‘We have to stick together’ says Berkhamsted boss Vipond

After looking on course for a title challenge during the first half of the campaign, the Comrades have dropped down the SSML Premier Division table and now find themselves in seventh place.

And Vipond admits it is hard to explain his side’s inconsistent form. “It’s massively frustrating,” he said. “But I am an experienced manager and have been through difficult times like these before. We have to stick together and get through it.”

The Comrades were left empty-handed again on Saturday as they shipped three goals in the second half in a 4-1 defeat by St Margaretsbury.

“My words at half-time were that it was the best I had seen from a Berko side in a few months,” said Vipond.

“It was fantastic – half-time was all positive talk about what the players had done well.

“We went in at the break having created plenty of chances, but then in the second half we lost our concentration. Suddenly it was 2-1, then 3-1 and 4-1, and the points had gone again.

“To see the side play so well for the first 45 minutes and then see the opposite after half-time is baffling. But I’m struggling to think of any player who has a really bad game.”

Vipond has spoken in recent weeks about a need for more leadership in his team, and he highlighted this again after Saturday’s defeat.

“We still haven’t solved the leadership problems and there is a lack of concentration at times,” he said.

“I’ve had a clearance of about five players who couldn’t commit, so I’ve called on players from the reserve team. I’m in talks with a few more players, but we want quality, not just numbers.”

Despite the difficult period, Vipond remains positive and added: “Who knows, one win could spark us back into life and get us back on track.”