Last Saturday, top of the league Berkhamasted came to Sharpenhoe Road, they left victorious in a 1-4 win.
In a top-against-bottom league clash, Berkhamsted gave away 1-4 winners against Barton Rovers. Finishing the first half level at 1-1, Rovers actually took the lead vs the league leaders, however, the odds went against them as they received a red card just after the restart. Berkhamsted scored three goals in the second half to finish of a 9 man Barton team after Mckenzie-Lowe was forced off through injury.
Lewis Thomas was booked early on in the tie for a soft challenge on Berkhamsted attacker Blake, he would eventually go on to be sent off in the second half. Throughout the first half, Berkhamsted looked the more likely to score, but it was the home side that took the lead as Kieran Hamilton found the back of the net after twenty-seven minutes. After an initial cross was cleared by the comrades, Murshid retrieved the ball and played into the path of Hamilton who tapped it in nicely passed Bloedorn. Rovers lead didn’t last long as the Comrades had one back through Blake on the stroke of half-time.
Going into the second half level, it was set up for a huge battle in the last forty-five. That was until Rovers captain Lewis Thomas was sent off just two minutes into the half. After he was given his marching orders, Berkhamsted scored from the set piece that he gave away. Although the visitors dominated the play, Barton had a few decent chances, most coming from striker Hamilton. With half an hour to play, the league leaders had a third goal, the goal scorer Watkins beat his man and then Barton keeper Boylan to put his side 1-3 ahead. In the eighty-fourth minute Barton centre back Mckenzie-Lowe pulled up with a hamstring injury and was unable to continue, due to the fact they had already made maximum subs, Rovers had to finish the game with 9 men. The visitors capitalised on this as their substitute ran through the gaps in the park before calmly slotting home his goal past a helpless Boylan. Rovers could’ve ended the game on a high as Kieran Hamilton was through on goal until he was sandwiched by the Comrades defenders. However, the referee didn’t give the obvious penalty and the game finished 1-4 to the visitors.
Berkhamsted’s win saw them get their eighth win in a row. Barton are still only one point off of getting out of the automatic drop spot.
Full Time- Barton Rovers 1-4 Berkhamsted
Man of the Match- Ryan Blake- Berkhamsted
Match entertainment rating- 5/5
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