Berkhamsted Football Club
The ComradesMicks post Harefield match comments:
“We’ve been playing well for a number of weeks but not getting the results so I’m not overly surprised to have picked up the win,” said Vipond.
“We had been making silly mistakes and getting punished for it, but now we’ve picked up a clean sheet and that breeds confidence.
We went 1-0 up but they responded well and had us pegged back before we came back again in the second half.”
Vipond has previously stated his intention to use the remainder of the season to blood some of his younger players into the first team, and the Comrades boss was delighted at the way the youngsters have taken their chance.
“There’s not really any pressure on us at the moment and the young players have come on leaps and bounds in the past month,” he said.
“We’ve got to send the message out to parents that they can send their boys down to Berko because they will get a chance.
“When young players get in the team here, they can enjoy themselves and maybe even put themselves in the shop window – you never know who might be watching.
We still want to try and win as many games as we can but now it’s really about sowing the seeds for next season.”
Tues 3rd April
Tues 3rd Apr 2012
Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier
BERKHAMSTED 1 v 2 ST MARGARETSBURY
Berko were unlucky to lose this match as their poor home form continued.
Mick Vipond had to reshuffle the defence from the team that beat Harefield, with Simon Carmichael(neck) and Lewis Rodrigoe (groin) ruled out.
Dale Sears and Jon Davies had to move back from midfield to fill the gaps. The reshaped team knocked the ball around well in the opening stages but did not apply the finishing touch.
The most goalmouth action was saved for the 5 minutes before the interval, starting with the visitors clipping the top of the bar with a free kick.
Berko thought they had taken the lead when Jim Carmichael shot home, but the goal was chalked off for a push in the build up. Adam Lawton gave St Margaretsbury the lead just before half time when Berko stopped, expecting free kick and a speculative shot from long distance sailed over Ed Farmer to dip just under the cross bar at the last moment.
Connor Calcutt shot wide when set up by neat play from Matt Wardle. Leigh Rose doubled the visitors’ lead when he ran through into the penalty area unopposed to shoot past the exposed Farmer.
Berko finished the game in attacking mode with Frankie Jowle firing over the bar. He then provided the cross for skipper Dale Sears to head powerfully into the net to makel it 2-1. Berko tried very hard in the remaining time to rescue a point but it was not to be their night despite the referee adding on a lot of time.
Berko: Farmer, Power, Davies, J.Carmichael, Sears, Frederick, Wardle (Francis). Hawes, Calcutt, Chamberlain(Smith), Jowle. Subs not used Welling. Gavin. Boad.
Berko are hoping that the injured trio Lewis Rodrigoe, Simon Carmichael and Josh Chamberlain will recover in time for Saturday’s home match against local rivals Leverstock Green, when we will be aiming to notch a league double over our neighbours.
On Tuesday 10th we go to Holmer Green in the Premier division to replay the match that was abandoned when the home skipper was injured last month.
On Saturday Berko’s reserve side go to Newport Pagnell Town in the league. The under 18 side conclude their lerague season with a trip to Boreham Wood on Thursday 12th.
Sat 31st March
Sat 31st Mar 2012
Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier
HAREFIELD UTD 0 v 3 BERKHAMSTED
For the second time this week we hit three goals away from home, but this time a fine team performance and clean sheet meant we came away with the points completing a league double over the Hares.
Berko made a great start with teenager Josh Chamberlain opening the scoring after just three minutes. A long throw from Danny Power caused chaos in the home defence and Chamberlain was on hand to nod the ball home.
Mick had to reshuffle the defence when Simon Carmichael picked up a neck injury early on. Jon Davies came on for him and doubled the lead from the penalty spot early in the second half when Berko’s latest teenage signing Jordan Frederick was tripped as he cut into the penalty area.
With 10 minutes left Connor Calcutt got his customary goal, to complete the scoring, by getting on the end of a Steve Hawes free kick.
Berko: Farmer, Power, Rodrigoe, J.Carmichael, S.Carmichael(Davies), Frederick, Wardle(Jowle), Hawes, Calcutt, Sears, Chamberlain(Francis). Subs not used: Welling. Boad.
