Berkhamsted manager Mick Vipond says his new-look team are still finding their feet after watching them squeeze past 10-man London Tigers in the FA Vase.
The Comrades emerged as 2-1 victors to set up a clash with Newport Pagnell Town in the second qualifying round of the competition, but Vipond felt the scoreline was much closer than it should have been.
“It was a deserved win but it was a more narrow win than it should have been,” said the Comrades manager.
“We should have been 3-1 up against 10 men but it was a little bit tight at the end. We didn’t play particularly well in the second half.”
Berkhamsted have been touted as SSML Premier Division title favourites, and Vipond has urged his side to forget about this and concentrate on getting results.
“I think there is a little bit of nervousness about us because there is a lot more pressure on us this season,” said the Berko boss.
“The expectations are huge and everyone expects us to win the league but that will be hanging over us all season and we have to deal with it.”
The Comrades had an influx of new players over the summer, and Vipond says that the management team is working hard to integrate the new faces.
“We’ve got the potential to have a very good team, but the players aren’t quite playing at their best levels at the moment,” said Vipond.
“We’ve got some players coming back into the squad who have been unavailable and we have been trying to effectively mould two squads together, which is always going to be difficult and takes some time.
“We’ve got all the ingredients to bake a nice cake, now it’s down to us to make those into something edible.”
> See page 84 for full match report from Saturday’s Vase victory over London Tigers.