The Isuzu FA Trophy 3rd round qualifying ties were contested on Saturday last, 5th October, with 3 of them involving Middlesex clubs. Your Roving Team watched Hanwell Town’s home match against Berkhamsted.

Berkhamsted currently play at Step 4 of the Non-League Pyramid in the Southern League Division One Central. They were relegated last season, after finishing in bottom place in the Premier Division Central but have made a good start to the current campaign. They won their first 3 league matches 4-0, 4-0 and 4-1 and have now won 5 out of 6, with a favourable goal ratio of 20 to 9. They also recorded 2 good away victories in the FA Cup before exiting that competition. The club was formed in 2009, following the demise of Berkhamsted Town, due to financial problems.

Berkhamsted, known to their supporters as the Comrades, had reached this stage of the FA Trophy by overcoming Dunstable in a penalty shoot-out, following a 2-2 away draw and Tilbury 4-0 at home. Hanwell Town, as a Step 3 club, entered the competition in this round.

We were entertained by an interesting cup tie. The visitors started brightly but the Geordies went ahead in the 11th minute and then dominated throughout the first half, without adding to their lead. The home supporters’ fears that Hanwell might regret their failure to turn their superiority into goals, were realised on the hour, when Berkhamsted equalised. The visitors, through dogged defence and some blatant time wasting, held on to proceed to a penalty shoot-out, despite being reduced to 10 and then to 9 players. The penalty shoot-out was brief.  The visitors went first and scored but then failed to convert their next three efforts. The Geordies needed only 3 shots, all of which were successful.

The first serious chance went to the visitors. Simeon Olarerin (who was once a member of the Under 18 team that represented Middlesex FA in the FA County Youth Cup) was released by a chip, sped up the left wing and cut in but shot into the side netting.

Hanwell Town took the lead in the 11th minute. The visiting keeper, Henry Blackledge made a good close range save from Dan Carr but the ball rebounded to Jordan Edwards, who netted.

The Geordies maintained the pressure. Dan Carr was tripped just outside the right-hand side of the box. Jordan Edwards’ freekick was intercepted. Then Will Hall’s effort was blocked as he shot, allowing the ball to run slowly through to the keeper.

Jordan Edwards released Dan Carr, who set off on a penetrating run and shot across goal, just missing the far post.

Berkhamsted’s Adam Watkins’ shot on the turn was taken high up by Sam Beasant.

Callum Woodcock held Adam Watkins just outside the box and was cautioned. Ben Walster hit the freekick through the defensive wall but it was safely taken by Sam Beasant.

Leo Donnellan came on as a substitute for the Geordies’ and was quickly in the action, testing Henry Blackledge. 

Callum Woodcock’s shot from just outside the penalty area was turned over the bar by the visiting keeper.

Joe Wilson made a good block to halt Berkhamsted’s Roger James. Joe then made a good run and set up Jordan Edwards, who wasn’t quite able to make an effective connection with the ball.

Score at half time: Hanwell Town 1   Berkhamsted 0

Jordan Edwards’ free kick was blocked by the defensive wall.

Dan Carr’s shot was blocked and went for a corner. The corner kick found Will Hall, whose header was just wide.

A good move resulted in Jordan Edwards releasing Dan Carr but his shot was saved at close range by Henry Blackledge.

Roger James levelled the scores in the 60th minute by netting a cross from the left.

A well-struck volley on the turn from Callum Woodcock, through the crowded goalmouth, was unfortunately too straight and was saved by the keeper.

Berkhamsted were reduced to 10 men in the 71st minute, when Dan Newton was dismissed for a foul on Ezekiel Coker-Sonukan. Almost immediately, unused Berkhamsted substitute, Lewis Thorpe, was shown a red card.

Simeon Olarerin bought a good close-range save from Sam Beasant.

The visitors lost another player in the 82nd minute, when Luke Andrews was shown a 2nd yellow card and the resulting red one.

Cameron Rohart-Brown’s low cross was scrambled away by the Berkhamsted defence.

The referee indicated that there would be 5 minutes additional time. Because of the subsequent stoppages, this got extended to 10 minutes.

Henry Blackledge left his penalty area to head clear from the advancing home strikers.

Dan Carr’s shot was blocked. Will Hall’s effort was turned for a corner, which was headed wide.  

Elliot Beynon tested Henry Blackledge from close range. The keeper couldn’t hold the shot but the ball was scrambled away.

Score at full-time: Hanwell Town 1   Berkhamsted 1 

Berkhamsted went first in the penalty shoot-out.  Both of the first pair of penalty takers, Jonathan Lacey and Jordan Edwards were successful.

Sam Beasant, diving to his right, saved Berkhamsted’s second penalty taken by Jack Tompkins. Dan Carr netted for the Geordies.

Matthew Bateman crashed Berkhamsted’s 3rd penalty against the post and Cameron Rohart-Brown netted to make the score 3-1 to the Geordies.

Sam Beasant then saved with his feet from Simeon Olarerin to put Hanwell Town through to the next round.

Result of Penalty Shoot-out: Berkhamsted 1   Hanwell Town 3.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Hanwell Town: Sam Beasant (capt), Joe Wilson, Cameron Rohart-Brown, Callum Woodcock, Rudi Pache, Will Hall, Rod Orlando-Young (Ezekial Coker-Sonukan 69 mins), Mat Mackenzie (Leo Donnellan 36), Alfie Pendlebury (Elliot  Beynon 84), Jordan Edwards and Dan Carr.

Unused substitutes: Chris Regis and Nathanael Boayke.

Manager: Chris Moore Assistant Manager: David Murphy Coaches: Nick Brown and Sam Loades Physios: Claire Benton and Moss Taleb.

Berkhamsted: Henry Blackledge, Jack Tompkins, Ben Walster, Ross Oulton (Jordon Frederick 61), Sam McClelland (Jonathan Lacey 90+5), Dan Newton, Roger James (Connor Toomey 71), Adam Watkins, Matthew Bateman {capt), Luke Adams and Simeon Olarerin.

Unused substitutes: Lewis Thorpe and Joshua Chamberlain.

Manager: Chris Devane Assistant Manager: Darren Locke Coach: Aaron Morgan G/K Coach: James Oulston  Physio: Alasan Ali.

Referee: Redmond Egan  Assistant Referees: Wayne Pocock and Konrad Kaminski

Attendance: 175

It was a good day for Middlesex in the FA Trophy as all 3 of our teams involved in this round won. Hendon recorded a stunning 5-1 win away to Bedford Town, who are currently in second place in the Southern League Premier Central Division. They were 3-0 ahead at half time, through a Kai Brosnan hattrick. Billie Busari added a fourth immediately after the interval. Bedford Town reduced the deficit midway through the second half but Mike Muir capped the proceedings with a 5th goal in the 83rd minute.

Uxbridge won an exciting home tie against Thame United. They went behind in the 27th minute to trail at halftime but fought back in the second half to take the lead, through goals from Andrio Brandao and George Moore. Thame United equalised in the 90th minute but Alex Witham’s penalty kick in the 7th minute of additional time settled the tie in The Reds favour. 

The draw for the 1st Round Proper, which is scheduled for 26th October, produced an all-Middlesex tie, with Hanwell Town hosting Hendon. Uxbridge are at home to Chertsey Town.

Report: Jim Taylor

Photos: Chris Benn

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