Diddy beaten in 7 goal dramatic encounter

Back to back 4-3 defeats for the Railwaymen as Berkhamsted seal well earned win

It was back to back 4-3 defeats for the Railwaymen this week as Didcot dropped points at home for the first time this season as Berkhamsted earned a deserved victory on Tuesday night.

Manager Andy Ballard looked to shuffle his pack introducing Aaron Woodley, Ollie Thomas and Lance Williams into the starting line-up following Saturday’s disappointing defeat at Yaxley. In typical style of this season’s misfortune Woodley only just back from a knee injury pulled up during the pre-match warm up and had to be replaced by Brett Gardner as Didcot’s already threadbare forward options were stretched yet again.

The game couldn’t have started any worse for Didcot as after 45 seconds Will Summerfield picked the ball up on the left hand side of the box and his chipped effort looped over Bedwell and into the far corner to give the visitors a dream start.
5 minutes later it should have been 2-0 as Berkhamsted yet again were afforded too much space and a through ball sent Matt Bateman clear, with the goal at his mercy however Bedwell produced a superb one handed save from the one-v-one opportunity and Didcot just about hung on.

It was all Berkhamsted in the opening exchanges as Didcot maybe still with a bit of a feeling sorry for themselves hangover from Saturday were just not in the game, incredibly however from the Railwaymen’s first real opportunity they levelled the contest. Morgan Williams’ corner met by Adam Learoyd who planted an excellent header into the top corner to level the scores.
Just as Didcot were starting to get into the contest it was Berkhamsted who re-took the lead on the half hour as Ash Morrissey was too quick for Sam Barder on the right hand side evading the full back’s slide challenge he drove into the box where Barder who was chasing him quite blatantly pushed Morrissey in the back and the referee pointed to the spot. Bateman took the kick and sent Bedwell the wrong way to restore Berkhamsted’s lead.

This topsy turvy half then took another big twist as just 3 minutes later another dangerous Williams corner was heading towards his namesake Lance Williams who looked to be pushed in the back and the referee was in perfect position to point to the spot. Didcot who had missed their last spot kick had a change of taker as Morgan Williams stepped up but his penalty hit the outside of the post and went wide. It was a crucial moment in the game as instead of being 2-2 it was shortly about to become 3-1 as on 36 minutes James Towell broke away and although Bedwell did superbly to stop the initial effort it fell to Batemen who couldn’t miss the now open goal and Didcot had a mountain to climb.
As if things couldn’t get worse for the Railwaymen George Reid picked up a hamstring injury and had to hobble off right on half time, he was replaced by Seth Humphries.

Half time. Didcot 1-3 Bekhamsted

Didcot not for the first time this week now with a 2 goal deficit but with more time to change it then tried valiantly to get back in the game. On 55 minutes they had a lifeline as another dangerous delivery by Morgan Williams this time found Brett Gardner whose diving header beat Weatherill low down to bring Didcot within 1. David Murphy then had a deflected effort go just over before Carnell headed the resultant corner against the top of the bar and over as Didcot tried to get the scores level again.

As Didcot poured forward they were again caught out at the back, needlessly giving away a free kick it was Morrissey this time who crossed perfectly to Ryan Kinnane to head Berkhamsted’s 4th goal on the 66th minute and seemingly end the game.

Ballard then introduced himself and Lewis Hayden for Morgan Williams and Barder in one final throw of the dice and it was to have some impact as Ballard in an unfamiliar forward role was pulled back in the box and Didcot had their second penalty. This time Humphries took it and sent Weatherill the wrong way to set up a potentially exciting final 10 minutes.

In all truth the comeback was never likely and in fact Berkhamsted should have added more goals, Bedwell again to the rescue saving yet another one-v-one chance this time with his legs before Bateman should have got his hat trick on 85 minutes as he again only had Bedwell to beat as the Didcot defence went AWOL but his lofted effort dropped the wrong side of the post.

The full time whistle went on a deserved victory for the visitors who looked the stronger and more potent throughout, Didcot while unlucky to lose on Saturday couldn’t say the same this time although they will rue the missed penalty with the score at 2-1 that may well have changed the outcome.

Full Time. Didcot 3-4 Berkhamsted

Didcot Team
Bedwell
Barder (Hayden)
McNeill
Thomas
Carnell
Learoyd
Reid (Humphries)
L Williams
Murphy
M Williams (Ballard)
Gardner
Subs not used: Alexis