BURNHAM manager Paul Shone wants his team to put a defeat to Windsor behind them and build some momentum to take into the New Year, writes Rob Stevens.

The Blues missed out on a place in the quarter-final of the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup after a 3-2 defeat against their rivals in midweek, ending their four-match winning streak over the Stag Meadow-based side.

Shone lamented some poor defending and a failure to take clear-cut chances for the loss in the cup, but he has called for a quick return to form with a good opportunity to put points on the board over Christmas.

Burnham have climbed to seventh position in the Premier Division following a run of six wins in their last eight league games and travel to second bottom Brimscombe & Thrupp this Saturday (3pm).

The Blues then face to all-Bucks derby matches, at home to basement boys Holmer Green on Saturday 21st December and then a short trip to Flackwell Heath on Boxing Day.

Shone told the Observer: “In the last two away games in the league we’ve gone to Fairford Town and won and gone to Brackley Town Saints and won and the performances have been very good.

“The performance against Windsor in midweek was there in patches but not in a 90-minute game and that cost us.

“We will not draw a line under it but talk about it during training on Thursday and prepare ourselves for a tough trip to Gloucestershire to face Brimscombe.

“We go down to Brimscombe, play Holmer Green at home the following Saturday and then we have a local derby against Flackwell on Boxing Day, so it’s three big games

“Everyone will look at the table and say Brimscombe and Holmer Green are the bottom two, but I know what Brimscombe will be like after their win last weekend.

“It’s not a nice play to go, it will be tough, and Holmer Green are a young and energetic side. You’ve got to turn up and play these teams. You can’t just expect to win.

“The local derby against Flackwell on Boxing Day will be huge. They will want to right a wrong from the 5-0 victory we had earlier in the season, so again that will be interesting.”

Shone added: “We believe in ourselves and what we’re trying to do and the performances prior to midweek have been good. We looked good in the last two games but patchy in midweek so hopefully we will address that on Thursday and get back to the performances we had in the previous weeks.

“We will target a points total from the three games and if we can get them it will be a good end to the year and we move into the New Year on the up.”