BERKHAMSTED 4 ST MARGARETSBURY 1

Report by Grant Hastie

Lewis Rodrigoe was suspended but Stacey Field and Alex Campana returned to the starting line-up and Field netted twice as Berko came out on top. Berko had plenty chances in the first half but there was only one goal, although they did hit the post. Field netted his 12th of the season in front of the young fans at the railway end (see picture). He nearly scored again after Dan Jones played him in, but there was a block on the line.

In the second half Adam Mead had another shot blocked on the line. Ashley Morrissey was in fine form getting past a few defenders but pinged a shot against the far post. Berko brought on Ashton Campbell and Ben Bateman to see if they could extend their lead. However, they had a shock when they conceded an equaliser when a long free kick hit the knee of veteran Jon Stevenson and went in.

Field put Berko back in front with a header at the back post when he got on the end of a deep cross. Campbell was hauled down in the box and Jones calmly fired the spot kick into the bottom corner to make it 3-1. There was no doubt where the points were going now, as Morrissey rounded off the scoring with a great shot curling in at the back post as he had made his chance by dribbling through the defence.

The win enabled Berko to overtake Biggleswade at the summit of the table on goal difference. The top two sides meet at Biggleswade on Saturday.

Berko: Tasker; Mead (B Bateman), Weeks, Hawes, Munday, Deaton, Campana, Jones (Farrelly), Field, Coughlan (Campbell), Morrissey, Subs not used - Carter & Jowle.

P W D L GD PTS
1 Berkhamsted 8 6 2 0 15 20
2 Biggleswade FC 9 6 2 1 10 20
3 Welwyn Garden City 6 5 1 0 11 16
4 Wembley 10 4 3 3 3 15
5 Oxhey Jets 7 4 2 1 6 14
6 Harpenden Town 8 4 2 2 3 14

Berko’s development side have two matches this week. They entertain AFC Dunstable in the league on Saturday and then go to Oxhey Jets Reserves on Wednesday 11th in the Herts Intermediate Cup.

The under 14 side are at home to Edmonton on Sunday morning.