Combined Counties: Burnham beaten by North Greenford but promotion rivals also falter

Leaders Burnham visit Ardley United this Saturday. Photo: Paul Butler/Burnham FC

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North Greenford United 2, Burnham 0

Burnham missed the chance to move seven points clear at the top of the Combined Counties Premier Division North table on Tuesday night as they went down to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at North Greenford United.

In dreadful playing conditions, Mo and Omz Bakali’s side had their opportunities, and missed the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.

They also hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions and saw other decent chances go begging, so it simply wasn’t their night in front of goal.

The Blues were looking to back up Saturday’s impressive 2-0 win over Virginia Water, where Shyon Dennis bagged a fine second half brace.

While the Blues were wasteful in front of goal, their hosts North Greenford were clinical. Charlie Jay Mitchell made no mistake with his penalty in the 23rd minute and though they rode their luck at times, they gave Burnham a mountain to climb when Joseph Mills tucked home a rebound from close range after the Blues keeper spilled a cross in the 67th minute.

While this was a frustrating defeat for a team hoping to pull clear of their title rivals at the top, those challengers will also feel they missed an opportunity to steal a march on the leaders.

Ardley United, Ashford Town and Windsor & Eton all dropped points in their respective midweek matches, and these are the teams that look most likely to challenge Burnham for the title.

Second placed Ashford Town were beaten 3-2 at home by mid-table Abingdon United, while Virginia Water held fifth placed Ardley United to a 1-1 draw at home.

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Amersham Town 0, Windsor & Eton 0

Windsor & Eton were held to a goalless draw away at Amersham Town in awful wet conditions on Tuesday, but the point was good enough to move Rob Webb’s team up to sixth.

Spratleys Meadow hosted a game of few clear-cut chances and most inside the ground felt a point apiece was about right on the balance of play.

The Royalists move to within 11 points of Burnham with seven matches in hand. Win a significant proportion of those and they’ll be right in the mix for silverware and a third successive promotion.

There were a variety of factors for the Royalists’ failure to fire, not least the awful conditions. But they may also have had one eye on Saturday’s rescheduled FA Vase fourth round tie at home to Fisher FC of the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

The game was postponed last weekend due to an unplayable pitch at Stag Meadow but the heavy and persistent rain of the past few days doesn’t bode well for this weekend’s fixture either.