St Margaretsbury get the better of misfiring Berko

It was a frustrating afternoon for Berkhamsted. Picture (c) Ray Canham

A goal in each half from Harley Haag settled this match and earned the Saints three valuable points to aid their battle against relegation.

Berko had three men missing through suspension and, while playing some neat football, they suffered from a lack of available forwards to finish off their moves.

Saints battled hard throughout, with Haag firing them ahead in the first half.

Berko thought the assistant referee missed an offside in the build-up to the second goal, but no flag came and Haag went on to net.

Elsewhere, other results went Berko’s way so they held on to fifth spot in the league table despite the reverse.

Berko: Tasker, Mead (Edwards), Weeks , Baldry, L Ladyman, Rodrigoe, Jowle (Nash-Barker), Hawes, Carter (Jah), Campana, Frederick. Sub not used: A Ladyman.

Meanwhile, Berko’s reserve team went down 3-1 at home to Hartley Wintney at the weekend.

A Jack Skinner free-kick gave Berko the lea, but the visitors hit back with three second half goals aided by Berko being reduced to 10 men.

The Hartley Wintney goals came via a free-kick that got through the defensive wall and another couple of goals where men got caught in possession.

Josh Chamberlain will be back for Tuesday’s first team trip to the league leaders AFC Dunstable, when Adiel Mannion and Max Farrelly will still be banned.

However, they should be available again for Thursday night’s trip to Welwyn Garden City, which will be a dress rehearsal for the following week’s Challenge Trophy final between the same two sides on Wednesday, April 20 at Harefield United’s ground.

Kings Langley Reserves come to Berko in the Suburban North on Tuesday, while Watford Ladies are at home to Yeovil in the Women’s Super League at Broadwater on Sunday, 2om kick-off.