The Comrades pulled off a shock in the Spartan South Midlands League Trophy last night by knocking out Oxhey Jets - who are two divisions above them.  

Manager Mick Vipond changed the team formation and it took a while for the side to settle down. Jets could have won the game in the opening stages but Lewis Rodrigoe headed off his own line by the post. Ian Bywater then gave Jets the lead with a shot in the 6th minute after the ball was slid to him on the right hand side of the penalty box. Another shot from the Jets came back off the post.

However, Berko weathered the storm and hit back five minutes before the interval. James Armstrong took a fine pass from Jon Davies and was forced wide by the keeper who brought him down. Armstrong executed the penalty kick with customary aplomb for the equaliser after the keeper was booked.

Berko took command with two goals in the opening quarter of the second half. Armstrong netted his 12th of the season after he latched on to a long ball and brought it down to shoot home from an acute angle. Steve Boad got his first goal for the new club with a thundering header from an Adam Mead corner. 

Jets had a goal disallowed for offside and tried to repeat the comeback that allowed them to win over Aylesbury in the FA Vase on Saturday. Berko stood firm, but picked up bookings for Boad, Milner (who tipped one shot over the bar) and Mead.

In the 83rd minute Wayne Gladdy netted to add some tension to the closing stages. However, Berko had the perfect response as Jon Davies got between the centre backs and ran on to net a fourth goal to settle the tie. 

Berko were sufficiently on top in the second half to not even use their substitutes - whereas Jets brought on three to no avail.

Team: Milner; Wilson, Rodrigoe, Boad, Bailey, Davies, Gerrard, Mead, Hawes, Armstrong, Mead, Groves

Subs not used: Noble, Chapman, Flain, Burnett, Smith.

On Saturday Berko have the chance to go to the top of the division if they can beat last season’s title winners, the 61 FC (Luton). The top two in the second division of the Spartan South Midlands League are otherwise engaged in cup action. Berko’s reserves entertain Cranfield United in the league, with a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.