‘Just Like Watching Brazil!’ – Burnham shine in FA Vase win over Spelthorne Sports

Burnham in action against Spelthorne Sports at the 1878 Stadium. Photo: Paul Butler/Burnham FC

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Burnham 3, Spelthorne Sports 1

Burnham delighted their fans with some fantastic football as they advanced to the second round of the FA Vase with a home win over Spelthorne Sports on Saturday.

The Blues fans chanted ‘It’s just like watching Brazil’ as Shyon Dennis’s brace and a third from Rafael Bertoli saw them safely through to the next round at the expense of Sports.

It took the Blues just over half an hour to break the deadlock at the 1878 Stadium when Dennis did brilliantly to weave his way into the area before sweeping home at the near post.

In a game of fine goals, Sports’ equaliser was also exceptional. The second half was only four minutes old when Heesu Lee (49') wriggled free from the Burnham midfield and chanced his arm from distance, his shot flying over Archie Cunningham and into the back of the net.

Dennis wasn’t about to be outdone on that front though. When Sports were caught trying to play the ball out from the back, Burnham moved the ball quickly to the left side and Dennis’s quick feet took him past a couple of challenges before he whipped the ball into the top corner in the 54^th minute.

These teams were having a goal of the month contest of their own, and Burnham’s third was also pretty easy on the eye. Working the ball well on the right they pulled the ball back for Bertoli in the area and he took a touch before sweeping a low shot beyond Kevin Wheller.

The Blues managed to hold onto their two-goal advantage and will travel to Hythe Town for the second round on Saturday, November 8.

Hythe Town play in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division and currently sit 15^th in the table.

Of Burnham’s promotion rivals in the Combined Counties Premier Division North, only Hilltop were in action on Saturday. They missed the opportunity to close the gap, losing 5-4 at Ashford Town (Mddx).

Burnham will host fourth placed Hilltop in the league on Saturday (October 25)

All the goals from yesterday's game between Burnham and Spelthorne Sports in the ISUZU FA Vase 1st Round Proper #favase #Nonleague #nonleaguefootball #goals

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— Burnham Football Club (@BurnhamFC1878) October 19, 2025

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Whitchurch United 0, Windsor & Eton 2

Late goals from Ben Catt and Isaiah Chase-Kelly also saw Windsor & Eton safely through to the next round of the Vase at the expense of Whitchurch United.

Rob Webb’s side travelled to Shropshire off the back of consecutive 2-1 wins over Milton United and Virginia Water – maintaining the pressure on Burnham at the top of the league – and they showed their ability to grind out a result once again in the cup.

Whitchurch haven’t lost many games this season, and it looked like they were set for another positive result until late in the game when Webb’s substitutions began to have an impact.

In the 72^nd minute, the ever-reliable Ben Catt leapt highest to head home Kieran Jordan’s corner, and their place in the next round was confirmed when Chase doubled their lead with four minutes left on the clock.

The Royalists will now host Bearstead in the next round on Saturday, November 8. Winning clubs will get £900, and the losing sides will receive £275. Bearstead are currently fourth in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division but would go top should they win their matches in hand.

With leaders Burnham and second placed Broadfields United not in action until Saturday, the Royalists can move top of the table tomorrow (Tuesday) when they host Wallingford & Crowmarsh at Stag Meadow. Wallingford have had a very fine start to the season themselves, however, and sit sixth ahead of play, two points behind Windsor.

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North Greenford United 2, Holyport 3

There was a dramatic end to Holyport’s clash with North Greenford United at Berkeley Fields, with Liam McVicar scoring a 95th minute winner moments after their hosts had equalised. 

The victory lifts Port to 14th in the table and is another illustration of just how much more competitive they've been of late. 

North Greenford thought they’d snatched a point when Harvey John Killeen (90+3') levelled matters in stoppage time, but Port managed to force a corner kick a minute later. Murphy Camp-Overy's first action after coming on as substitute was to whip in a perfect corner for McVicar to fire home. 

It was no less than Port deserved after an impressive away display. 

Lee Ovens and Dan Rapley's side have been more competitive of late, even if their form has continued to be inconsistent. 

A victory over Wokingham Town and a cup win at British Airways showed what they're capable of, while they also held Windsor & Eton to a goalless draw at Summerleaze. 

A heavy 5-0 defeat  at Hilltop and a 2-1 loss at Kidlington have though left them in the lower reaches of the Combined Counties Premier Division North table.

Kickie Dzimba was the star man for Port at North Greenford. He fired them in front after only a minute and then made it 2-0 in the 18th minute when he finished off Manuel Kingsley-Nyinah’s ball to him. 

Dzimba also had two goals questionably ruled out as Port threatened to run away from their hosts.

Charlie Jay Mitchell (35' pen) pulled one back for Greenford from a controversially awarded penalty and Killeen’s late leveller would have been harsh on the visitors. But they managed to carve out one more attack and McVicar snatched a precious but well-deserved victory. 

Port are back in league action on Saturday when they host the team just above them in the table, Reading City.