High fives for Berkhamsted as they run riot against Sun Sports

Berkhamsted followed up Saturday’s win over Wembley by thrashing second placed Sun Sports 5-1 on Tuesday night – their fifth victory over the same opponent this season.
Comrades players rush to celebrate with BJ ChristieComrades players rush to celebrate with BJ Christie
Comrades players rush to celebrate with BJ Christie

The first real chance fell to Sun’s Nathan Pooley who was through early on with just Carl Tasker to beat, but he shot wide.

BJ Christie marked his return to the Comrades starting line-up by putting Berko in front with a finely placed lob over home goalkeeper Ross Hampton after some neat build-up play.

The goal settled the Comrades down, and the ‘all-M’ attack of Adiel Mannion, Ashley Morrissey and Courtney Massay were regularly getting behind the defence and beating their man.

That was the route to Berko’s second goal, when the overlapping Massay pulled the ball back for Mannion to shoot home from near the penalty spot.

Frankie Jowle had a shot deflected for a corner and Mannion beat several men before Hampton saved his shot as Berko pressed towards the interval.

In the second half, a Scott Bonner header from a corner gave Sun some hope as they pulled a goal back.

However, Berko continued to attack, with a James Baldry header only half cleared and Christie’s shot deflected for a corner.

Mannion got his brace for the second game running by threading a shot between Hampton and the post, when Christie turned his man and gave an incisive pass for Mannion to run on to.

Christie scored his second to make it 4-1 with another lob over Hampton to round off a flowing move.

Some substitutions saw Lewis Rodrigoe moved to midfield and he came up for a Massay free-kick and was unchallenged when he headed the fifth goal to complete the rout, and secure Berko’s third win on the trot.

Berko: Tasker, Rodrigoe, Baldry, Gavin, Massay, Hawes (Foster), To (Osborne), Mannion, Jowle (Kelly), Morrissey, Christie. Sub not used: Barnes.

Berko entertain bottom of the table Hillingdon Borough in another Spartan South Midlands Premier Division game on Saturday at Broadwater.

There should be a good crowd with it being an international weekend.

Max Farrelly may be available to return to the squad and Josh Chamberlain should be over a bout of tonsillitis to further strengthen Mick Vipond’s options. Ed Canham remains suspended.

On Tuesday Berko go to top of the table Kings Langley in the Premier Division.