Honours even between Colney Heath and Berko

SSML Premier Division

Berkhamsted 0 Colney Heath 0

COLNEY Heath’s first away game of 2012 ended in a 0-0 stalemate at Broadwater.

Colney Heath started brightly and from a Jamie Eames cross, Aaron Clarke just failed to make good contact when in front of goal. From the clearance, Berkhamstead went on the break and forced Tom Blackman to make a fine save at his near post.

The same pair were involved in the 27th minute when Clarke had a header saved by the Berkhamstead ‘keeper, who then produced another good save, tipping over a drive from the edge of the area by Dave Corran from the rebound. Steve Barker then went close from the resulting corner.

Next, Corran forced another save this time from a free kick from the edge of the 18 yd box.

Corran’s set pieces and delivery were having a big impact, with another resulting in Coombs heading just wide.

Half time arrived with Colney Heath having created the better chances and they were disappointed to go in with the score still tied.

The second half started as tight as the first half with the crowd of 138 having to wait until the 75th minute for any action of note when Josh Humbert headed wide from another Corran set piece.

The introduction of top scorer Ian Cooper failed to make the impact required to break down a solid Berkhamstead defence, although he nearly hit the winner when his diving header went wide of the post.

The game ended 0-0 with the four centre backs, including Colney Heath’s Barker and Glenn Draper, the game’s outstanding players. Manager Gary Phillips said afterwards that he thought Colney Heath had done enough to secure the three points.

Heath: Blackman, Armstrong, Corran, Barker, Draper, Williams, Humbert, Dickie, Coombs, Eames, Clarke.

Subs: Cooper, Perks, Parratt, Lace, Gilbert.