Bonner and Taylor brake Burnham's momentum and resilient Holyport hold Windsor & Eton

Photo credit: Paul Butler/Burnham FC

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League leaders Burnham suffered their third defeat in four matches in all competitions as the Blues were beaten 2-0 away by Wallingford & Crowmarsh on Saturday.

Mo and Omz Bakali’s Blues have made a superb start to their Combined Counties Premier Division North campaign, winning their first six league matches, but the brakes have been put on that fast start just a little by a 1-0 loss at Hilltop and Saturday’s 2-0 reverse at the Howden Stadium.

The points looked like they were going to be shared until Wallingford took the lead in the 79th minute when Harry Bonner crashed home a low right-footed drive from the edge of the box after running onto a volleyed pass.

Ben Taylor then sealed the points for the hosts in stoppage time when he pounced on a defensive error and side-footed the ball past Archie Cunningham.

Fortunately for the Blues, rivals at the top of the table couldn’t take full advantage, with Windsor & Eton held to a goalless draw by local rivals Holyport at Summerleaze Park.

Port probably had the better of the chances in truth, with Kickie Dzimba showing a superb touch and finish to seemingly sweep the home side into a 1-0 lead, only for his celebrations to be cut short by the offside flag.

Andy Forisky also went close for Port with an excellent volley from a long throw in the second half that the Windsor keeper parried.

Port also held on in the closing stages after Ramon Rose was sent off in the 72nd minute after receiving a second yellow card.

Port continue to build momentum after their excellent performance and 3-1 win at British Airways in the Premier Challenge Cup on Tuesday.

Speaking after the match, joint managers Lee Ovens and Dan Rapley spoke to club media.

Lee said: “I think a point was a fair result at the end of the day.

“The boys put in a shift and going down to 10 men is not always easy. But it was a similar performance to Tuesday and that’s two unbeaten on the bounce, so we’ll just have to keep learning and keep progressing and we’ll take that into the next game.”

Dan added: “I think it shows today more than ever that now we’ve got a settled squad, and we picked the same line up on Tuesday and today. You can just see the way we dug deep and stayed together and disrupted them, It just shows you that now we’re settled, we can now push on and get some better results.”

Port’s next game is away to Hilltop on Friday evening. Their hosts are pushing to be in amongst the play-off chasers after a solid start to their campaign, while Holyport sit 17th - just two places, but six points above the bottom two relegation spots.

“Hilltop are obviously a good side and they’ve started the season well,” said Lee. “We’ve already been over to where they play once this season, and we picked up three points. The aim is to go there on Friday night and to pick up another three points and progress with the season.”

Despite their recent setbacks, Burnham remain top of the league by three points from Windsor & Eton in second. The Blues are back in action at Amersham Town on Saturday (September 27).

Windsor & Eton return to Stag Meadow next Saturday and will host 12th placed Reading City.