*Match Report: Berko Mens 4's 4 – 4 Thame 3 | Saturday 25th January*

Berko Mens 4's were held to a dramatic 4-4 draw at home against Thame 3 on Saturday 25th January, in a match that saw a thrilling late comeback from the away side. Berko had been in control for most of the game, but Thame came alive in the final ten minutes, converting three successive penalty corners between the 60th and 70th minute to level the score.

*First Half:*
Berko started the match on the front foot, immediately applying pressure on Thame 3’s defense with fast, fluid attacking play. The home side took the lead in the 10th minute when Ryan slotted home a well-executed shot after some strong buildup play. Just two minutes later, Berko doubled their lead through Payton, who calmly converted a penalty corner in the 12th minute, making it 2-0.

Thame 3 struggled to break down Berko’s organized defense and couldn’t create any significant chances. Meanwhile, Berko continued to control possession and looked dangerous going forward. In the 25th minute, Payton scored again from a penalty corner, sending the ball into the bottom corner to extend Berko’s advantage to 3-0.

With Thame 3 unable to find a way back into the game, Berko seemed to be cruising toward halftime with a 3-0 lead. However, in the final moments of the first half, a misjudged cross-pass from Hunt in Berko’s defensive zone allowed Thame 3 to break forward and pull one back, making it 3-1 just before the break. Despite the error, Berko went into halftime still in control with a 3-1 lead.

*Second Half:*
Thame 3 came out with more urgency in the second half, but Berko continued to look solid defensively and effective on the counter. Berko extended their lead to 4-1 in the 47th minute when Ryan scored his second goal of the match with a clinical shot, restoring the two-goal advantage.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, Thame 3 finally found their rhythm and began to mount a comeback. The away side won a penalty corner in the 60th minute, which they successfully converted to make it 4-2. Just two minutes later, Thame 3 earned another penalty corner, which they dispatched with precision to reduce the deficit to 4-3. The momentum had clearly shifted in Thame’s favor.

As the game entered its final moments, Berko found themselves on the back foot, unable to regain control. Thame 3 won one last penalty corner in the 69th minute, and, once again, they executed it flawlessly, sending the ball into the corner of the net to complete their dramatic comeback and level the score at 4-4.

*Final Score: Berko Mens 4's 4 – 4 Thame 3*

*Goal Scorers:*
- Berko Mens 4's:
- Ryan (10th minute) – Shot
- Payton (12th minute) – Penalty Corner
- Payton (25th minute) – Penalty Corner
- Ryan (47th minute) – Shot
- Thame 3:
- 3 Penalty Corners (60th, 62nd, and 69th minute)

*Man of the Match:*
Ryan was named *Man of the Match* for his outstanding performance and two crucial goals in the match. His composure in front of goal and work rate throughout the game were key factors in Berko’s strong performance. Ryan's clinical finishing in both the first and second halves helped Berko maintain their advantage for much of the game.

*Dick of the Day:*
Hunt earned the *Dick of the Day* award for his misjudged cross-pass in the first half that led to Thame 3’s first goal. Despite the error, he remained solid defensively throughout the match and will look to bounce back in the next fixture.

*Summary:*
A match of two halves, Berko Mens 4's dominated for most of the game, leading 4-1 with less than 10 minutes to go. However, Thame 3 mounted an incredible comeback in the final stages, converting three successive penalty corners between the 60th and 70th minute to level the score at 4-4. While Berko will be disappointed not to hold onto their lead, they can take heart from their strong performance, particularly in the first half. Thame 3, on the other hand, will be pleased with their resilience to fight back and secure a hard-earned point.