Berkhamsted entertained Reading 4’s on a cold and crisp day at the Cow Roast Arena, just pleased to have beaten the frost that had caused many other games to be cancelled.

Although lowly in the league Berkhamsted knew that they were going to be in for a difficult game against a youthful side that had pushed them hard earlier in the season.

With instructions to start quickly ringing home in their ears the home side got off to the perfect start when within five minutes Ed Holderness stole the ball for the opposing centre half to feed Pete Allam. He dummied the keeper into diving and then from a very tight angle hit a reverse stick shot into the roof of the net.

Berkhamsted now looked to control the game. Although having the lion share of possession and chances, the home side could not find their normal fluency and therefore not find a second to kill off the visitors, who looked fast and dangerous on the break.

As part of this growing frustration both Payton and Holderness picked up green cards for stick tackles.

Shortly before half time a long arial ball was missed by the home defence, and on the charge back to recover a stick tackle meant a short corner to Reading. From the corner a drag flick came off Stanwell’s stick on the line and flew past Cremin into the goal to level the scores (1-1) at half time.

After a stern talking too in the break, Berkhamsted started the second half by camping in the Reading half, with good pressure winning a string of short corners and free hits from just outside the ‘D’. The visitor keeper was definitely on his toes making a number of fine saves. However, pressure tells and from one of these injections came a deflection from Allam which saw the ball fly into the roof of the net to restore the lead.

As the match drew to a close and with nothing to lose Reading started to push forward more with their cause being helped when Moorhouse picked up a yellow card for yet another stick tackle.

However, the sides soon had the same number when a Reading player also received a yellow for pushing over Savage (Junior).

Although under pressure the home defence stood firm, with keeper Cremin having no real shots on target to worry about.

So at the final whistle a 2-1 win that keeps Berkhamsted still firmly in the promotion hunt.

As skipper Stanwell said, “good sides win when they are not playing well”.

Man of the match was Jake (though it could have been Jack with the quality of handwriting) and DOD went to Pete, but the tie somehow ended up with Jamie and Lizzie to give to Ed (probably for being the last to turn up). We are now expecting to have the coach wear that to training this Wednesday.

Next week match report will be by T. Payton – should he remember this time.