Burnham stretch lead at the summit with another impressive win over Ardley United

Shyon Dennis scored twice in Burnham's 4-1 win at Ardley on Saturday. Photo: Burnham FC/Paul Butler

--

For the second time this season Burnham came from behind to beat Ardley United 4-1 on Saturday, a result which lifts Mo and Omz Bakali’s side five points clear at the top.

Ardley would have had revenge on their minds coming into Saturday’s game at the Nolan Oils Ground - having lost 4-1 to the Blues at the 1878 Stadium just a couple of wees ago - however, once again they found their opponents too hot to handle. 

In both league games this season, Ardley have taken the lead inside 10 minutes with David Inyang striking them in front in the ninth minute this weekend. 

And while it took the Blues a little longer to get back on terms this time around, they had managed to wrestle back momentum and the upper hand by half-time.

Having scored twice in last weekend’s win over Virginia Water, Shyon Dennis got the visitors level with a goal in the 32nd minute.

The Blues then grabbed a second on the stroke of half-time through Rafael Bertoli before sealing the points with late strikes from Dennis again in the 78th minute and Deluxe Mwengula in the 88th minute.

Ardley could be one of Burnham’s main rivals for promotion this season, yet they’ve very much come off second best in both league matches, conceding eight and scoring just twice.

Burnham, meanwhile, will have been delighted to get back to winning ways at the first attempt, having seen their previous eight-match unbeaten run ended by North Greenford United on Tuesday.

Beneath them, Broadfields United moved back up to second with a 3-2 win over Hilltop, leapfrogging Ashford Town and Wallingford and Crowmarsh in the process.

While their lead at the top looks a healthy one, the Blues have played more games than most of the teams just beneath them in the table. 

Fifth placed Ardley still have five games in hand on them, and are only 12 points adrift. However, Burnham do have those points in the bank and have shown of late they have the character and quality to compete for the title if the fight goes down to the wire. 

From here the Blues host Amersham Town at the 1878 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Ardley United are back in action at home to the same opponents tomorrow evening (Tuesday) while sixth placed Windsor & Eton will hope to make up the first of their eight games in hand over the Blues when they visit Reading City at Rivermoor tomorrow.

Holyport will be looking for a win which would lift them out of the relegation zone when they visit Virginia Water tomorrow evening (Tuesday).

Port are back to within two points of safety after ending a run of 12 defeats in all competitions with an impressive – and much-needed – 3-1 home win over Hilltop on January 17.