Burnham shock Slough

Slough Town missed out on a money spinning clash against first division side Reading on Tuesday night, crashing out of the Berks and Bucks County Cup against local rivals Burnham. The tie would have brought a large crowd to Wexham Park — and some much needed cash into the club. But the Rebels failed to even match a determined Burnham side, managed by Shane Chandler, who looked a far better side than their place in the Hellenic League suggests.

In Slough's defence, they did rest a number of first team regulars but the players on the pitch have allfeatured in some capacity this season in the Ryman League Premier Division. Burnham took the game to Slough right from the whistle and Ben Miles was forced into some superb early saves to keep the scores level.

Midfielder Dudley Gardiner was by far the most impressive Slough player, especially going forward, combining well with Mark Fiore, but the Rebels failed to produce any real chances in the first half-hour. And it was Burnham on the counter attack who struck on 31 minutes. A superb cross from Leigh Elliot eluded the whole Slough defence and Steve Lockhard was on hand to slot the ball past Miles for a shock lead.

That goal should have sparked Slough into life but instead they continued to create little in a match that them. Burnham almost went two goals up when lively striker Shane Small burst through the Slough defence and a series of shot rained in on Miles — but the Rebels survived.

Slough striker Andrew Deaner had a right foot volley inches away from earning a Slough equaliser just before half-time. Then it was Gardiner who was denied an equalising goal when Burnham keeper David Dyson pulled off an amazing save. Gardiner met Fiore's superb cross with a powerful header that looked destined for the back of the net, but Dyson dived like a salmon across his line to pluck the ball from the top corner.

Slough showed a little more urgency in the early stages of the second half but it Small and Marcus Richardson who looked a constant threat in attack for the Blues. Richardson almost extended Burnham's lead after 54 minutes when he volleyed a shot superbly on the turn, but Miles was there to gather the ball at the second time of asking.

An amazing turn and shot from Deaner after 65 minutes deserved a goal, simply for the audacity of the effort. The former Newbury striker neatly controlled a throw-in from Hardyman on his knee and in one quick movement turned and half-volleyed a shot from all of 40 yards. His shot crashed against the Burnham bar with Dyson beaten, and the rebound eluded substitute Brian Hammatt.

Next it was Hammatt who was frustrated in front of the Burnham goal when he rounded Dyson only to hit his shot wide, and when Lewis Reid hit a 30 yarder bound for the top corner, Dyson was their once again to keep his side in front.

Minutes later Burnham gave the Rebels another kick in the teeth when they extended their lead. Small again burst through the Slough defence, shrugging of a challenge from Simon Line and his pass found Richardson in space and unmarked to coolly slot home Burnham's second goal of the game.

Richardson scored a second six minutes later when Paul Sampson was the sole player to react to a long through ball. While the Slough defence watched, Sampson challenged Miles for the ball by the corner flag and won. A series of blocked shots eventually fell to Richardson only yards from goal and he made no mistake in sealing a much deserved win for the Hellenic League side.

Fiore scored a consolation goal for Slough a minute later with a great header but the damage had been done and it is Burnham who will face the might of Reading in the next round.