BERKHAMSTED 1 WALTHAM ABBEY 0

Report by Grant Hastie

With a dozen players on the injury /illness list a good team spirit and a solid core of players again kept the promotion hopes going strong.

Young Alfie Abrey got his first start of the season in midfield for Berko and he hit the post with a shot at the canal end. James Verney, was back for the first time since he got injured at Harlow, and almost netted too. That was soon after he came off the bench in the first quarter when Lewis Toomey’s hamstring pinged again.

It was an open very entertaining game with something for both bands of supporters to cheer.

The decisive goal came early in the second half. Ryan Kinnane had won everything in defence in the air all afternoon. He went up for a Lucas Kirkpatrick corner and headed inside the post at the railway end to put the Comrades ahead. It proved to be the only goal of the game, but there were plenty more chances created. Soon after, Alie Bangura who took an ankle knock at St Neots, came off the bench for Abrey.

Cheyne Grant had a shot that passed Ashlee Jones at the near post and soon after his close range header flashed past the Abbey post in the second half from a Dan Akubuine right wing cross.

Darnell Goather-Braithwaite looked like equalising twice. He forced a fine save out of Xavi at the canal end with a tremendous 20-yard drive and he also struck the cross bar in the closing stages for the visitors. Xavi had to punch a few clear as Abbey pressed at the end.

Berko held on for win and second spot in the league table at the half way mark of the season. They are two points behind Bedford Town with a game in hand. despite missing a dozen players with illness or injury.

Berko team: Xavi, Akubuine, Cooper, Frederick, Kinnane, Goodman, Grant (Draycott), Abrey, (A. Bangura), L Toomey (Verney), Kirkpatrick, Bailey. Subs not used - & M Bangura & Groom.

On Monday 27th Berko go to Welwyn Garden City ko 3pm for their last league game of the old year.

Berko’s under 15s are also second in the league table and are still unbeaten after a late penalty from Ethen Viana gave them a 1-0 win at home to Cockfosters. Berko’s other youth games were postponed, so the Xmas break is longer than usual.