AVDFC 0-2 Berkhamsted

Team: George Zammit; Luke Nugent, Alex Mitchell, Will Mullarkey, Terry Griffiths; Jamie Fulton, Tom Kellard, Callum Shortt, Jake Baldwin; Harry Loakes, Chris Stapleton
Subs: Liam Studley, Joe Chott, Harvey Matthews, Taylor Robinson, Sam Wood, Ollie Lawford

With the start of a new era upon us, there was an air of excitement at the Greenfleets Stadium as the new Management team of Liam Dwyer, Michael East and Damian Eatwell took the reigns of their first match, a friendly match against our higher opposition, Berkhamsted. They finished 2nd in Southern League Division 1 last season and unlucky not to get promoted to step 3.

The team had a number of familiar faces and a splattering of new talent as they took to the field. New team captain, Terry Griffiths, decided to test George Zammit in the first minute as he dwelled on the ball and the Berko forward nicked the ball and was straight through on goal, however, George Zammit was there to make a superb early stop.

At the other end the first chance fell to Chris Stapleton who tried an audacious scissor kick from 10 yards out from a Jake Baldwin cross.
Less than 10 minutes played and a great interception from Tom Kennard to stop a decent Berko attack. Moments later George Zammit dived at the feet of a Berko player and got a dead leg, he was ok to continue, but clearly in pain. 13 minutes and new signing, Harry Loakes, had sight of goal but his shot was blocked. The ball came out to Luke Nugent and he passed up the wing to Jake Baldwin as Dynamos looked to counter. Baldwin’s pass was deflected to the Berko keeper. Good start from Dynamos.

Jamie Fulton was pulling the strings in the centre of the park and with half an hour played he picked a great pass out to the feet of Jake Baldwin and his cross was just cleared by the big centre back for Berko. The away side though were starting to find more possession towards the end of the first half and staunch defencing from Terry Griffiths and Will Mullarkey managed to stop and shots on target. 43 minutes and Berko got the breakthrough. A simple ball through the middle split the Dynamos defence and George Zammit came out but the attacker made it to the ball first and lobbed the stranded Zammit. 0-1 Berko.

With the last action of the half, Berko should have made it two goals when they broke through but the Berko player fizzed his shot wide of the target.

Half time AVDFC 0-1 Berkhamsted

Liam Dwyer and Michael East made 6 changes at half time. Joe Chott, Harvey Matthews, Sam Wood, Ollie Lawford, Taylor Robinson and Liam Studley coming on to replace Tom Kennard, Callum Shortt, Alex Mitchell, Chris Stapleton, Luke Nugent and George Zammit. Within a couple of minutes, before Dynamos had time to settle, Berko won a corner, swung it in and their player volleyed it home from close range to make it 0-2.

A foul from Ollie Lawford gave Berko a free kick in a decent position, 25 yards out, butt Liam Studley was equal to it, saving well. 54 minutes and the lively Joe Chott’s quick feet saw him cross to Sam Wood who controlled and hit his shot wide of the target. It was Sam Wood and Joe Chott that combined again well down the Dynamos left but Sam Wood had strayed a couple of yards offside.

Sam Wood was causing Berko problems with his movement and a decent ball from Ollie Lawford sent him through on goal, only to be called offside…must have been close…! Being a friendly, rolling subs were permitted and on 60 minutes Jake Baldwin and Harry Loakes were subbed off with Callum Shortt and Chris Stapleton re-joining the action. 67 minutes and a moments hesitation from the Berko centre back was pounced on by Sam Wood and he beat his man and curled a great effort on target, but the Berko keeper saved well.

The Dynamos were having a good spell and Jamie Fulton was the architect of the next move as he played a great ball over the top where Callum Shortt controlled and through on goal, but the keeper saved again. 73 minutes and a ball out from Will Mullarkey found Sam Wood with some space, he skipped past 2 challenges but was clipped by a third Berko challenge. Free kick 25 yards out on the left wing. Jamie Fulton went for goal and the ball was inches past the far post.

The last change on 80 minutes saw Terry Griffiths and Jamie Fulton replaced by Alex Mitchell and Tom Kennard to play out the match. 83 minutes and Callum Shortt was played through by Chris Stapleton, his effort was just wide of the post, but a great chance for Dynamos. The final few minutes saw half chances for Sam Wood and Callum Shortt as the match ended with a decent performance from the Dynamos team.

Final score: AVDFC 0-2 Berkhamsted