Berkhamsted Football Club
The ComradesNEW BERKHAMSTED F.C. WEB SITE
FOR ALL CURRENT NEWS, FIXTURES, MATCH REPORTS ETC (AFTER 29 NOVEMBER 2013), GO TO OUR NEW WEB SITE AT: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/berkhamstedfootballclub/ .
THIS SITE IS MAINTAINED AS AN ARCHIVE ONLY AND IS NO LONGER UPDATED.
New Berko FC web site launched!!
After many weeks in the planning, our new web site is now available at http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/berkhamstedfootballclub so please ensure you add this to your favourites and go there for future match reports, news etc. Information should be easier to locate and the club’s profile in the football community should be improved, including links to Twitter and Facebook. We hope you like it as it seems like a major step forward for us, but feel free to let us know what you think.
The site which you are viewing now has performed a significant role since the club was formed in 2009. It is a valuable archive of the club’s history and will remain in place for future reference purposes but will not be updated in future.
New Berko FC web site launches tomorrow!
We are very pleased to announce that we will launch our new web site tomorrow, 29th November. This is a Pitchero site specifically designed for football clubs and includes improved facilities for photos, videos etc and a forum facility. We hope that this will generally improve the image and profile of the club and, for users, make information easier to locate. This current site will remain in place but will no longer be regularly updated. The address of the new site is http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/berkhamstedfootballclub. We would welcome feedback on the new site and this should go to webmaster, Phil Hobbs.
CUP REVENGE FOR BERKO
HOLMER GREEN 0 BERKHAMSTED 3
Berko got quick revenge on Holmer Green after Saturday’s league defeat by knocking them out of the Challenge Trophy on Tuesday night thanks to a hat trick from Connor Calcutt. Mick Vipond made three changes with Ed Canham and Lewis Rodrigoe returning to the defence and Frankie Jowle back on the right wing and the side looked more convincing.
Calcutt headed the opening goal in the 11th minute when a cross from the right was flicked into his path by Josh Chamberlain. An audacious lob from 30 yards by Steve Hawes caught Ben Boulter off his line but the ball rebounded off the cross bar to the relief of the home fans. Berko were creating chances and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead five minutes before the interval. Jowle fed Bulter and he turned neatly to lay the ball on for Calcutt to net again. Berko again picked up cards for fouls that could prove costly with Canham, Hawes and Sears getting yellows.
In the second half Jowle went clear and looked ready to score when a defender recovered enough to put the ball wide for a corner. Home skipper Gary Lines foolishly kicked out at Chamberlain outside the touchline and got a red card as the referee spotted it.
Berko turned the screws with Canham heading against the bar, a smashing volley from Chamberlain went the wrong side of the post and numerous corners went close. Calcuttt finally claimed his hat trick by heading home an inviting cross from the left by Chamberlain. At the other end a close range header was missed and Carl Tasker foiled a couple of breakaway efforts.
Berko will be at home in the next round to the winners of the January tie between Hanwell Town and St Margaretsbury.
Berko: Tasker; Griggs, Rodrigoe, Sears, Canham Hawes,(Frederick), Jowle(Morrissey), Butler (Bent ), Calcutt, ,Towell, Chamberlain. Subs not used Copson & Gavin.
This Saturday 3rd placed Berko go to Hertford Town in the Premier division looking to get some badly needed league points. However, Steve Hawes misses the match having accumulated too many bookings. On Tuesday 3rd Berko have a tough Herts Senior Cup tie at home to Boreham Wood who are from three divisions above them.
The reserves entertain Dunstable Town on Saturday in the Suburban League. Berko’s under 18s play Colney Heath two Wednesdays running-being at home on the 27th and then away next week to complete their Olympian division league programme.
BERKO’S 100% HOME RECORD GOES
BERKHAMSTED 2 HOLMER GREEN 4
Berko’s promotion hopes took a knock on Saturday when they dropped points at home for the first time this season as they slumped in the second half to defeat against Holmer Green. It all looked so different in the first half when Berko were good value for their single goal lead , dominating possession. Josh Chamberlain down the right laid on a goal for the unmarked Connor Calcutt to open the scoring in the 14th minute with a shot. Ben Boulter stopped a few at the second attempt in the visitors’ goal. Calcutt headed two good chances wide either side of the interval. At the railway end Berko only had two scares in the first half, once when Carl Tasker was caught in possession dribbling against a forward and the other when Dale Sears had to charge down a shot.
