BINFIELD secured a home Reading Senior Cup quarter-final tie with Hellenic League rivals Ascot United after winning 2-1 at Holyport on Tuesday, writes Dave Wright.

But manager Roger Herridge admitted they will need to play a lot better if they are to make further progress in the competition, which holds its final at Madejski Stadium.

The Moles scored through Liam Ferdinand and Harrison Bayley in the first 20 minutes of this second-round tie, but then squandered numerous chances before seeing Jonny Feaver pull one back in the 68th minute.

“The game should have been dead and buried by early in the second half,” said Herridge.

“We then made an error and they nipped in to score and we became a bit anxious, but I never thought we were going to lose.”

Herridge was frustrated by his side’s general performance, but felt there was no need to have a go at his players in the dressing room, saying: “I am sure they worked it out for themselves they were poor.

“But at the end of the day, cup football is all about winning. We did that and we are in the next round against Ascot, but we will need to play better than we did tonight if we are to make further progress.”

Binfield were missing several players, including skipper Alex Luis and Sean Moore due to injury, and it looked as if Jake White was going to join them on the sidelines when he limped off with a knee injury.

But it doesn’t appear as serious as first feared and he is hoping to be fit for Binfield’s league game with relegation-threatened Henley Town at Hill Farm Lane on Monday evening (7.45pm ko).

White’s replacement on a wet and windy night at Holyport was Owen Powell, who plays centre-back for the club’s Allied Counties side.

Herridge commented: “He’s been with the first team a few times without getting on, so I was pleased to put him on tonight. He did well and that was a positive.

“But overall, this was not an enjoyable game to watch.”