A disappointing display, careless and loose at both ends of the park, saw Ramblers drop points which may well come back to haunt them later in the season.

They were short of four key players; and significantly, all of them with a strong physical presence. Also it was against limited opposition again who had little pace up front and some height and strength at the back, but Burnham still struggled.

For all the absentees, Ramblers should still have had enough out there to do the job. They had 75 per cent of the possession and East Ham made three or four openings compared with Burnham's dozen or more.

Furthermore, the goals conceded were all very poor, the kind of things we thought we had seen the back of.

The missed chances began as early as 20 minutes, when Cousins headed just wide from close in. Immediately Burnham were caught one on one at the back, Marchant eventually bringing down Duncan, who scored from the penalty spot.

It is hard to understand how that could happen playing three central defenders and, really, Marchant was fortunate to stay on.

Dobson then went close before Benson Miyoba equalised on the half-hour, heading home Francis' corner unmarked at the far post.

From an East Ham corner, Ramblers then conceded a similar goal, Grant being allowed a totally free header.

Just before half-time, Burnham began to play a bit. Dobson, again the star, went down the left and produced a glorious cross which edged down by a couple of inches. Moss also had a good chance but, with time to aim, pushed his shot wide.

On the restart, Miyoba had a good chance before, on 50 minutes, Dobson picked up a loose ball in the box and coolly slotted in the equaliser. Then minutes later Ramblers were ahead with a Francis' corner deflecting in off a defender.

It looked as if the score was over and Burnham would go on to win comfortably.

But on 70 minutes, though keeper Danny Clare hesitated over a routine clearance. With Duncan closing him down faster than he thought, he struck his effort against the attacker and saw it bounce over him into the net.

Ramblers now went up a gear but the visitors, riding their luck, defended doggedly.

Hewes came on and his positive contribution simply emphasised how desperate were Burnham for some physical strength.

Huttley, who was on for Taylor, pumped in crosses from the left, but one lost count of the number of close range headers that went tamely over the bar.

Anything with an aerial presence would surely have got on the scoresheet, but it was not to be and the consequences could be serious.

Burnham Ramblers: Clare, Francis, Dobson, Cousins, Marchant, Taylor, Wright, Moss, Fletcher, Miyoba, Down. Substitutes: Huttley (Taylor), Gilbert, Sedgewick.

On Saturday, pitch conditions permitting, Ramblers visit Bowers United in the quarter-final of The Harry Fisher Trophy (kick-off 3 pm). On Tuesday, (January 25), Ramblers visit Canvey Island in The Eastern Floodlight League (kick-off 7.45 pm).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.