All square in opening day derby

Slough Town (1) 2, Burnham (1) 2
Attendance: 315

Holloways Park was treated to a derby on the opening day of the new season and what a match it proved to be as Slough Town and Burnham locked horns on Saturday with the result an indication of what both clubs can expect this season.

The campaigns of the respective teams last term could not have been more different - Burnham missing out on the play-offs and Slough finishing in a relegation place.

However, the Rebels can be sure after this display that those days are and should be firmly behind them and they can look forward to a season nearer the top end of the table. Meanwhile, the Blues yet again have a side capable of challenging for the play-offs.

In hindsight, 2-2 was a fair reflection of a game which swung from end to end regularly before opening up in the final 20 minutes, both sides creating decent chances throughout. Yet Slough will feel a little more aggrieved than their neighbours after twice taking the lead and twice being pegged back, however, the second Burnham goal was simply unstoppable.

Leon Yarnie produced one of his trademark strikes in the 65th minute to secure a dramatic point for Dave Mudge’s side.

Fresh on the pitch after replacing debutante striker Jamie Handscombe, the powerful frontman picked the ball up just outside the Slough area, dribbled along the edge of box and out of the blue unleashed a rocket of a shot straight into the top corner of the net out of the reach of a diving Jamie Jackson.

It took just 14 minutes for Derek Sweetman’s newly assembled side to score their first goal of the Southern League season. New boy Danny Jordan received the ball in space from a corner but saw his shot parried, then just moments later he fired off another shot which was parried again. This time though, Dean Harper was on hand to turn it in from close range.

The Rebels were lucky though not to be one behind inside the first minute. Burnham youngster Jordan Dowdican broke through the defence, set himself and slid the ball past Jackson only to see it come back off the post.

Ten minutes later, it was Burnham again who looked like opening the scoring as Dowdican’s pace was too much for Steve Daly and Eamonn McConigley. The striker latched onto a through ball, left the defence for dead and deftly lifted it over Jackson. With the ball just centimetres from crossing the line, Ryan Fenton chewed up the turf to reach it and pull off a goal line clearance.

Slough’s 1-0 lead did not last for long thanks to Handscombe who, like Dowdican, was proving a handful to the Rebels back line.

Nick Jackson sent a lofted through ball over the defence to Handscombe who broke clear of his markers and slid the ball into the bottom right corner on 29 minutes.

Minutes later, ex-Chelsea youngster Ben Huddell showed just why Mudge was so excited by his arrival at The Gore. From 20-yards out and just right of the box, the left footer rattled the angle of the post/crossbar with a stunning free-kick.

It was all square at the break, but it was not long until the Rebels edged in front again. The new strike duo of Jordan and Matthew Platt was beginning to gel and showed Slough fans that they can bring the threat upfront which has eluded the club in past seasons.

Burnham keeper Michael Parkin scuffed a clearance after 49 minutes, gifting the ball on a plate to Jordan who dribbled round him, dragged it too wide then slotted it across to Platt arriving at the far post who was left to tap home.

The game then flowed from end to end for much of the half as both sides searched for an opening. As the game entered into its final quarter, Burnham seemed to up the tempo and, for the first time in the match, Slough could not keep up with them. Jackson and Jon Montgomery both had opportunities but fired over the bar before substitute Yarnie produced his moment of magic to level the scores.

For both sides it was a decent start to what will be an interesting season at both clubs.

SLOUGH TOWN: Jackson, Harper, Fenton, Daly, McConigley, Roberts, Pritchard (c), Dickens, Jordan, Platt, Gray. NOT USED: Riddell, Mugisha, Gumbs, Attrell, Tullet. BOOKED: Fenton.
BURNHAM: Parkin, Gill, Owens, Bird, Canavan, Jackson, Montgomery, Willment (c), Dowdican, Handscombe (Yarnie 63), Huddell. NOT USED: Durrant, Southerden, Froud, Brown. BOOKED: Canavan, Jackson.

SLOUGH EXPRESS MAN OF THE MATCH: James Pritchard (Slough)