Berkeley maintain perfect derby record (From Gazette Series)

Berkeley maintain perfect derby record

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One Berkeley Town 3 Kingswood 0

BERKELEY TOWN enjoyed the sweet taste of derby success for the third week running as they beat Kingswood by three goals to nil.

Having already beaten Cam Bulldogs 2-0 and Sharpness 4-0 - both away from home - Town returned to Canon Park to complete a hat-trick of wins over their three neighbours.

The 3-0 victory over Kingswood meant that Berkeley had not even conceded a goal in their winning streak.

Playing in front of a good crowd, both teams had chances to open the scoring in the opening 15 minutes.

Indeed, had either Kevin Spill or Adam Harber taken their chances then the game might have been a totally different affair.

Instead it was the home side that took a 20th minute lead.

Pete Lavis played in Tim Beames and the in-form striker beat Kingswood goalkeeper Andy Rodman.

Ten minutes later, Berkeley doubled their advantage when Rodman failed to hold Ollie Clarke's drive and the midfielder followed up to score.

Town thought that they had a penalty right on half-time when a defender handled the ball on the line but, after consulting with the linesman, the referee ruled that Berkeley had been offside in the build-up.

Kingswood tried everything to get back into the game in the second half but where perpertually thwarted by an inspired home defence.

As the visitors grew ever more desperate for goals they left more and more space at the back and were indebted to Rodman for preventing a glut of Berkeley goals.

In the end, the visiting goalkeeper was beaten just once more near the end as Rich Langford matched striking partner Beames by scoring in all three of the derby wins.

Rodman saved from Clarke but the alert Langford was on hand to turn the ball into the net.

Berkeley now sit in fifth in the table, one place above Kingswood.

Town chairman Rob Evans told the Gazette: "It was a good game that we deserved to win. We have now won three derby games in a row without conceding a goal."

l Berkeley's home game with Chalford tomorrow is an early kick-off (1.45pm).