Defeat puts a major dent in Burnham's promotion hopes

Burnham vs North Greenford United Photo credit: Gabby Winters

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A major dent was put in Burnham’s hopes of finishing top of the pile in the Combined Counties Premier Division North on Saturday after the Blues were beaten 2-1 at home by North Greenford United.

Burnham really had to win all their remaining league fixtures and hope ascending rivals such as Ashford Town and Windsor & Eton FC slipped up in the closing weeks of the season.

What they couldn’t afford to do was drop points - particularly at home - but this is what occurred at the 1878 Stadium on Saturday.

The Blues took the lead through an own goal in the 53rd minute from Taylor Miles but any hope and optimism for a third straight win quickly sapped away as Joseph Mills (59') equalised six minutes later.

Charlie Jay Mitchell’s winner in the 85th minute also wasn’t in the script for the Blues, and the result now leaves them looking extremely vulnerable to being replaced at the summit.

It’s also not beyond the realms of possibility that Burnham could slip out of the play-off places entirely given the number of teams within touching distance, many of whom have several matches in hand on them.

One of those is fifth placed Windsor & Eton, now only 10 points behind with seven matches in hand over Burnham after Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Amersham Town.

The Royalists wrapped this one up before half-time, thanks to goals from Sam Hutchings (15'), Morrison Hashi (20') and Nick Thumwood (34').

They have matches in hand over all the teams above them and would win the title were they to win them all. Their fate remains in their own hands, which can’t be said for Burnham any longer. The Blues have just four matches left to effect matters, starting at home to Holyport on April 4.

Windsor & Eton have also seen their next game at Hilltop on Friday postponed after the league ‘accepted a request from the home side due to the timing of Eid’.

A new date will be arranged in due course, but the Royalists must still squeeze in nine games before April 18 when they’re due to finish the season at Ardley United.

They are set to visit Kidlington on Wednesday evening.

At the bottom of the table, Holyport remain vulnerable to relegation after drawing 0-0 away to British Airways on Saturday. 

The result leaves Port in 17th place, two places and five points outside of the automatic relegation spots but 19th placed North Leigh have five matches in hand on them and 18th placed Amersham Town have four in hand. They are due to host Virginia Water at Summerleaze Park on Saturday.