Comradely support in short supply as Reds edge to victory
- tricky291
- Sep 10
- 3 min read
This was a match that started badly and ended on a sour note for Uxbridge; however, they ultimately came away with three points and remain unbeaten in the league after seven matches — only the most ardent of Reds supporters would have imagined this would be the case at the season’s start.
The match began with a bang as Berkhamsted struck in the 3rd minute. A ball into the box was only partially cleared, and some neat one-touch play resulted in Cyrus Babaie sliding in to convert a fine low cross from the right. The lead, however, was short-lived, as the home side levelled within a minute — Berko also failed to clear their lines, allowing George Moore to fire in a deflected shot past the keeper from just outside the penalty box.
Uxbridge began to exert themselves on the match, and Harry Rush saw a shot deflected just wide in the 9th minute. Nams Nwachuku was proving a threat on the wing, setting up Moore for a header that skewed wide in the 12th minute. The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the 18th minute when Liam Prior Tack slid the ball home from a goalmouth scramble, but the flag was up for offside — despite there clearly being a Berkhamsted defender on the post playing him onside. It would not be the last contentious decision of the evening from the officials.
Uxbridge were not deterred and saw Cole Brown play a superb ball forward in the 29th minute, allowing Moore to unleash a fierce shot from outside the box, which was well saved. Toby Nnadzoie then fired over in the 32nd minute before the Reds finally got their reward. In the 37th minute, Liam Prior Tack’s corner was spilled by Charlie Horlock in the Berkhamsted goal, and Nwachuku was on hand to tuck away the loose ball, giving the home side the lead at the half.
HT: 2–1
The visiting Comrades came out strong after the break, with a free kick in the 47th minute narrowly clearing the bar. Laurie Shala was called into action in the 51st minute, dealing well with a low shot after Berko worked space in the box. Jo Lawal then produced a moment of brilliance in the 54th minute, twisting past his marker and delivering a dangerous cross that just evaded the onrushing attackers.
The Reds continued to threaten, with a 63rd-minute ball into the box causing chaos — Moore and Lawal both had chances but couldn’t convert. Nwachuku broke away in the 69th minute but opted to lay the ball off instead of shooting when well placed.
For the visitors, Matt Bateman had one of the best chances in the 74th minute but pulled his shot just wide. When Shala fumbled a corner, Charlie Johnson hooked the ball just over. Minutes later, a floated cross evaded Shala, but thankfully the ball was headed out from under the bar.
The closing stages were tense, as Uxbridge struggled to take their opportunities to put the game to bed. A free kick in the 82nd minute appeared to be handled over the bar by a Berko attacker, but no infringement was given. Moore broke away in the 88th minute and fed Dernell Wynter, who narrowly missed the target.
Berko nearly snatched a draw in the 94th minute, but the Reds’ defence was alert to head a goal-bound effort off the line. The drama wasn’t over — Moore was then shown a straight red card in the 95th minute for a late challenge on Charley Barker, leaving Uxbridge to see out the final moments with ten men.
Overall, a positive evening, soured somewhat by the late red card, meaning Uxbridge will have to make do without their talismanic forward for the next three matches — starting with a trip to Tiverton on Saturday 20 September.
Ft 2-1
Att: 276
Uxbridge: Shala, Brown (Osu), Bocarro, Fearn, Tanner, Nnadozie (Giamattei), Lawal (Thorpe), Rush, Nwachuku (Wynter), Moore, Prior Tack (Bailey)
