Goal-hungry Comrades smash the Saints to climb to fifth in the table

Berko named an unchanged starting XI for the first time this season and duly got revenge for their Herts Charity Shield defeat to St Margaretsbury in the sweltering heat at Broadwater.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring in the fourth minute as Courney Clay hit a low bouncing ball into the net at the Canal End.

But within 10 minutes Berko were back on level terms when Jude Eboji laid the ball into the path of Aaron Nash-Barker and he beat Matt Deamer in the visitors’ goal with a decent shot.

The first half was a scrappy affair and Charlie Smith shot wide, before Carl Tasker saved Berko with his feet early in the second half when Davy Edmee fed Sean Stock who looked certain to score.

The game was decided in a 10-minute spell when Berko rattled in three goals and had another one chalked off for offside. Good teamwork allowed the Comrades to take the lead, with Nash-Barker setting up Eboji to score at the Canal End.

Frankie Jowle then dribbled across the penalty area and put the ball in the net, only for the offside flag to go up. Berko were not to be denied, though, and Josh Chamberlain chipped in with two fine solo strikes.

He spotted Deamer off his line and lobbed him from 35 yards out to make it 3-1, before pouncing on the ball after good work by Nash-Barker and Jowle to smash his second goal past Deamer.

Chamberlain turned from hero to villain when he was dismissed for a second yellow card, but by then the game was effectively over.

Berko: Tasker, Edwards, Rodrigoe, Baldry, Sears, Hawes, Jowle (Caines), Mitchell (Farrelly), Chamberlain, Eboji. Nash-Barker (Foster). Subs not used: Canham and Carbery.

Elsewhere, Berko’s reserve side went down 3-0 at Dunstable Town in the Suburban League on Thursday night. Closest to scoring was James Blyth who struck the crossbar, while Ross Trevillion’s penalty just missed the target.

On Tuesday Berko entertain a Holmer Green side that got their first win of the season on Saturday.

Attention will then turn to the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday when Berko go to Barton Rovers, who are one division above them.

There is no game at Broadwater on Saturday as the reserves are also away in the Suburban League to Northwood.