Berko face a busy spell of three Premier division games in 8 days. On Tuesday 3rd they are at home to St Margaretsbury and follow it with another home match against local rivals Leverstock Green on Saturday 7th.
On Tuesday 10th they will go to Holmer Green to replay the match that was abandoned when the home skipper was injured last month.
The Reserves continued their impressive form as they earned a draw against league leaders Chalfont St Peter. Aaron Ewing scoring from the penalty spot late in the game.
Report on Reserves page.
Tues 27th March
Tues 27th Mar 2012
Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier
HARINGEY BORO 4 v 3 BERKHAMSTED
Haringey twice came from behind to condem us to a defeat, in an entertaining game at White Hart Lane on Tuesday night.
The Comrades started well with Josh Chamberlain supplying quality crosses that saw Matt Wardle head wide and then keeper Tamai saved from Connor Calcutt’s header.
Pressing forward again, Chamberlain and Calcutt combined and the latter opened the scoring with an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.
However, Borough levelled within minutes thanks to route one football from Roland Namquita, who outpaced our defence and shot past Ed Farmer.
Berko got back in front with a smashing 25 yard drive by Steve Hawes, that deflected off a defender on its way into the net.
Cedric Lacole made it 2-2 when he spotted Farmer off his line and netted from 20 yards with an exquisite lob. Worse was to follow as Chris Morgan curled a fine free kick into the corner of the net, to put Borough in front before half time.
Berko could have had more goals as Tamai pulled off a flying save to deny Chamberlain and a defender kicked off the goal line from Calcutt.
Unfortunately, Namquita then got the better of Carmichael by fair means or foul and shook off the challenge to make it 4-2 with half an hour remaining.
Berko reshaped their side and kept going well and they were rewarded when Calcutt headed home from a corner to set up a tense finish.
Chamberlain came closest to rescuing a point but dragged his shot across the goal after a good move and the points went, to a perhaps, rather fortunate home side.
Berko: Farmer, Power (Gavin), Rodrigoe, J.Carmichael, Sears, Welling(Frederick), Wardle(Jowle), Hawes, Chamberlain, Calcutt Smith, Sub not used: Boad.
Another away trip on Saturday to Harefield United. Simon Carmichael should be available to add to Mick Vipond’s options. On Tuesday 3rd April Berko are at home to St Margaretsbury in the league.
Berkhamsted’s reserves have their last home league game of the season against Suburban North table topping Chalfont St Peter on Saturday.
Sat 24th March
HOLMER GREEN 0 v 2 BERKHAMSTED
match abandoned
The match was abandoned twelve minutes from the end when the home skipper suffered a severe leg injury and required an air ambulance to take him to hospital in Oxford.
It was a sad end to a game in which Berko played some good football on a difficult pitch.
Teenager Connor Calcutt put Berko in front with a header from a Matt Wardle cross for his third goal in four games since signing from Hemel Hempstead Town.
Following him from Vauxhall Road to Broadwater this week was Jordan Frederick, another young forward, who came on as a substitute.
We continued to press for the second goal and hit the woodwork three times in quick quick succession, the pressure was finally rewarded as substitute Courtney Francis scored with a half volley, on the turn, into the bottom corner.
The unfortunate end to the match may not have happened if play had stopped promptly for an offside flag against Berko.
Josh Smith collided with Green skipper Gary Finch, who ended up against the rails by the goal at the Clubhouse end and in the process sustained a very bad leg injury.
Although the emergency services were on the scene promptly, it was some considerable time before he could be moved.
All at Berko send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery and subject to confirmation from the league management committee, the game will be played again on Tuesday 10th April.
Berko: Farmer, Power, Rodrigoe, J.Carmichael, S.Carmichael, Welling, Wardle, Hawes, Calcutt (Francis), Smith, Chamberlain(Frederick). Subs not used: Gavin, Davies, Boad.
The Reserves scored two early goals in their Suburban league match at Broadwater but had to fight their way back to gain the three points after Newport Pagnell equalised. The 4-2 win was the fifth in their last six matches.
Report on Reserves page.