In the second half Boulter saved a low shot from Ben Butler. Berko were to rue their missed first half chances when they conceded two goals in a minute around the hour mark. Dean Allen has a good record against Berko and he pounced when Berko lost possession and soon after Eliot Derby gave them the lead despite protestations for offside.
Berko now knew they had a game on and Boulter saved a Butler free kick after Calcutt was fouled. Mick Vipond brought on Frankie Jowle and a Chamberlain free kick was met by a Berko player but the ball came back off the bar. Allen made it 3-1 from the penalty mark as the referee spotted a foul on the far side of the area as a defender took the ball. Chamberlain tapped in at the post as Calcutt turned provider to bring it back to 3-2. Berko threw on more forwards in a bid to salvage a point, but instead a weak header led to a cross that Allen converted for his hat trick to make sure that the points went to the visitors in injury time.
Berko have an early chance of revenge when the two sides meet on Tuesday 26th in the Challenge Trophy. Ed Canham will be back after suspension to tighten the defence and Lewis Rodrigoe and Jamie Gavin will be available again.
Berko: Tasker; Griggs, Copson , Hawes, Sears, Frederick (Jowle) Bent (Turner), Butler, Calcutt), ,Towell (Morrissey), Chamberlain. Subs not used Osborne.
Berko’s reserves went down 3-1 at T ring Athletic in the Suburban League on Saturday.
This Saturday 3rd placed Berko go to Hertford Town in the Premier division looking to get some badly needed league points. On Tuesday 3rd Berko have a tough Herts Senior Cup tie at home to Boreham Wood who are from three divisions above them. The resres entertain Dunstable Town on Saturday in the Suburban League. Berko’s under 18s play Colney Heath two Wednesdays running-being at home then away to complete their Olympian division league programme.
BERKO IN SEMIS
BERKHAMSTED 4 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD ROVERS 0
Berko, the holders set up a home St Marys Cup semi final with either Oxhey Jets or Tring Athletic on a frosty night at Broadwater when they returned to winning ways. Mick Vipond had to do without the suspended Ed Canham and chose to promote Jack Copson, James Bent, James Towell, Ashley Morrissey and Ben Butler to the starting line up after being on the bench a lot recently.
Bent opened the scoring after Josh Chamberlain created the goal with some fine play up the left. Towell beat three and curled a shot against the post. Chamberlain doubled the lead before the interval with a shot that a defender on the line could not prevent going in.
Rovers contributed to the game but Berko missed a stack of chances at the canal end in the second half. However, further goals from Chamberlain who rolled the ball in from a tight angle and Bent after good work by substitute Connor Calcutt made it 4-0 in the end. Keiron Turner came on for his debut after some promising performacnes in the reserves.
Berko: Tasker; Gavin, Copson ,Rodrigoe, Hawes(Turner), Butler, Morrissey (Calcutt), Frederick,Towell, Bent, Chamberlain. Subs not used, &l. Griggs, Jowle Sears,
Third placed Berko play Holmer Green twice, in a home league game on Saturday 23rd and then away on Tuesday 26th in the Challenge Trophy.
Berko go to Tring Athletic reserves in a Suburban League North game on Saturday 23rd.
VASE EXIT FOR BERKO
HULLBRIDGE SPORTS 1 BERKHAMSTED 0 aet
Berko were left scratching their heads as to how they went out of the FA Carlsberg Vase on Saturday. The short answer is teenage substitute Liam Nash scored five minutes from the end of extra time with a rare shot for Sports, whilst Berko drew a blank after scoring in every one of their previous 25 games.
A coach breakdown meant Berko’s good away support did not arrive until shortly before the kick off. Berko were at full strength apart from the ill Ben Butler and camped in the Hullbridge half for much of the first 45 minutes. Most Berko players could beat their man, but kept finding another defender popping up to stop the dribbles or intercept the final pass with a massed defence. Jordon Frederick, Josh Chamberlain and the overlapping Lewis Rodrigoe were prominent in attack with Frederick going past many men but being denied. A silly hand ball gave Berko a free kick in a great position but Connor Calcutt put it over the bar.
Berko were optimistic that they would go on to win in the second half and produced more clear chances playing uphill. Bobby Mason pulled off two fine saves around the hour mark to keep out headers from Chamberlain after good crosses from the right by Dan Griggs and Frankie Jowle. Jamie Gavin, Calcutt and Chamberlain all shot wide as the pressure mounted. At the other end an overhead kick on his own line from Rodrigoe saved Berko. Steve Hawes , Frederick and Dale Sears all got booked in a match that featured many sliding tackles in the long grass and soft ground.
