With Kings’ long standing injury list showing little sign of abating, the Club signed no less than six players on the eve of this League Cup derby with Division 1 leaders Berkhamsted.

Goalkeepers Jack Berman (Stevenage) and Lee Axworthy (London Colney) were joined by midfielder Tarique Clarke (Welling United), defender Kabir Kareem (Windsor) and striker Jonathan Kamara (Staines Town), while Under 18 full back Cassius Koyejo was elevated to the first team squad. With Watford Academy defender Will Hall (loan) and St Neots midfielder Erin Amu signed the previous week, it was a new look side that took on the Comrades on a distinctly Autumnal evening at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium.

Both sides played some neat football on a good playing surface in the first half. It took 37 minutes for the first goal to arrive, when a cross from the left by Carl Chambers was tapped in at the back post by ex-King James Verney.

It had been a good performance by the home team, given that the majority had never played together before, but Berko began to take control in the second half, with Jake Tabor hitting the post and then the bar. Tabor finally doubled the lead with a superb diving header to convert a Lucas Kirkpatrick cross, but the huge positive for Kings was the form of keeper Jack Berman, who pulled off a string of fine saves and blocks to deny the visitors.

With Watford loanee Alfie Marriott also on the injury list and Liam Studley at University, Kings look to have a viable alternative in Berman and fellow teenage signing Lee Axworthy.

Cassius Koyejo had an encouraging debut, as did Kabir Kareem, but the midfield and attack had an uphill struggle all evening and Kings exited the competition, leaving them to concentrate on the battle to move up the table in the League.