BINFIELD manager Roger Herridge says there is still room for improvement in his side – despite seeing them slam Sandhurst Town 5-2 in the Bluefin Sport Hellenic League Cup on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

“We are still not as sharp as we were before Christmas,” he admitted.

An exception was Liam Ferdinand, who scored four of the goals to add to one from Jon Bennett.

Herridge, whose side had lost their previous two games by 3-0 margins, added: “There are parts of our game that need improving, We got a bit stretched at times and if we had been playing one of the top sides, we would probably have lost.

“But at the end of the game, we have won a cup tie and we are through to the quarter-finals .”

The Moles could easily have doubled their tally against their Division 1 East opponents after leading 3-0 at the interval.

Herridge said Ferdinand was “head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch” while also praising defender Alex Walton.

The manager was pleased, too, with the debut performance of Liam Whyte, who was signed from Flackwell Heath last week.

The young midfielder was promoted to the starting line-up when Chris Dean was injured in the warm-up and he had a hand in Ferdinand’s 18th-minute opener.

Three minutes later a move down the right was finished off by Bennett with a thumping header.

Bennett and James Knight helped to set up another goal for Ferdinand on the stroke of half-time.

Miley Lee pulled one back for Sandhurst four minutes after half-time, but five minutes later Ferdinand completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

Shortly afterwards, an Alex Walton own goal gave the visitors a second goal.

Moles sub Jake White hit the post, as did Bennett, who also had another effort ruled out for offside.

Ferdinand completed the scoring three minutes from time, taking his tally for the season to 27.

Binfield will be home to Brackley Town Saints in the next round. This Saturday, they host Longlevens in the league.

Sandhurst manager Luke Turkington said: “We are a very Jekyll and Hyde team. Today we gave it a go, but were let down by some decision making.”

He added: “Having moved over from the Combined Counties to the Hellenic this season has all been new to us and we are testing the waters playing against different teams.”

The mid-table Fizzers are home to Didcot Town Reserves this Saturday (3pm).