Mick Vipond brought on James Bent and James Towell to try and pep things up with 10 minutes of normal time left. Towell headed over from a flick on by Ed Canham from a long Chamberlain throw. Steve Hawes broke away but shot wide when he looked likely to score.
Chamberlain was getting plenty practice taking corners particularly in extra tine, but when Canham and Sears reached them, they were off target. Then came the break away goal down the hill from Nash who went down the left and shot under Carl Tasker, who had slipped on the tricky surface. That sent the home bench on a celebration run to the other side of the pitch, incurring the wrath of the referee, who issued many cards, on top of the ones he had already given the home side for earlier dissent and fouls.
Berko: Tasker; Griggs, Rodrigoe, Sears, Canham, Hawes, Jowle (Towell), Gavin, Calcutt Frederick (Bent) Chamberlain. Subs not used Copson, &l Morrissey.
Berko’s reserve side went two goals up in the first half of their cup tie with Farnham Town but were pegged back to 2-2 at the end of the first leg at Broadwater.
Thursday’s night’s midweek under 18 game at home to Kings Langley kept the large crowd well entertained. Kings Langley were coasting at 4-1 up only to find Berko pulling back to 4-4 before a cruel deflation made the final score 5-4 to the visitors. Berko’s goals came from Kai Lewis, Jay Caines (2 including a stunning free kick) and Dan Burley. Berko hit the bar and the post in the closing stages too.
Fixtures
Berko begin their defence of the St Marys Cup at home to Hemel Hempstead Rovers on Tuesday 29th ko 7:45pm-admission is half the normal first team price. They then play Holmer Green twice, in a home league game on Saturday 23rd and then away on Tuesday 26th in the Challenge Trophy.
Berko go to Tring Athletic reserves in a Suburban League North game on Saturday 23rd.
Coach to Hullbridge – seats available
We have booked a 35-seater coach to travel to Hullbridge on Saturday for the FA Vase game. A few seats are still available and anyone wishing to join us on the coach should let Keith Hicks know asap. The coach will leave at 11.45am and the cost is £10.
BERKO DRAW
LONDON LIONS 2 BERKHAMSTED 2
Berko remain third after dropping two points on Wednesday night at Vauxhall Road to bottom of the table London Lions. Suspension and injury forced Micky Vipond to change the side after a run of seven consecutive wins. The first half was disappointing with Berko only creating a few clear chances despite camping down the hill for long periods against the massed Lions defence. Connor Calcutt beat the offside trap and set up Jamie Gavin but his shot ran along the goal line. Lions had a couple of defenders booked in the first half.
Jonny Haik broke early in the second half but shot wide at the top end. The feeling it was not Berko’s night was strengthened when in the same move, Ashley Morrisey beat Dan Lee and thundered a shot against the bar and Jamie Gavin latched onto the loose ball and hit both posts with his shot.
Calcutt eased the pressure by smashing the ball home to score for the seventh successive match. ithin two minutes the score was even again when James Belchak hit a superb shot past Carl Tasker. Berko went behind on the hour mark with a shot into the bottom left corner of the net from from Haik,
That shook Berko into action and Vipond brought on James Bent and Jack Copson. Lee saved from Morrissey. The equaliser came from another stunning strike, this time from Josh Chamberlain who cut in from the right wing after he was moved up from left back when Copson came on. Berko now went all out for the winner but Lee defied Chamberlain and a couple of Ed Canham headers went close. Berko had so many corners but it is goals that count.
Berko: Tasker; Griggs, Chamberlain Rodrigoe Canham, Hawes, Morrissey , Gavin(Copson),Calcutt Frederick Towell (Bent). Subs not used Jowle, Osborne & Turner
On Saturday Berko are in the FA Carlsberg Vase at Hullbridge Sports. Dale Sears should be back from suspension and Micky Vipond is optimistic that Ben Butler and Frankie Jowle will be over illness and knocks. On Tuesday 19th they are at home to Hemel Hempstead Rovers in the St Marys Cup quarter final or will entertain Hullbridge Sports if there is an FA Vase replay.
Berko’s reserves play the first leg of their Suburban Cup tie with Farnham Town at Broadwater on Saturday. The under 18’s are at home to Kings Langley on Thursday 14th
Transport to FA Vase game at Hullbridge
A coach or minibus (depending upon demand) will be available to supporters wishing to travel to the FA Vase game at Hullbridge Sports next Saturday, 16th November. This will leave at 11.45am and the cost will be £10. Anyone interested should phone or text Keith Hicks as soon as possible on 07767 430087 or Phil Hobbs on 07963 120128.
Berkhamsted Football Club 