Blues huff and puff in stalemate with City after FA Cup win

Burnham's players huffed and puffed as they opened their Hellenic League campaign with a stalemate against Reading City on Tuesday night.

Ashleigh James' Blues welcomed Reading City to the Gore with the visitors buoyed by their win over Lydney Town on the first day of the season.

Burnham, however, were looking to kick off their Hellenic Premier season in the best possible fashion and build on their comprehensive FA Cup victory at the weekend.

But, despite a flurry of efforts shared between the two sides, there was to be no clear winner on this occasion with the match finishing in a goalless draw. W A tenacious second half display saw

Burnham FC book themselves into the next round of the FA Cup after they beat Leverstock Green 4-1 at Pancake Lane.

The Blues started the afternoon the better side and threatened well in the opening exchanges with Manny Williams forcing a save out of Matt Fallon in the the 13th minute.

But two minutes later it was Leverstock who took the lead after Ollie Cox converted from a narrow angle past Blues ‘keeper Carl Dennison.

However, the lead lasted for just a matter of minutes as Burnham equalised through Rashid Hamid who was allowed too much space on the ball.

Tempers started to rise as the first half concluded with more fouls than shots as Burnham looked for a way to get themselves in the ascendancy.

And that they did, with Manny Williams heading home a cross in the

72nd minute.

Gavin James was then able to extend Burnham's advantage with a third and a fourth deep into stoppage time to send the Blues into the competition’s next round.

Burnham host Northwood FC in the first qualifying round next Tuesday (September 22).