ARDLEY United boss Paul Davis urged his players to step up their game following their hard-earned 3-1 victory at home to basement club Burnham, writes Dale James.

The hosts took a 2-0 lead in the first half of the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division match, but it took a late Jack Heap goal to secure the points after a Burnham fightback in the second half.

Davis said: “In the space of a week, we’ve played three games and in the second period of each game we’ve been poor.

“I’ve asked the players why we’ve become complacent when we were leading at half-time in all those three games.

“Fortunately we only lost one of those matches, but we need to step up our game.”

Ardley were quickly out of the traps, and the Burnham goal had a charmed life, assisted by some heroic goalkeeping from Pat Kinsella, who made fine saves from Matt Cruse and Sergio Guerrero.

The home side eventually took the lead after 27 minutes, when Guerrero fed Nathaniel Lewars, who chested the ball down before turning and firing home.

Howards made it 2-0 seven minutes later. Bradley Cox’s headed clearance on halfway put the striker clear and he placed the ball wide of the advancing Kinsella.

Burnham’s reply came on the hour, when a loose ball in midfield fell to Burnham skipper Jesse Wilson, who fired at goal, the shot taking a huge deflection to wrong-foot Ardley keeper Nick Bennion.

The visitors suddenly had an extra spring in their step and the Ardley back five were kept busy.

As the game went into added time, a ball over the Burnham defence saw Troy Bryan feed fellow substitute Heap, who screwed his shot well wide.

But moments later, he made amends and put the game to bed.

Receiving the ball some 25 yards out, he chipped over Kinsella and into the unguarded net.

This Saturday, Ardley are away to Ascot.

Ardley Utd: Bennion, Cray, McEachran (Freshwater 55), Guerrero, Jackson, Cox, Cruse, Benjamin, Howards, Ross (Heap 55), Lewars (Bryan 80). Subs not used: Eyles, Farrow.

Attendance: 51.