield went close to scoring when Liam Ferdinand saw his effort scrambled away, but it was Bracknell who finished the stronger.

Maloney, who had replaced Bowerman 15 minutes from time, twice fired in shots that were deflected for corners, but there was no stopping the former Binfield player two minutes from time. Dave Hancock and TJ Bohane were involved in the move down their right flank which led to Maloney wriggling his way into the area and firing across keeper Mo Nyamunga into the net.

“For a big crowd to see a player and a goal of that quality to win the game, was a bit special,” remarked Tallentire.

“Kensley has been unlucky not to be starting. He missed a week and Joe (Grant) came in and did exceptionally well to grab the shirt, so Kensley has to bide his time.”

Binfield manager Roger Herridge was left bitterly disappointed, saying: “It is never nice to lose so late on in the game.”

He added: “We showed great character to come from behind twice. Bracknell were the better side in the first half, but we worked really hard in the second and we matched a very good side. I felt the penalty was harsh and I felt we should have stopped Kensley from scoring.

“I felt we deserved something out of the game, so we are disappointed to come out with nothing.”

Bracknell, following up their 5-0 trouncing of Burnham last Saturday, move up to second place in the table, two points behind new leaders Thame United with a match in hand.

The Robins are home to third-bottom Oxford City Nomads this Saturday, while seventh-placed Binfield travel to mid-table Longlevens.

Thame leapfrogged Thatcham into top spot by beating Ascot United 3-2 on Tuesday.

James Goodey put the Yellamen ahead after 13 minutes, but the hosts led 2-1 at half-time and added a third shortly afterwards with Charlie Samuels pulling one back in stoppage time.