Comrades see off London Colney to climb back to the summit

On a good pitch there was some neat passing and fast football, but the first half was goalless.

Colney were strong in the air and resisted Berko’s set pieces stoutly, although Ed Canahm was winning a few aerial contests when he came forward.

Elliott Bailey headed wide after the best flick on, while BJ Christie hit the post with a fierce shot that rebounded to safety in the top goal.

A low shot from Courtney Massay whistled past the post at the bottom end after the interval, but the injection of the pace and close control of substitutes Ashley Morrissey and Adiel Mannion changed the game with Berko dominant in the last half hour.

Morrissey shot across the face of the goal but nobody arrived to finish it, and Josh Chamberlain sent a shot over the bar.

For Colney, Cain Davey shot wide as they broke dangerously at pace a few times.

The winning goal came with a quarter of an hour remaining as a Chamberlain corner was flicked on by Canham, allowing James Baldry to smash a shot into the net to send the visitors home happy.

There was still time for Mannion to go close with a shot and Jason Beck had a chance at the other end, but the game finished 1-0 to the visitors.

It was Berko’s first clean sheet of the season and, with Cockfosters and Wembley losing, it meant the Comrades were able to reclaim top spot.

Manager Mick Vipond has further strengthened his squad with the signing of Francis Luke from Eastbourne Borough.

Berko’s next first team game is at home to London Tigers in the FA Carlsberg Vase on Saturday, September 6.

This Saturday, Berko’s reserve side are at home to Binfield in the Suburban North, while the Kings Langley U18s kick-off their Corinthian Division season at home to Kings Langley next Wednesday