Comrades march on to Premier Division Cup Final

Skipper Ed Canham returned to the Berko starting XI and Max Farrelly was also fit to return as the Comrades made two changes from the side that lost at Hoddesdon on Saturday.

And the tactics clearly paid off as Courtney Massay opened the scoring with a free-kick midway through the first half as his curling shot went past the wall and beat Dan Little in the Holmer goal.

The Comrades were clearly up for the cup and Adiel Mannion doubled the lead with a low shot 10 minutes later.

To their credit, Holmer did not let their heads drop and Berko’s Lewis Rodrigoe was forced to clear off the line before keeper Ben Barnes did well to save a header.

However, the referee spotted a push by Jamie Gavin as he challenged for a header, and Dean Allen stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and make it 2-1.

Berko were not about to let their cup dreams crumble, though, and they regained their two-goal lead before the interval when Steve Hawes got a rare goal with a firm header at the Railway End.

Arguably the goal of the game was another rarity when Rodrigoe went dribbling on the left wing and cut into the penalty area before playing a one-two and beating Little with a well placed shot.

Marcus Mealing pulled a goal back to make it 4-2, before Ashley Morrissey and Frankie Jowle both came close for Berko, who go on to meet Colney Heath in the final.