Bouimane brace delivers Burnham win as title rivals continue to chase

Burnham continue to hold off advancing rivals at the top of the Combined Counties Premier Division North, knocking them back like an army defending its stronghold with a series of impressive victories.

The latest of them came at the 1878 Stadium on Saturday, where Harefield United were vanquished 3-0 and Youssef Bouimane helped himself to a late second half brace to add to Jordan Ikala’s 13th minute opener.

Their defences - and their grip on the Combined Counties title - remain imperilled, with the likes of Windsor & Eton and Ardley United advancing on them with matches in hand.

But other rivals such as Broadfields United have spurned a couple of their opportunities to close the gap. With a six-point lead over second placed Broadfields - having played just two games more - the Blues may feel they can now hold them off at least, even if the likes of Windsor and Ardley prove trickier to keep at bay.

Speaking to Burnham director Paul Butler after Saturday’s win – which got them back to winning ways after last weekend’s 1-0 setback at Milton United - Omz Bakali said: “Sometimes you play games that are cagey and the boys were looking to bounce back off a loss. There were some nerves, Harefield are a very good team, they never get blown away and remain in a game.

“They also know how we play so I was expecting the game to be a little bit edgy. That’s kind of how it was. I was a bit disappointed with our quality, but we got the job done and won 3-0.

They go to Wokingham Town on Tuesday evening, the first of six massive games that will determine where the team finishes this season.

“That will be the same as today,” he continued. “We said today we had seven cup finals. Today was one down so now we’ve got six. We’re just taking every game as it comes and hopefully, we’ll get the three points there as well.

“We’re expecting every game to be tough. When you’re at the top everyone wants to beat you, understandably. Every game is important but we’re taking each one as it comes. We have Wokingham to deal with first.”

Third placed Wallingford & Crowmarsh remain in the hunt after their 1-0 win at Milton United on Saturday, but they have eight points to make up having played the same number of games as Burnham. With both sides having just six games left to play, it’ll be some story if Wallingford overhaul Mo & Omz Bakali’s side to take the title.

Windsor & Eton are the most likely challengers for the title in theory. 10 points back but with six matches in hand, they could move eight points clear of the Blues should they win them all. That seems unlikely, given the hectic schedule and the fatigue the Royalists must be feeling - or will soon be feeling after playing a game every few days.

But on Saturday they won for the first time in three league matches and they did so convincingly, sweeping aside Kidlington 4-1 at Stag Meadow - having progressed past the same opponents on penalties in mid-week in the quarter finals of the Premier Challenge Cup.

That tie had finished 1-1, but this one was a comparative walk in the park for Rob Webb’s men as they strolled into a 3-0 half-time lead.

Nick Thumwood, ever reliable in front of goal for the Royalists this season, fired them in front after 17 minutes and goals from Morrison Hashi (32') and Thumwood again (37’) put the home side in an advantageous position heading into the interval. With Thumwood having netted a brace, it was Hashi’s turn a minute after the restart and though the visitors grabbed a goal back through Kauan Oliveira (51') a few minutes later, the hosts were able to see the game out with consummate ease. They also had a couple of new faces making their debut, with Juwan Akintunde joining from Flackwell Heath and Bruno Varela Dos Santos joining from Hilltop.

These acquisitions suggest the Royalists are gearing up for a promotion charge. They’re in the process of cementing their play-off spot but the title is also now well within their sights. As is a third promotion in three seasons.

They still have 11 matches to squeeze in before April 18, provided the season isn’t extended by the powers that be. That’s 11 matches in 39 days. Some schedule, but the Royalists do have the form, squad and confidence to potentially pull it off.

At the other end of the division, relegation threatened Holyport were unsurprisingly beaten 2-0 away by play-off chasers Ardley United.

The goals in this routine win came either side of half-time, with Aaron Heap (42') firing Ardley ahead and Alfie Dunn scoring the second in the 66th minute.

Port remain fourth from bottom, still four points above the relegation zone and struggling North Leigh who themselves were beaten 4-2 by Virginia Water on Saturday.

North Leigh still have five matches in hand over Port to make up that meagre haul of points, but they’ve lost 13 of their last 16 matches, so Dan Rapley and Lee Ovens’ side may already have enough points on the board to finish above them.