BURNHAM manager Paul Shone is pleased that his side were able to bounce back from a defeat last weekend and beat rivals Windsor 2-1 on Tuesday night, writes Rob Stevens.

The Blues lost their three-match winning streak in the Hellenic League Premier Division when suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Lydney Town on Saturday, but their response was to record a fourth straight victory over their near neighbours.

Windsor were gifted the chance to break the deadlock inside 12 minutes at Stag Meadow as Joey Gritt tripped Danny Horscroft inside the box and referee Martyn Mitchell pointed to the spot.

Dylan Ive took the resulting spot-kick but saw his poor effort well saved by former Windsor keeper Carl Dennison, diving low to his right to push the ball around the post for a corner kick.

The home team did not dwell on the setback however and took the lead from the set piece with George Gould heading in at the near post.

Burnham were the better side for much of the first half and equalised with a goal from a counter-attack in the 35th minute. Ive was crowded out on the edge of the Blues box and a pass forward found Gavin James.

The ex-international striker burst down the right wing and cut into the box before showing great composure to curl a low left-foot shot past the despairing Nojus Trinovas in the Windsor goal.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Burnham striker Gavin James (nine) curls a shot past Windsor keeper Nojus Trinovas to equalise.

The second half lacked to many moments of quality but the visitors wrapped up the three points eight minutes from the final whistle. Joe Blount crossed from the right wing to the back post where Burnham had two players unmarked and Cameron Rohart-Brown had the simple task of scoring from inside the six-yards.

Shone told the Observer: “It was a hard-fought win. In the first half, although going a goal behind, it was a good reaction to come back and equalise. We played quite well in the first half.

“In the second half, we didn’t play as well as we did in the first. It was the flip side of last weekend really. We were poor in the first half and good in the second and got nothing from the game.

“On Tuesday night, we played good in the first half and poor in the second but going something from the game. At the end of the day it was a local derby and three points so onwards and upwards.

“The referee did apologise. It wasn’t a throw in to Windsor that led to the incident but we dived in a give away a penalty.

“Carl made a great save and then we score an own goal from the corner which is disappointing, but it was a good reaction from the lads.

“Maybe at the beginning of the season we wouldn’t have reacted as we did but we’re growing as a group and it was a hard-fought three points.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Windsor players line up in a wall to defend a free-kick on the edge of their box.

“The chances we created and the way we played in the first half was pleasing. We’ve been defending well and creating chances but not taking them all year.

“On Tuesday night, we defended good at times but in the second half our attacking play wasn’t as good as in the first half.

“The substitutes came on and gave the game a little bit of an injection that it needed and Cameron came up with the winner. I’m pleased for him."

He continued: “The defeat last weekend was disappointing. The performance in the first half wasn’t good enough. The second half was good but we got nothing from it.

“To bounce back and get three points in midweek was what we wanted to do. It’s never easy coming to Windsor, being a local derby, but we’ve done it.

“I think Mark Cooper (Windsor manager) and Spencer Meredith (Windsor assistant manager) have had enough of us. I know them both personally and I’m sure they’re disappointed, but they’ve got a good group at Windsor and will learn as well as the season goes on.

“Windsor are always a tough test for anyone and it’s never an easy place to come and get three points, so it’s pleasing on that front and all in all we’re happy."

The win means Burnham have moved up to ninth position in the league table ahead of a trip to fourth-bottom Longlevens this Saturday (3pm).