Town Progress To FA Vase 2nd Round After 1-0 Win Against Burnham Ramblers

In an entertaining and well contested game Town were probably worth a bigger margin of victory but had to settle for a single goal by Lorrel Smith to earn their place in the next round.

Town had to make a change to their line up as James Towell was missing with an ankle injury sustained at Tring last
week, James Hatch dropped back into central defence with Dave Murphy moving to right back, Matt Hall returned from injury at left back at the expense of Kai Ashley who dropped to the subs bench.

On a blustery day Town started the match kicking against the wind and up the slight slope but in the opening 15 minutes they looked the more settled side with much of their good work coming down their right flank.

Leighton won a corner on their left in the 10th minute but the usually reliable James Hatch headed over from 6 yards out in
a central position. A minute later a cross from Lewis McBride saw Lorrel Smith get a headed touch but Dom Marsala at the far post could not get enough direction with his touch and the hosts cleared easily.

Just after this Marsala laid a nice pass into the path of Hatch but he shot wide of the near post under pressure from a defender.

A couple of minutes after this Burnham broke quickly and Hatch had to head the ball away for a throw in to end the threat. From the throw Burnham fired in a shot but this caused no problems for Tom Wyant.

In Town’s next attack Lorrel Smith ran at goal but was well challenged as he shot and the ball went into the side netting.
Marsala and McBride then combined to set up a chance for Smith but from a good position he got the timing of his header wrong and the chance was wasted.

Town opened well again in the second half and Lorrel Smith fired in a volley which Strizovic in the home goal saved well.

Then following a corner Tom Guiney fired in a volley which required an excellent save from the keeper.

Town were maintaining the pressure and Matt Hall made a break down the left from the halfway line but his low ball across the face of the goal was knocked behind for a corner with no Town Player able to get a touch.

In the 67th minute Town took a deserved lead when Carl
Tappin won the ball in midfield and played a pass through to Smith who left his marker for dead and then cleverly took the ball round the keeper before stroking the ball home.

In the 77th minute Burnham created a good chance but the final shot was struck wide.

Town then put together a good 4 man move but when Alex OBrien played the ball across the face of goal it was just inches too far in front of the lunging Smith who could not make a contact.

Burnham returned to the attack but again their finish was off target and Town went back on the attack and a high looping ball
dropped to the far post but Marsala who is usually so reliable in front of goal but knocked it wide probably due to the windy conditions. A minute after this the Town midfielder ran onto a through pass but his attempt to lift it over the keepers head saw the keeper make an easy save.

Just before the end Lorrel Smith ran through the home defence and was clearly fouled inside the box, however the referee and his assistant must have been looking elsewhere as no penalty was given.

Town saw out the last couple of minutes for a deserved win where the margin was wider than the score suggests. Burnham to their credit never gave up and could on a couple of occasions caught Town on the break.

Team: Wyant, Murphy, Hall, Marsh. Guiney, Hatch, Marsala. Tappin, Smith. OBrien, McBride . subs used Pursey for Tappin, Wigg – Booden for Marsala, Ashley for Smith.
Not used. Kirkwood , Bryant

Report by

Roy Parker