I was back on FA Vase duty this weekend and I was back at Broadwater for Berkhamsted‘s home tie against AFC Kempston Rovers.
The visitors would surely prove to be Berko’s toughest test in the Vase thus far having not lost a game in any competition since the end of August and are unbeaten in the league as well. Berko themselves have only lost three times since the opening month of the season and like their opponents sit third in their league, so no doubt a tight affair was expected.
The first chance came to the visitors on seven minutes when Robbie Goodman glanced a free kick wide with his head whilst visiting keeper Martin Conway had to punch a dangerous cross away on the quarter hour mark but it was a tight start between two good sides which wasn’t entirely surprising.
On twenty minutes a Berko corner was headed back into the six yard box but saw the visitors scramble clear and then midway through the half came the best chance so far as a ball to the back post was headed over by Josh Chamberlain for the hosts. On 27 minutes Sam Macrae saw his effort deflected just wide of the Berko post for a corner which was headed clear and then just past the half hour mark another good effort from the visitors Ash Fuller saw Carl Tasker right behind it who made a comfortable save.
Seven minutes before the break a cross into the visitors box saw Frank Jowle attempt an audacious back flick towards goal but Conway was more than equal to it. Then just as we all thought the first half would end scoreless came the opening goal. After Tasker had saved well from Shane Bush the ball came to Chamberlain who slipped over and in doing so fell on the ball and it touched his hand and saw the referee point to the spot. It looked very harsh indeed but Dom Marsala stepped up to send Tasker the wrong way and see the visitors go into the break a goal up.
Half Time Berkhamsted 0 AFC Kempston Rovers 1
The hosts didn’t let this setback get to them though and came out the better side in the opening exchanges of the second half and nine minutes into it they got their goal and equaliser when a free kick swung into the box saw Dale Sears convert with Chamberlain there just to make sure at the far post and level the tie up again. Berkhamsted 1 AFC Kempston Rovers 1.
Just past the hour mark Berko had to scramble a visitors free kick clear as they remained solid at the back and then with twenty minutes to go visitors winger Fuller flashed a brilliant cross through the Berko six yard box but it missed everyone by a whisker. The tie was in the balance at this stage but a minute later in the 71st minute came the moment of the game when Chamberlain got possession on the half way line, beat two players and then let fly from over forty yards out to lob keeper Conway for what was a truly magnificent goal, surely one of the best anyone who was there will see all season, it was that good. More importantly for the hosts they now had the lead. Berkhamsted 2 AFC Kempston Rovers 1.
However the visitors so nearly levelled immediately when Jermaine Ivy got in for Rovers but Tasker saved well to keep them out. With eight minutes to go it was the visitors who were now chasing the game still and they were putting the pressure on the hosts defence and a cross saw Bush head well wide although he was stretching for it it what was a difficult chance.
And then with six minutes to go the hosts near enough sealed their passage into Round Three when a ball out from the back was controlled but then lost by the defence and saw a three on one break for the hosts and after the ball was played to Aaron Nash-Barker who twisted and turned his defender before hitting across Conway and in off the post and give the home side some breathing space. Berkhamsted 3 AFC Kempston Rovers 1.
The visitors afternoon got worse when sub Vinny Shrieves, who had only just come on a minute or so earlier, sent off for an apparent head butt on George Carbery. He also had an altercation with one of the Berko officials on the bench as he walked off so no doubt he will face some sort of action for that. It was certainly out of context in a game which had been keenly fought throughout but fairly also.
The visitors had one last long range effort saved by Tasker but that was that and the hosts had taken their place in the Last 64 of the Vase.
Berkhamsted 3 AFC Kempston Rovers 1
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