Rampant Comrades stun Wembley with early goal blitz

The Comrades fans were not left disappointed as Berkhamsted put the visitors to the sword, winning 4-1 and proving that it’s not just the grand theatres of the Emirates or Old Trafford that are the scenes of creative, free-flowing football.

The match was effectively over as a contest within the first six minutes as Berkhamsted scored a quick-fire treble that left the visitors reeling.

Captain Jim Baldry gave them the lead barely two minutes after kick-off as he capitalised on an in-swinging corner to prod home from inside the crowded penalty box.

Wembley had not settled and the game was rapidly escaping them when Adiel Mannion pounced on a mistake in defence, nicking the ball as the defender dawdled and burying it in the far corner.

Moments later it was 3-0; Aaron Nash Barker turned and rifled a shot that was still rising as it hit the back of the net, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

The excitement didn’t end there, however, as Wembley found a way back into the match as Zaied Sabti found space to send a testing ball into the area that deceived everyone, including Berko keeper Carl Tasker, and rolled into the path of Calvin Kasirye who slotted home.

The goal seemed to give the away team a boost in confidence as they began the second half with some purpose, with Alex Witham testing Tasker with a stinging shot from distance.

It was not enough to contain the irrepressible home team, however, as a well worked goal saw them go 4-1 up in the second half.

Nash Barker raced down the left and pulled the ball back to Dan Weeks whose pin-point delivery allowed Frankie Jowle to meet the ball with a sweet volley that crashed on to the underside of the bar and over the line to secure the win.

Wembley continued to press but lacked both the cutting edge and the final ball required to get themselves back into the game, while the Comrades were disciplined at the back with Ed Canham and Josh Chamberlain marshalling their side to victory.

There was no change at the top of the table as the rest of the top six all won on Saturday.

Berko: Tasker, Hawes (Rodrigoe), Weeks, Baldry, Canham, Farrelly, Jowle, Nash-Barker(Carbery), Mannion (Caines), Eboji, Chamberlain. Sub not used: Gomm.

Elsewhere, Aylesbury Reserves beat Berko in the Suburban League North, with the Comrades’ goal coming from Ross Trevillion.

On Wednesday Berko go to Potters Bar Town’s ground to play Hadley as they continue their defence of the Premier Division Cup. The winners will be away to London Tigers in the quarter-final.

Then it is back to league action with a trip to Colney Heath on Saturday, a side Berko have beaten once already this season.

Berko’s reserve side are away to Hertford Town U21 in the Herts Intermediate Cup on Saturday.