Club quiz night
The George & Dragon in Northchurch played host to a Football Club quiz night fundraiser on Thursday evening.
Landlord and keen Comrades supporter Mick Owens welcomed players past and present to the evening as well as Club Directors, Management, staff and supporters.
An enjoyable evening was had by all and the Club would like to again thank Mick and his staff for their hospitality on the night and ongoing support throughout the season in the shape of several match day sponsorships.
Weds 21st March
Weds 21st Mar 2012
SCFYL Corinthian Div u18
LUTON TOWN 1 v 5 BERKHAMSTED
The Youth team took full advantage of the superb playing surface at Hitchin Towns Topfield ground, as they continued their impressive recent run of form.
With three final year players unavailable, Manager Joe Sweeney called up several youngsters into the squad and they did not disappoint.
Playing with a very attacking 4-3-3 formation, we did struggle to get into the game for the first twenty five minutes and fell behind, after a defensive lapse.
After some movement in players and formation, the boys started to dominate, and the now more solid defensive unit gave them the platform they needed to take the game to Luton.
The equaliser came direct from a corner, as captain Adam King delivered a quality cross which sailed into the top right hand corner.
Confidence and belief restored, Berko pressed forward and the highly thought of Adam King scored again with a superb left footed free kick from outside the area, putting us ahead going into the half time break.
From the restart we played with more pace, power, and worked harder, after some gentle words of encouragement from Manager Joe Sweeney and Coach Biff Huber during the break!
The third goal came from a superbly delivered free kick which Alfie Osborne headed home at the back post, the highlight of a commanding performance.
Goal four came after a great bit of wing play, which ended with a spot on cross into the box and Jordan Aikman was on hand to finish into the roof of the net.
With Berko looking like they would score every time they went forward, the night was rounded off by Adam King, who stepped up to pull rank on another free kick and brilliantly slotted home into the top corner to complete his hat trick.
The icing on the cake of a superb performance from the Comrades youngsters and the future is looking very bright!
Squad: Grinstead, Osborne, King, Mcausland, Read, Beard,Pereira, Seodi, Aikman, Chance, Turner. Subs Hart on for Read on 55 minutes, Lewis on for Pereira 65 minutes.
Tues 20th March
Tues 20th Mar 2012
Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier
BERKHAMSTED 2 v 2 HILLINGDON
The Comrades twice took the lead against a Hillingdon side who had gone seven league games without a win, but had to make do with a point.
Connor Calcutt put Berko in front after just 5 minutes when he beat several men and netted off a defender.
He had another great chance to score, when he was through on goal, but his placed shot was comfortably caught by Ben Harris in the Borough goal. Matt Wardle fired over after being set up by Danny Power.
Failure to kill off the opposition when on top in the first half again proved costly as we conceded a soft leveller around the hour mark when Tom Martin’s slow motion header bounced on the ground and went into the net just inside the post.
Borough took confidence from this and struck the bar and looked more menacing than they did before the interval.
However, Berko took the lead again scoring a great goal with substitute Josh Chamberlain netting three minutes after coming on. He scored with a near post shot to round off a superb first time passing movement for the goal of the game.
But another substitute rescued a point for Borough with Bobby Cumber getting on the scoresheet in the 82nd minute.
Dale Sears came on for the closing minutes and picked up a yellow card, but Berko could not get back in front.
Berko: Farmer, Power, Rodrigoe, J.Carmichael, S.Carmichael, Welling, Wardle, Hawes, Calcutt, Smith (Sears), Jowle (Chamberlain). Subs not used: Gavin, Davies, Francis.
Sat 17th Mar 2012
Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier
BERKHAMSTED 1 v 2 TRING ATHLETIC
Mick Vipond made four changes to the side that started the midweek match against Aylesbury United.
With Connor Calcutt making his full debut after scoring on Wednesday evening, Berko had the better of the opening exchanges but failed to sufficiently test a fit again Mike Underwood in the Athletic goal.
Too often the shots were off target, with Calcutt going close twice and Steve Hawes nearly scoring at the canal end.
Centre back Matt Jarvis headed Atheltic into the lead on the half hour mark as he got on the end of a Sam Mitchell cross.
