Saturday October 15^th 2011 FA CUP Sponsored by Budweiser 3^rd Qualifying Round

BURNHAM 2    BISHOPS STORTFORD 5

Conceding two goals in the opening ten minutes dented Burnham’s hopes of toppling their Conference North opponents on a beautiful afternoon at The Gore. After Burnham’s Jordan Dowdican had brought Bishops on loan keeper Jordan Archer into a save, the visitors went ahead on 6 minutes with Burnham appealing for offside. Skipper Reece Prestedge fired in a firm shot which Burnham keeper Jim Reading, making his debut, did very well to parry, unfortunately the ball fell kindly for SCOTT SHULTON who netted from close range. 4 minutes later and it got worse for the home team, a free kick on the right taken by Michael Bukare was not held by keeper Jim Reading and RICHIE JONES had a simple task to put the ball into the net at the far post. Burnham despite these early set backs played some good football and Jordan Dowdican and Ashley Smith both had good opportunities to pull a goal back. Bukare having a good game for the visitors brought out a good stop from the home keeper Reading, who also made a good save from the lively Lewis Whiteley. Another effort from Phil Anderson found the side netting of the home goal. The Bishops third goal came on 35 minutes and again a suspicion of offside was present. Reece Prestedge broke clear down the left and as keeper Reading dived at his feet he was adjudged to have fouled the visitor’s skipper. Up stepped DWIGHT GALE to send Reading the wrong way. Burnham started the second period strongly and following an Ashley Smith shot the cleared the crossbar by some distance, they pulled a goal back on 56 minutes. Defender Ryan Bird up in the attack lobbed a high ball into the goal mouth where JORDAN DOWDICAN leapt highest to nod the ball into the net. On 58 minutes the visitors made a double substitution replacing Abdullahi and Whiteley with  Ade Cole and Junior Dadson. Cole almost immediately had a good chance to increase the Bishops lead, after robbing Chris Robinson he fired wide. On 65 minutes it did become 4-1 when MIICHAEL BUKARE ran through and lobbed over the advancing Reading. A Ben Hudell free kick found the head of Will Dunlop but his powerful header went straight into the arms of Archer. MICHAEL BUKARE made it 5-1 on 71 minutes, a free kick was poorly defended by Burnham and he had time to pick his spot. Burnham then made a double substitution with Ben Gladwin and Chris Robinson giving way to Dave Reading and Hanif Boyle, the latter making his debut. Burnham pulled another goal back on 78 minutes ASHLEY SMITH galloped down the left and fired in a shot cum cross that deceived Archer. A minute later and Archer brought off a great save to foil a flying header from Alex Duffy following a cross from Hudell. The game ended with Reading making excellent stops from Bukare and Mich Hahn.