Burnham Juniors 6 - 2 Wickham Wanderers

Wickham Wanderers bowed out of the Berks. & Bucks. Cup when they were beaten by a strong Burnham Juniors side who are currently flying high in the Slough Combination League.

Burnham started brightly, and could have taken a very early lead, but they were twice thwarted by finger-tip saves from Michael Morris in the Wickham goal, who palmed away two successive shots onto the post and the crossbar respectively.

Burnham eventually took the lead mid-way through the first half when the lively Matthew Day broke through, rounded the keeper and slotted home. However, Wickham hit back soon after the re-start when Charlie Allsop latched on to an under-hit back pass from the Burnham defence and fired home past the oncoming keeper.

Burnham continued to press forward and they took the lead again when Jamie Winter scored from the edge of the box after a ricochet of shots fell to his feet.

Once again Wickham fought back to equalise when a corner from George Westbrook fell to Daniel Crane who smashed the ball into the net to make the score 2 – 2 at half-time.

After the break, Burnham took control of the match, and they regained the lead when Matthew Day headed home a cross from the right after a period of relentless pressure.

Wickham had few attacking opportunities during the second-half, although they came close to equalising for a third time when a flowing passing move involving Jamie Crook and Ged Sage, released Allsop who rounded the keeper, but he was forced wide and was ultimately denied by the narrowness of the angle.

Soon after, Wickham fell further behind when a fierce shot from Winter was parried by Morris, only to fall at the feet of Luke Lewis who turned the ball home. Winter then scored his second of the match when he struck a shot from the edge of the penalty area that crept passed a static Wickham defence and nestled in the corner of the net.

Conner Scott scored Burnham’s sixth goal after an excellent run from Day, who was only foiled from scoring himself by a tremendous covering tackle from the ever resilient Wickham captain, Sam Peacock, who was deservedly named Man-of-the Match.

Man of the Match - Sam Peacock (click to enlarge picture)

(Report submitted  by James Morris)