The question was would it be a case of “after the Lord Mayor’s Show….” when KO Cup Final Winners Burwell entertained Cottenham at Fortress Bulbeck on the hottest day of the year so far. The answer was soon apparent, when some excellent work by the lively Ryan Lynch evading several defenders in the penalty area followed by a pinpoint cross to the far post for Ali Edgar to head home firmly for an early Burwell lead. It was not long before Edgar returned the compliment, with a fine through ball which Lynch latched on to before finishing smartly, to double the home team’s lead.

Tigers fielded several players in their starting line up who had received fewer opportunities earlier in the season, and all played well. Luke Hudson had a particularly good game in a holding midfield role, making numerous decisive tackles, with Charlie Tron and Alex Youngs playing solidly as full backs. Luke Fuller and Dominic King dominated midfield and wide midfielders Edgar and Jordan Wilkinson were constant threat. The half-time score 2-0 was a fair reflection on the game.

Both teams continued to work hard in the testing heat, Burwell’s Joe Moyes and Michael Widdall producing their customary quality when they came on in the second half. Goalkeeper Michael Mitchell coped competently with anything on the relatively few occasions that regular centre-backs Max Bromley and James Bursford did not handle well. Regular full backs Jamie Lebbon and Jack Smith injected their normal pace and entertainment value. In the last quarter of the match Bromley found himself up front, scoring with some style to leave the final score 3-0 to Burwell Tigers, meaning that they remained undefeated at home for the whole of the 2007-8 campaign.

Burwell entered their first ever Colts Cup final against local rivals Bottisham, who had not been defeated since 4th November. Both teams brought with them a large crowd of supporters.

Tigers started nervously, and for the first 20 minutes found it difficult to get into the game; they could easily have been a couple of goals down with goalkeeper Michael Mitchell forced into some good saves. Gradually the Tigers midfield took better control, bringing the lively Ryan Lynch more into play and eventually their reward came when Lynch broke free in the penalty area to finish smartly at an acute angle. The half-time score of 1-0 to Burwell was possibly a little fortunate.

In the second half the Burwell performance much improved as they got into more of their normal passing game. The Bottisham keeper kept his team in the game with some good work, particularly one fine point-blank save from Michael Widdall. Bottisham continued to work hard and went close on a couple of occasions, hitting the crossbar once, but the Tigers defence held steady. With ten minutes or so left Widdall again burst through the Bottisham defence for a one-on-one with the keeper, this time finishing well. Only minutes from the end, more Burwell pressure resulted in a clearance from the Bottisham keeper re-bounding off of the legs of Luke Fuller for a third, if fortunate, goal and a final score 3-0 to Burwell Tigers.

In the end a fair result but a flattering score-line, both teams deserve credit for an entertaining match.

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Burwell travelled to League Champions Great Paxton for the home team’s final match of the season. After a slow start the visitors got into their game and had the best of the play in the first half, although they had little to show other than a near miss from close range. The score at half time was a far from boring 0-0.

Burwell also started the second half positively, a freshening breeze behind them, and were unlucky on a number of occasions but particularly with one effort cleared from the Paxton goal line. It was against the run of play when a Paxton forward took advantage of a lucky bounce to finish well and give the home team the lead. Tigers showed their fighting qualities to battle back into the game, looking threatening from set pieces and open play, and got back on level terms when Jamie Lebbon forced the ball into the net through a crowd of players. Burwell soon took the lead when a good through-ball found the lively Ryan Lynch, who took his chance well. Whilst Tigers continued to have the better of the play, Great Paxton were a constant threat and found themselves back on level terms close to the end with a good if unopposed header from a corner.

Burwell continued their stop-start season after a five week break, travelling to Comberton for their first ever Colts Cup semi final suffering from absences due to illness, injury and Wembley, as well as jet lag at the end of the Easter Holidays.

Despite this, Tigers started very positively, Dominic King and Joe Moyes dominating the midfield with powerful displays. The lively Ryan Lynch looked lively up front, and the remodelled defence of Bursford, Lebbon, Smith and Widdall looked solid. The visitors took a deserved lead when some excellent work from Moyes and a testing through ball saw Luke Fuller score from close range at the far post. Comberton came back into the game in the final 10 minutes of the half, but had only a couple of set pieces and a narrow miss from a header to show for their efforts.

