Berko end tough run of friendlies with defeat

Berkhamsted went down 4-1 to an Aylesbury side a division above them in their final pre-season friendly at Broadwater on Sunday.
Berkhamsted in pre-season action.Berkhamsted in pre-season action.
Berkhamsted in pre-season action.

With their own three goalkeepers unavailable on Saturday, Berko used a trialist who was at fault for several goals that they conceded.

The damage was done in the first 10 minutes with a couple of players that had moved from Tring Athletic in the close season scoring for Aylesbury.

Kieron Turner opened the scoring as the keeper presented him with a chance while Lee Stobbs got the second, shooting home.

Aaron Couch’s shot went under the keeper to make it 3-0.

In the second half Conner Deadman got his first goal for Berko with a tap-in to reduce the arrears. However John Smith rounded off the scoring midway through the second half.

It meant Berko had lost all their pre-season matches, having undertaken an ambitious programme against teams from higher leagues to test all of the new signings and assess their ability alongside the bulk of last season’s players.

Berko: Trialist, Mead, Bonner, Ryan, Weeks, Hawes, Carbery, Lewis, Deadman, O’Donovan, Nash-Barker.

Competitive football returns with Berko playing two cup matches before the league season opens. The Herts Charity Shield comes first with a home game against division 1 side Baldock Town on Tuesday, August 2.

Then it is Emirates FA Cup time with Berko going to Cogenhoe United on Saturday to play the United Counties Premier side - the same level as the SSML Premier. There are places on the coach for supporters, leaving the ground at noon.

If a replay is needed it will be at Broadwater on Tuesday, August 9.

If FA Cup replays do not intervene, Berko go to last season’s runners-up London Colney on Tuesday, August 9 in their first SSML Premier Division game of the season. Former Berko reserve boss Joe Sweeney is the new man at the helm at London Colney.