First half goals from
Allen and Morgan saw Burnham Ramblers take all three points against Newbury
Forest at Oakside.
Forest came into this one off the back of their 5-2 win at
Brightlingsea Regent Reserves, meaning they opened up a five-point gap to the
bottom two, and a win here would have all but guaranteed them not to finish in
the bottom two.
For Burnham, well they are just trying to finish the season
strongly, mathematically they still can earn a top ten finish but this is
probably unlikely now, but they will continue to fight until the end for sure.
The first chance went to the visitors as after the hosts had
given the ball away, Swanbrough could only fire wide, and then there was almost
a comical moment in the hosts defence when a header back from Anderson almost
caught keeper Simpson out, but the Forest number one managed to keep the ball
out.
Six minutes in though Burnham led as Allen sent a long-range
effort at the hosts goal and saw his bouncing effort go beyond the dive of
Simpson and into the corner of the net, and the visitors had the early advantage.
The hosts then had a great chance to level when a ball into
the six-yard box saw Wyatt glance wide, and then Wyatt himself then burst down
the left before his ball into the six-yard box was initially fumbled by Burnham
keeper Sawyer before he managed to gather at the second attempt.
And the home side had a golden chance to level when
Reynolds-Blanche was brought down inside the box for a penalty, but after picking
himself up and taking the spot-kick, he saw his effort saved by Sawyer, and the
visitors remained ahead.
Burnham then went close to doubling their lead when Morgan worked
himself some space inside the box before firing a left-footed effort against
the post, before more sloppy play from Forest saw Morgan nip in, but his effort
could only find the side-netting.
A minute before the break though Burnham doubled their lead
as after Morgan had been taken out inside the box, he got up to slot home the
penalty and send the visitors into the break two goals to the good.
Half Time Newbury
Forest 0 Burnham Ramblers 2
Etcheri fired an effort at the Forest goal early on in the
second period but it was straight at Simpson, before the visitors attacked down
the right before a ball in saw Allen poke wide of the target, and then the
hosts went close when Reynolds-Blanche saw his close-range effort well saved by
Sawyer.
Morgan then flew down the left for the visitors before he
sent a ball flashing across the box but no one could apply a finishing touch,
whilst down the other end an Adomakoh effort flew just over the bar, and then the
visitors saw a mis-kicked effort from Etcheri brilliantly tipped over by Simpson.
Seventeen minutes from time though, Forest got themselves a
lifeline, as Reynolds-Blanche beat the offside trap to run clear of the Burnham
defence and slot beyond Sawyer, and now the hosts believed they could get
something from this contest.
Adomakoh then headed over as Forest were now on the front
foot, but the final few minutes of this game ended in farcical scenes as the
referee lost his cool somewhat with the visitor’s bench, and after a couple of
stern warnings, sent both manager Salmon and then assistant James from the
dugout.
And then deep into stoppage time, subbed visiting player
Briggs, who had been booked earlier in the contest, took the job of shouting
instructions to his teammates, and after what the referee deemed a poke towards
him after a decision went against them, he came over and gave Briggs a second
yellow so he had to leave the pitch to.
It was a rather sour way to end the game, but Burnham did
hold on to take all three points and continue to end their season
strongly. As for Forest, they have a
rematch against Brightlingsea Regent Reserves at home this weekend, win that
and they are safe from finishing in the bottom two.
Full Time Newbury
Forest 1 Burnham Ramblers 2
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