The 2025/26 Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North campaign began with a bang, with Simon Johnson’s side allocated an Opening Day match-up against Burnham down in SL1.

Five recent additions to the team made their full debuts, with Oliver Bourne, Mo Ceesay, Adam Cashin-Murray, George Armstrong and Stefan Brown featuring in the Starting XI, with the latter leading the side out as Team Captain, a position which was confirmed earlier in the week. 

Joining the debutants were shot-stopper Charlie York, Eddie Lazarczuk, Liam Baker, Tristan Campbell, Ellis Cowd and Joel Valentin. Luke Donville, Joe Pilling, Jenson Mansel, Mckoy Palmer and Ashleigh Artwell made up the bench for the fixture, and Johnson’s squad were ready and raring to go.

Kick-Off: Burnham 0-0 Reading City

The hosts got us underway and the away team started off strong, with a high quality team build-up awarded with the opener! A free kick from the edge of the final third, unleashed and launched into the area fell to the head of forward Ceesay, who sprinted in at the far post to head home City’s first goal of the campaign.

A direct goal kick from York reached the head of Brown, but the ball took a large deflection and was knocked out, in favour of the home side. A throw-in restarted play and Burnham started an attack in an attempt to level the scoring. Johnson’s side reclaimed possession, and a powerful cross from the left by Armstrong reached Ceesay, who pivoted and took a touch, but his effort fell narrowly over the bar. 

Ticking into the fourteenth minute, a foul in the box saw City earn a penalty, with the skipper stepping up to take the spot kick. The visitors doubled their advantage as Brown buried his shot in the bottom corner, opening his scoring account.

Burnham continued to pile on the pressure, searching for a goal to half the deficit, but defender Baker and midfielder Valentin teamed up to rid the danger at the edge of City’s defensive half, completing a one-two and clearing downfield.

Tidy defensive work from Lazarczuk, Cowd and goalkeeper York saw the ball exit play out at the back line. A goal kick and a fight for possession in the midfield ended with a raised flag by the linesman for an offside in the middle third.

Ten left to go, and an indirect free kick for the boys in yellow is sent in by Cashin-Murray. The midfielder let fly from around twenty-five yards out, with his shot coming agonizingly close, swerving slightly before whistling just past the right post.

Burnham forward Jordan Brown came closest in the first half to netting for the home team, as a scramble around the area saw a chance fall to his feet, before stretching to tap in his effort from close range, but York scooped up the loose ball to claim in the six yard box.

Following this, an indirect set piece called the City backline into action, with the hosts’ Zakari Otoo pushing forward to claim the chance from the left. Communication from the back saw Bourne run to clear the danger just inside the area, and despite the home side’s continued press, the attack was ended in the midfield.

Entering the break, Johnson’s team were ahead, thanks to a well-worked team effort, finished by Ceesay, and a composed penalty slotted home by Brown.

Half Time: Burnham 0-2 Reading City

The first five following the interval began as a somewhat evenly contested affair, with both teams going for goal with near efforts. A great flick-on into the path of City skipper Brown played in Armstrong, who cut in and unleashed a powerful strike. A deflection from the feet of Burnham’s Ampabeng launched the ball back out of the area, and an effort from Bourne and a corner from Cashin-Murray both drifted just wide. 

Down the other end of the pitch, Burnham’s Shyon Dennis almost replicated the action in the other half, aiming a dangerous free kick into the eighteen yard box, but his effort rolled out of play. A direct shot from the hosts knocked with power struck and rattled the corner of the crossbar, in what was a moment of relief for City.

With sixty gone, Johnson rang in his side’s first changes of the evening, with Stefan Brown and Eddie Lazarczuk exiting the fray for Mckoy Palmer and Luke Donville. Two more exchanges for City occurred only a few minutes later, with Jenson Mansel and Ashleigh Artwell replacing Tristan Campbell and Joel Valentin.

A direct effort from long distance, sent in by goalscorer Ceesay, was palmed away and impressively stopped by Burnham’s Cunningham, who went to ground to claim the chance. A series of strikes followed, with Armstrong coming closest to force Cunningham into another save. Curving in from the right, the forward darted a quick shot towards the goal, stinging the palms of the goalkeeper, who blocked and picked up the ball.

As we spilled into the final twenty, Burnham’s Brown netted his first of the match, slotting one home from ten yards out to get one back for the hosts. It wasn’t long until the forward brought the scoreline level, with two in two minutes to earn his brace. Despite his best effort, a tidy shot from Armstrong, with help from Cowd and Ceesay, was parried away by Cunningham, with the follow up shot dragging wide, leaving the scoreline all square heading into the last minutes.

A final switch for City saw Joe Pilling enter in place of midfielder Adam Cashin-Murray, with the midfielder making an instant impact. A strong ball from Artwell was blocked and deflected out for a corner. Ceesay, Bourne and Artwell partnered, and a recovery from Pilling converted into a strike was unfortunately saved. Both teams continued to ramp up the pressure, adding to the high tempo looking for the goal which would separate the sides.

Burnham took the lead in the final few minutes through a direct free kick into the area. An effort over the top, unleashed by Sandro Camara, shot through the air, rebounding off the bar and over the goal line to make the score 3-2. With only a few minutes of added time, our first game of the 2025/26 campaign ended in a close defeat.

Full Time: Burnham 3-2 Reading City

In what was an end-to-end game full of action and goals, a strong first half and a tighter second period saw our Cityzens miss out on the three points, with Burnham nicking it at the death through a late strike. Thank you to everyone who supported the teams down at the 1878 Stadium – we wish our hosts, Burnham, all the best for the season! 

Simon Johnson’s team are back in action this weekend as we begin our FA Cup campaign in the Extra Preliminary Round against Hellenic Premier League outfit Cirencester Town.