Burwell also started the second half positively, and were soon rewarded when another fine pass from midfield found Lynch, who provided a clinical finish. Unfortunately, two goal leads have not always proved to be sufficient for this entertaining Tigers team, and this looked like the case when an unfortunate own goal and a lapse of concentration left the scores tied at 2-2. However, this Tigers team is made of strong stuff, and they quickly replied with a carbon copy of their second for a second Lynch goal. Comberton continued to be competitive, and Burwell rode their luck at times, but also came close to extending their lead. The final score of a 3-2 win for the visitors was a fair result.

Top of the table Great Paxton brought their 100% winning league record to Fortress Swaffham Bulbeck, where Burwell Tigers had not been beaten this season.

With both teams knowing that they needed a quick start, Tigers got into their game the quicker, their excellent midfield pairing of Dominic King and Joe Moyes dominating. The lively Ryan Lynch and Michael Widdall found themselves creating plenty of space against a defence that had only conceded 8 league goals all season. Before long, a pinpoint Jordan Wilkinson corner was met at the near post for a powerful Widdall header to give the home team a deserved 1-0 lead. The visiting goalkeeper made some excellent saves to deny a number of Burwell players, and at the other end Michael Mitchell protected Tigers’ lead with one particularly fine save. Great Paxton came into the game more towards the end of the first half, and managed to score from a corner with the last kick of the half to see the teams share a 1-1 half-time score-line.

This U16 KO Cup quarter-final saw 3rd in the League table Burwell visit 2nd placed Royston, the home team having won their last 8 games.

The visitors started brightly, Dominic King and Joe Moyes dominating midfield but with the entire Team contributing in a pulsating Cup tie. Their back four coped well with a potent home strike force, notably the solid central pairing of Max Bromley and the excellent James Bursford. Anything getting through was coped with adequately by goalkeeper Michael Mitchell, and it was no surprise when his long clearance followed by some more great work by Luke Fuller on the right and an accurate cross was despatched efficiently by Michael Widdall to give Tigers a deserved 1-0 lead. Tigers continued to control play for much of the first half without extending their lead.

The home team came more into the game in the second half, although a strong wind made play scrappy at times. With only two minutes left on the clock, the Burwell defence made their first (and only) mistake, a good through ball latched on to by a Royston attacker to create a good goal and take these two competitive teams into Extra Time.

Both teams had opportunities to score in Extra Time, probably the best falling to Burwell. Continued good work by the Tigers defence, including one particularly fine challenge by sole substitute Luke Hudson, meant that there was no further score and the inevitable penalty shoot out. All of the Burwell penalty takers were volunteers, the first to convert was Jamie Lebbon and another well taken effort by Widdall gave Tigers a slender 2-1 lead. A fine save by Mitchell gave the opportunity to King to win the game, which he did with some style, much to the delight of his Team-mates and their loyal travelling supporters.

After a period of irregular football and a disappointing loss against A Division competition in the Cup, Burwell welcomed to Fortress Bulbeck the Godmanchester team that they had already lost to earlier in the season.

It was a hot welcome, however, as the Home Team were quickly into their best game, incisive play from wingers Ali Edgar and Jordan Wilkinson feeding the lively Ryan Lynch and Michael Widdall, playing in an unaccustomed forward position. Sadly for the hosts, despite completely controlling the game they entered the break at 0-0, their closest effort a well-struck penalty brilliantly saved by the visiting keeper.

More of the same followed in the second half, with Dominic King and Joe Moyes continuing to dominate play in midfield for Tigers. Before long, a fantastic Lynch finish, from the edge of the penalty area, swerved around defenders and keeper, saw Tigers take a 1-0 lead. All opposing attacks were comfortably coped with by the solid centre back pairing of Max Bromley and James Bursford, goalkeeper Michael Mitchell dealing well with everything put in his direction to keep a well-deserved clean sheet. Full backs Jamie Lebbon and Jack Smith coped admirably, as did covering full back Luke Hudson with more than one fine saving tackle.

It was no surprise when another through ball saw a cool Lynch finish, increasing the Tigers lead to 2-0. Shortly after Charlie Tron missed narrowly with a powerful header, but soon made amends by starting the move of the match, setting Widdall free to make an accurate cross for Lynch to complete his hat trick and a well deserved 3-0 win for the home team. Hopefully a good foundation for the coming week’s KO Cup Quarter Final match at Royston.

Visiting a competitive Girton team, from whom they had only taken a single point in their previous two league matches this season, Burwell were also suffering from injuries, illness and forgetfulness for this important second round KO Cup match.