Life then became more difficult for the Comrades, with skipper Graham Hall pulling the strings in midfield for the visitors. However, Simon Carmichael thought he had got his first goal of the season, only to find the referee chalking his effort off, as keeper Underwood was allegedly impeded.
A long shot from Lewis Rodrigoe whistled past the post early in the second half after Mick brought on the experienced Mark Welling and Matt Wardle in a double substitution.
However, it was Tring substitute Rob Duncan who got the decisive second goal in the 71st minute, with a fine strike from an acute angle that beat Ed Farmer at his near post.
Our hopes of a comeback were dealt a severe blow when right back Danny Power was given a straight red for a tackle on Paul Jeffrey. At the railway end Wardle broke free but his shot went across the face of the goal to safety.
Farmer did well to save from veteran Micky Swaysland, as the extra man advantage began to tell. However, there was some consolation for the home supporters, in a well attended derby, when Wardle nodded home his 14th goal of the season in the last minute.
Tring saw the remaining time out to avenge the 6-1 defeat we inflicted earlier in the season. With Leverstock Green winning we slip down to 9th, but will look to bounce back on Tuesday evening as we entertain Hillingdon Borough, who are only two points behind us.
Berkhamsted: Farmer, Power, Rodrigoe, J.Carmichael, S.Carmichael, Davies (Welling), Calcutt (Macpherson), Hawes, Francis (Wardle), Sears , Chamberlain. Subs not used: Smith. Jowle.
Weds 14th March
Weds 14th Mar 2012
Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier
AYLESBURY UTD 3 v 2 BERKHAMSTED
Manager Mick Vipond had to reshuffle his victorious side from the Leverstock Green derby on Saturday. Simon Carmichael was absent through illness and Wednesday night work committments ruled out Josh Smith and Kerkstun Macpherson.
With only one defeat in their last nine games and the Comrades having only one win in their last seven, the recent form of the two sides was reflected in the great start that the confident Ducks made to the game.
United took the first half by storm and opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a wonderful strike by Joey Acheampong. He cut in from the left wing and spotting Ed Farmer off his line, shot hard and high into the far top corner of the net.
Farmer was the Berko saviour in the first half, keeping the score down, saving when Acheampong beat the offside trap. Stacey Field was next to break through but shot wide with the goal gaping.
For the Comrades, Frankie Jowle beat the right back and tried a snap shot instead of a cross and Jack Sillitoe saved by tipping the ball over. When the resulting corner kick came in, it was only half cleared and the recalled Jon Davies blasted a powerful volley inches over the bar.
The exposed Farmer nearly saved a shot with his ankle from Field but he went on to score in the 28th minute to double the Ducks lead. At the other end Berko could not capitalise on a defensive muddle when keeper Sillitoe gave the ball away on the edge of his penalty area.
Berko again had to reshuffle their side just before the interval as Aaron Usmani got his studs caught in the pitch and twisted his knee, leaving the field in some discomfort.. Unfortunately Field scored his second in the resulting first half injury time, to give Berko a mountain to climb in the second half.
The half time team talk certainly did the trick as there was an astonishing turn around in the second period as Berko produced a terrific display.
Matt Wardle got his 13th of the season when he robbed a defender and raced in on goal and lashed home to make it 3-1.
Substitutes Josh Chamberlain and recent signing from Hemel Hemel Hempstead, Connor Calcutt were causing chaos, as the Berko midfield began to dominate. With quarter of an hour left Chamberlain got round the back and his cross was bundled home by Calcutt, for his first goal for the Comrades.
The lively Calcutt nearly levelled matters, but inside the six yard box he could not reach another fine Chamberlain cross to the back post. However the next such cross was met by a powerful downward header by Calcutt, only for Sillitoe to produce his best save of the night and Berko were left to rue what might have been, as Aylesbury hung on to the final whistle.
Berko: Farmer, Power, Rodrigoe, J.Carmichael, Davies (Francis), Welling, Wardle, Hawes, Usmani (Calcutt), Sears, Jowle (Chamberlain). Subs not used: Gavin. Boad.
