Stalemate with Windsor & Eton leaves Burnham looking over their shoulders

Jabir Laraba celebrates his goal for Windsor & Eton at Burnham. Photo: Richard Milam

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Tahir Carmichael turned the ball into his own net as Burnham fought back for a point at home to Windsor & Eton on Saturday, but it was a result that does neither team many favours as they bid for promotion.

The Royalist forged ahead deep into first half stoppage time through Jabir Laraba. The former Burnham striker was first to react to head the ball home after the hosts had failed to clear the ball properly from a corner.

This followed a red card that was brandished to Burnham’s joint boss on the half-hour mark.

Carmichael’s own goal in the 64th minute levelled things up and the match finished in a stalemate despite both teams pressing hard for all three points.

Burnham continue to lead the way in the Combined Counties Premier Division North, and with rivals at the top not playing, they extend their lead at the summit to five points.

However, the likes of second placed Ashford Town and third placed Broadfields United have three games in hand over the Blues and would overtake them should they win at least two of those.

Windsor remain 11 points back from the league leaders in fifth place, but they have seven games in hand over the Blues. Win a significant proportion of those and they’ll also force Burnham off the summit.

The game was well-attended with nearly 200 spectators turning out to see this top of the table clash at the 1878 Stadium.

Meet Gabby https://t.co/T2RZz5eCKH, our guest for yesterday's match. Give her a follow and if you want to buy her a coffee to show your appreciation here's a link https://t.co/HxOo1ded9s

Full gallery can be seen here https://t.co/zbRS9H30IN @WindsorEtonFC @Darlington10 pic.twitter.com/dCDyvfxTMK

— Burnham Football Club (@BurnhamFC1878) February 15, 2026

Burnham have only eight games left in their league season. They’ll likely need to win most of them to see off their rivals for the title. They now play three away games on the trot with the first of those at North Leigh on Saturday.

North Leigh will also host Windsor & Eton tomorrow evening (February 17) where the Royalists will hope to make up ground on the teams above them.

After the game, Windsor announced the signing of forward Morrison Hashii. In the 2022/23 season, Hashii scored an impressive 72 goals in 43 games for London Samurai and earned a move into step 4 football. He - and Windsor & Eton - will be hoping he can rediscover that scoring form in the final weeks of the season. 

At the other end of the Combined Counties table, Holyport suffered a damaging home defeat to British Airways, losing 3-1 at Summerleaze Park.

Port will need to play a lot better than this if they’re to dig themselves out of relegation trouble this season, with the home side only really getting their game going in the closing stages.

Frankie Major gave British Airways lift off in the 18th minute before Tristan Goodridge took the game away from Port with a second goal in the 55th minute. Herman Quaynor’s goal in the 72nd minute killed the game entirely before Harry Laflin’s 80th minute consolation.

The next four home games will surely determine how Port fare this season. Tomorrow night they host 14th placed Abingdon United at Summerleaze Park and bottom club Edgware & Kingsbury are the visitors to Port on Saturday (February 21). They need to start picking up results fast, with Lee Ovens and Dan Rapley’s side still two points from safety behind North Leigh who have three matches in hand over them. In theory these next two matches provide them with the ideal opportunity to get some points on the board.