Ampthill shock the Comrades in a disappointing day for Vipond

Berkhamsted manager Mick Vipond has written off his side’s 3-1 defeat to bottom of the table Ampthill Town as a ‘reallly, really bad day.’
Berkhamsted striker BJ Christie could not find a way past a resolute Ampthill defence. Picture (c) Richard SolkBerkhamsted striker BJ Christie could not find a way past a resolute Ampthill defence. Picture (c) Richard Solk
Berkhamsted striker BJ Christie could not find a way past a resolute Ampthill defence. Picture (c) Richard Solk

Ampthill went into Saturday’s clash with only one win in the league all season, but they got the better of a severely depleted Comrades team to add a much needed three points to their tally.

“We got exactly what we deserved,” said Vipond. “I never really make a fuss about having players missing or injured but we had seven players unavailable on Saturday.

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“Having said that, we still had enough of a squad to give them more of a game than we did. On the day they just had more about them than we did.

“It was a real mishmash of a day and when you lose to the team who are at the bottom of the table, it does hurt.

“We can just write it off as a really, really bad day.”

Vipond was forced to make five changes to his starting line-up, giving first starts of the season to reserve team players Alfie Osborne and Jay Caines.

There were no goals in a keenly contested first half as Berko‘s rejigged line up settled down to the task at hand.

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The late arriving Ryan Laville came on for Berko at the interval, and the game sprang to life after the break, with Danny Butler scoring two good goals for Ampthill.

Josh Chamberlain pulled one back for Berko with a 20-yard strike after Courtney Massay switched play from right to left and Chamberlain controlled well.

However, Ashley Mead rubbed salt in the Berko wounds with a late third goal, capitalising on a poor throw-in to seal the win for his side.

SSML Premier Division leaders Sun Sports also lost, but Kings Langley took the opportunity to win and move up above Berko into second spot in the table.

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At the time the Gazette went to press, the Comrades were preparing to face fellow Premier Division team Hoddesdon Town in the second round of the Herts Senior Cup.

Jordon Frederick was set to return from suspension to bolster the Berko squad.

On Saturday, Vipond’s side have a real top of the table six-pointer when they are at home to Sun Sports.

Elsewhere, Berkhamsted Reserves beat Kimpton Rovers 3-2 on Saturday in a thrilling Herts Intermediate Cup tie at Broadwater.

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After dominating the first half, but not finishing their moves off, Pierce Kelly finally put Berko in front, but a defensive lapse at a corner allowed a headed equaliser.

A defensive mix up-saw Kimpton take the lead in the second half , however Berko went on to level and then win the tie with two late goals.

A free-kick from Tom Shaw made it 2-2, before Kiefer Shuttleworth latched onto a loose ball to slot home the winner for Berkhamsted.

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