SATURDAY MARCH 20^TH 2010 ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE MIDLAND DIVISION

BURNHAM   1     BURY TOWN 2

Bury Town took the spoils in this top of the table clash and dented Burnham’s title chances. A fast and furious entertaining game saw defences on top for the most part. Town’s Lee Reed was first to threaten goal with a snap shot on 10 minutes and it was he who set up the first goal 3 minutes later. Receiving the ball wide on the right he beat Burnham defender Ben Hudell and crossed into the box where CALLUM KEARNS turned and fired high into the net. Bury playing neat football almost doubled their score when  Sam Reed beat the offside trap and fired in low from an angle on the left but Burnham keeper Paul McCarthy got down to save well. On 24 minutes the scores became level. Stuart Swift cut in from the left and was tripped in the penalty area. DENIS FENEMORE despatched the kick wide of keeper Garnham . Burnham who had been rather subdued in the opening half hour then found their rhythm. Ryan Bird broke clear but his shot lacked power to beat Garnham , Paul Coyne tried a long range shot that went the wrong side of the upright. Bury came back and forced a number of corners with Lee Reed hitting a firm shot which was deflected for another corner. Keeper Garner than pulled off two great stops to deprive firstly Stuart Swift from a free kick on the edge of the box and then a fierce drive from Hudell.  Right on the break a mix up between Burnham keeper and skipper Paul Brett almost let Sam Lee in but his shot hit the outside of the upright and went behind for a goal kick.

Bury started the second half by forcing yet more corners but the Burnham defence with Will Dunlop outstanding kept the Town forwards at bay. The best effort early on came from Kearns who hit a rasping shot which took a deflection for a corner. The visitors had the lions share of the play but found the Burnham defence difficult the break down which was also the case at the other end. Fenemore did well down the left but his angled shot gave keeper Garnham few problems, A good Burnham build up saw Ross Lafayette put in a good cross that Bird headed well over the bar. At the other end a couple of last ditch tackles, first from Dunlop to deprive Sam Reed, and then Hudell to stop Kearns kept the scores level. Burnham had a good chance on 77 minutes to take the lead. Stuart Swift created space down the left and crossed to find Lafayette on the edge of the penalty area, but his volley was just over the crossbar. After this let off for Town, they pressured Burnham again forcing a number of corners and it was from one of these in the 80^th minute that LEE REED hit the winner after the home defence had failed to clear their lines.  Burnham changed Fenemore for Trevor Charlery but did not really threaten an equaliser as Town held on to close the gap at the top and to record their fifth straight win.