Burnham claim the bragging rights
Burnham FC: Clarke and Decabo seal victory for Manny’s improving Blues
Burnham 2, Windsor 1
Goals from Dwayne Clarke and Leo Decabo earned Burnham the bragging rights in Saturday's clash with Windsor and extended their unbeaten run of matches in the Combined Counties Premier Division North.
The Blues had won three of their past four games coming into the clash at The Gore, and they grabbed a 40th minute lead when Charlie Jaggers was robbed of possession and Clarke showed great composure to power the ball past Sam Butcher.
Windsor responded in the second half, and they levelled when Danny Horscroft showed the nous to follow in and score after Excellence Muhemba's headed effort was parried by Tautis Poniskaitus.
But Manny Williams' side showed the kind of spirit that's seen them move away from the skirmishes at the bottom of the table and Decabo confidently converted Tayo Ajayi’s teasing cross in the 80th minute. Windsor pressed in the final few minutes but were kept at bay by some excellent defending from the hosts.
The result sees them move up to 12th, just five points behind Windsor, who have slipped to ninth.
“Over the run of play, I thought we deserved that today,” said Williams at full-time. “We had the clearer chances, and maybe missed a handful of one-on-ones.
“It was a hard-fought win. The message at half-time was to not overcomplicate things. In the first half, we felt the midfield were taking too many touches and that’s not what we normally do – we try to move the ball around very quickly. We also knew we had to match them [Windsor] for work rate in the second half and protect what we had.
“In fairness, the boys came out in the second half and moved the baller quicker in two or three touches. We looked a much better outfit.”
Chances were few and far between for both sides in the first half with the first notable opportunity presenting itself in the 30th minute and in Burnham’s favour, as Firas Chniba crashed the bar from inside the area having skipped away from his marker.
The Blues’ winger cracked off another shot three minutes later that looked destined for the top corner had it not been for Butcher’s quick reflexes.
Five minutes from half-time, the Blues broke the deadlock thanks to Clarke and were able to snuff out the last few attempts from Windsor before the break.
In significantly wetter conditions, the Royalists were the slicker side after the interval with Billy Montague sending Lindell Stewart on his way in the early exchanges. The forward, however,
was brought down as he broke into the area, but the referee was not interested.
Excellence Muhemba sent a sweet cross into Luke Appleton next, the player rattling the crossbar with a header before getting the opportunity to go again.
Appleton appeared to be fouled in the follow up, but again, the match officials weren’t interested.
The visitors continued to knock on the door with Jake Hammond going close with a shot trickling just wide of the post. Not to be deterred, Windsor found their breakthrough thanks to Horscroft and his quick-thinking.
Their celebrations soon turned to frustration when Decabo netted the Blues 80th minute winner.
Their annoyance grew when Montague narrowly missed a series of chances in the game’s dying embers.
The Royalists host St Panteleimon while the Blues travel to Abbey Rangers next Saturday (December 18).