Burnham Ramblers had two matches, the first being against a West Ham XI at 11:30 – it was either West Ham’s under 16 side, or their under 21 side, depending on which gateman you asked. It was also claimed to be Ramblers first team, although they were also fielding their first team for the real match in the afternoon. But whatever team Ramblers had out, they remained anonymous as there was not team line up. There was no programme either.

A crowd of about 130 has assembled at kick off time, including two Ramblers supporters. Urchins dominated from the start and the result was never in doubt, with Urchins taking the lead in the fifth minute. Dave Lee took a free kick midway inside the home half, Richard Goddard went up, but it was HARRY ELMES who ghosted in unmarked to rocket his header into the net, to send the Urchins fans wild – it also sent the wasps buzzing loudly in the wasps’ nest behind the goal. Four minutes later it was two up, when Janney controlled a difficult upfield ball from Bostock, twisted round and touched on to Kris Lee, who in turn quickly played the ball on to Garry Cross, who set off on a weaving run and then sidefooted the ball across to MICHAEL BROTHERS to hammer home.

One way traffic, with the home keeper saving well from Elmes’ header from a Brothers corner on the right, and then, from another Brothers’ corner, Kris Lee’s header brought a loud hand ball appeal from the away support behind the goal. Brothers again, taking a good forward pass from Glozier and hitting his shot into the side netting, whilst ex-Tilbury player Lyons – yes, he really did play for Tilbury in their home match against Urchins last season – brought a good save out of Brightly.

Dave Lee, playing at left half (left midfield in modern terms) sent Brothers away on the left, and his shot cum cross skimmed the post, whilst a Dave Lee corner was headed out by Lyons, and back to Dave Lee, who sent a swerving shot which beat the keeper by which swerved around the post, with Elmes just failing to reach the ball. A good run by Cross brought an excellent save from the home keeper, who then saved well from Brothers, with Elmes touching the rebound to Kris Lee who fired inches over the bar and into the orchard behind the goal. It was almost three right on half time, as Harry Elmes raced through to slot the ball past the keeper, only for the whistle to have blown for half time just a second or so earlier.

Half time talk was how many would come into the ground now the gateman had departed, whilst one happy Urchin walked away with the winning raffle prize – it was almost inevitable that it would go to an away supporter as they had bought the bulk of the tickets. Where was Simon Parker? Out with a broken wrist. Joe Keith? Still out following the injury last week and likely to be out for two or three weeks more. For Ramblers, they had three female pyhsios on the bench, which must constitute a first ever.

All change for half time, and what a start when Amos Foyewa’s run was stopped and the clearance by the centre half scored a direct hit on a plate of chips, with Andy Hall then getting his first touch of the ball, to take the throw in, only to find it covered in tomato sauce. Brothers went close when he pounded in from the left, and then a Brothers corner saw Gasper hit his shot narrowly wide. Ramblers came more into the game and pulled a goal back when a dreadful defensive error saw a weakfish shot from the centre forward – sorry no names were listed – bobble over Dale Brightly and into the net.

Brightly then made two good saves in quick succession, and at the other end a Dave Lee shot cannoned out to Gasper who again went close. Foyewa then slotted the ball through to Gasper whose shot curled onto the roof of the net, and when Gasper was fouled in full flight, Brothers hit the free kick strongly through the wall but just wide.

Urchins scored their third when Ramblers were piling on the pressure with a series of corners, and Brightly did well to save a hard shot from close in, and then promptly punted the ball upfield where AINSLEY GASPER raced through to crash the ball home. Shane Oakley twice went close, before the fourth goal came, and it was sheer persistence out on the left wing by Oakley, when he stormed past two defenders to then cut in and cross low into the middle for AINSLEY GASPER to finish the move off. Oakley again, this time lobbing the ball over the bar, and then the referee told a visiting player who was complaining about his failure to award a free kick to #put your handbag away’. Ramblers scored their second goal shortly before the finish when one of their substitutes converted an excellently placed cross from the right.