Development Team Lose At Berkhamsted

Sometimes a poor performance feels imminent and sometimes it can simply appear with little or no warning.
Looking back it is clear that preparations were not ideal, players were unavailable through absence and injury whilst a number of players were returning with lingering concerns over their fitness.
Sometimes of course you can then be pleasantly surprised by a display and other times, like on Saturday, you get a performance that frustrates.
Let's talk about the hosts, at times they placed Leighton under intense pressure, not only that but they were able to take the opportunities that their good play deserved.
A couple of goals they scored in the first half were excellent examples of individual composure and technique whilst in the second half they scored an impressive team goal built on speed and power.
Berkhamsted succeeded in maintaining a high level of performance for the majority of the game and this only highlighted the inconsistency of the visitors.
Inconsistency is normally the price paid for fielding younger players but this was not the case with the Leighton team, Dominic Owen and Seth Taylor fought hard throughout, Hayden Coombs, in goal, saved every shot that he was expected to and Sonny Devine kept going till the end and grabbed a fine poachers goal as a reward.
Ironically enough, Leighton started both halves quite well, this was an improvement demanded by the coaching staff and it was only a desperate handball that prevented Ude Osmin being clean through on goal when the game was still young.
That aside, there can be no argument as to which team deserved the 3 points, Berkhamsted scored 7 goals, some of real quality, in summary, they were not only worthy but also, gracious winners.
For the visitors, there was enough determination shown in their second half resistance to suggest that they can regroup and respond accordingly.

Report by

Gary Mander