Rambler's lose out again but remain in top spot

STANSTED 3

BURNHAM RAMBLERS 2

(Essex Senior League)

A LATE headed winner from a free-kick settled this tense table-topper and dealt the shocked Ramblers a big blow to their championship hopes.

For the hosts the goal was so important as it effectively put them back in the title race, but the Ramblers, having withstood a fair bit of pressure, will once again be regretting their weakness in defending set pieces.

The day started badly for the visitors on 3 minutes, after a freak collision left Lee Cornhill on the floor, Stansted exploited the advantage and Best curled in a clever shot from distance to put them ahead.

But Billy Hunt is looking more than promising up front for Ramblers and on 15 minutes he raced clear and rounded the 'keeper to level the scores.

Ten minutes later, a similar through ball, this time on the right saw him outpace his marker and fire in a shot that the 'keeper was only able to help into the net.

Worryingly though Burnham started to struggle to hold the ball and the last part of the half saw them under serious pressure.

With balls being pumped down the hill into the box, they survived through goal-line clearances but it was a pattern that surprisingly would be repeated in the last quarter even with the slope in their favour.

Early in the second period, Hunt beat his man down the left, cut in along the line and put in a cross which found Chris Lewis right in front of goal. His shot hit the underside of the bar and somehow bounced out.

Stansted gradually began to dominate the middle of the park and with 20 minutes left, a free-kick caused a scramble, which although it was cleared, went out on the right to Hopkins who drilled it home.

At the other end Burnham still posed a threat; Bradley Nobbs got on the end of a cross and will have been disappointed to steer it just wide.

The slope at Stansted is so inviting but requires some adjustment which Ramblers struggled with.

All the same a point would not have been a bad outcome, but they were giving away too many free kicks in dangerous positions and that was finally what did for them.

Ramblers have no game this Saturday and go to Bowers & Pitsea on Tuesday for another league game.