Comrades tame ten-man Tigers to keep their FA Vase hopes alive

The Tigers had the ball in the net through Ilyos Mohamed in the sixth minute, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Ashley Morrissey nearly struck back at the other end, while Josh Chamberlain beat a couple of men and BJ Christie had a shot held by Luis Mendez de Brito in the Tigers goal.

There was plenty action in the five minutes before the interval, and Chamberlain pounced on a defensive mistake to put Berko in front with a close range shot.

He had a good chance to increase the lead, but Tigers came back with a low shot from Michael Dedonrker that came back off the foot of the upright.

Early in the second half, Frankie Jowle curled a perfect cross into the path of Adiel Mannion who headed Berko’s second goal at the Canal End.

Soon after Mannion followed up with a lob that just cleared the cross bar, before Berko boss Mick Vipond introduced former Spurs man Terry Dixon from the bench.

There was drama when Mendez de Brito was shown a red card for pulling back a Berko forward, and full-back Terry Whitman went in goal to keep out Chamberlain’s effort from the resulting penalty.

Substitute Ali Soussi gave the Tigers some hope when he shot through a crowded penalty area to pull a goal back, but Berko held on to secure their place in the next round.

They will travel to Newport Pagnell Town on Saturday, October 4 after Town knocked out Bugbrooke St Michaels 3-1 on Saturday.

Berko are at home to Kings Langley as they get back into SSML Premier division action.

Ed Canham misses the game through suspension, but Comrades boss Mick Vipond should have plenty of players to choose from.

Jordon Frederick and Dale Sears could be back in contention, while Lawrence Bunker has returned to the club, where he is career top scorer with 85 goals in 84 appearances.