A nervous start for the visitors, with their first three centre backs unavailable Charlie Tron and Michael Widdall soon got stuck in to their task. End to end stuff, and chances at both ends, the lively Ryan Lynch again proved a handful for Tigers. In central midfield Dominic King, Joe Moyes and the adaptable Luke Hudson gradually took control of the quality midfield possession, but without any meaningful possession the visitors were happy to go into the break and re-group with the scores level at 0-0.

Tigers started off much more positively in the second half, Widdall combining well with King and the excellent Moyes in central midfield, and very quickly forced a penalty which was converted by Lynch. An injury to Moyes saw the visitors down to 11 fit players, but the Team continued to battle against an equally competitive opposition. Wide players Jordan Wilkinson and Alex Youngs caused the home defence serious problems, the latter forcing an excellent save from the Girton goalkeeper. Wing backs Jamie Lebbon and Jack Smith attacked with every opportunity, but also had to be strong in defence with the returning Max Bromley joining Tron. Girton were a threat to the end, a couple of goal-line clearances and some good work from goalkeeper Michael Mitchell keeping his goal intact.

On the coldest day of the season so far, Burwell welcomed to Fortress Bulbeck an Aztecs team that they had struggled to beat earlier in the season. It was a warm welcome, however, as the Home Team were quickly into their game, partly helped by a breeze behind them. The midfield trio of Dominic King, Joe Moyes and Michael Widdall dominated play, allowing wings James Bursford and Jordan Wilkinson to get forward at will, with the lively Ryan Lynch again proving more than a handful up front. Tigers took an early lead when a good through ball saw Lynch outpace the visiting defence and produce a cool finish. Not long afterwards, Lynch added a second from a similar move.

Part way through the first half the game was almost ruined when home goalkeeper Michael Mitchell made a fine save at the feet of an attacker, only for the visitors to take advantage and score a goal while the keeper lay injured on the ground. Mitchell had to leave the pitch, his place taken by the adaptable Jordan King, who handled comfortably every subsequent attack not dealt with by his efficient defence. Tigers renewed their fierce attacking play and Lynch added two more goals to his tally in the first half, before Bursford added another to make the half time score 5-1 to the home team.

With players starting to return from injury, Burwell took a full team plus subs to Girton but still had some players playing out of position for their first visit this season to Girton.

A nervous start with early pressure from the home side, it was a little against the run of play when Tigers took the lead with their first attack, good work from Jordan Wilkinson seeing the lively Ryan Lynch finish well. Burwell settled well and dominated the game for long periods, Girton relying on an active work-rate, the long ball and quick counter attacks, one of which led to a defensive mix-up and an equalising goal. Despite this set back, Tigers continued to dominate, producing the best football. The home keeper made two spectacular saves, to deny goal-bound shots by Wilkinson and Dominic King. Eventually the pressure told and James Bursford was on hand to finish when a goalkeeping fumble fell into his path. Tigers took a 2-1 lead into half time, just about deserved on the balance of play without Tigers playing to the best of their undoubted ability.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, long periods spent in the Girton half but without Tigers being able to take advantage to put the game to bed. Fairly early on, a lapse of concentration saw Girton draw level again, and the majority of the half saw more end-to-end stuff. Girton scored their winner, from a poorly defended corner, with virtually the last kick of the match.

The second and third placed teams met when Burwell entertained a Godmanchester team that had beaten them 4-2 only a few weeks previously. A makeshift Burwell were without a number of regular members of their starting line-up, featuring a stand-in goalkeeper, and new central defensive and central midfield partnerships. However, so close to Bonfire Night, it was the Home Team that produced the fireworks from the first whistle, with a positive attacking display.

The lively Ryan Lynch proved a handful for the visiting defence throughout, and made the first goal when he forced an error from the opponent’s goalkeeper, for James Bursford to score. Godmanchester were soon back on even terms, when a corner ball was not cleared and their centre forward finished well from close range. Tigers continued to dominate the midfield, Bursford, Dominic King and Michael Widdall combining well, and deserved to regain the lead when a good corner ball could only be cleared as far as Max Bromley, who volleyed into the goal-net. Close to half time Tigers extended their lead to 3-1, when a fierce shot could only be parried into the path of Jordan Wilkinson, for another excellent goal.

The second half matched the first, with Burwell dominating possession and playing the best football. Godmanchester were a threat, however the Home defence and particularly Jordan King in goal performed extremely well. It was a fair reward when, following further good work by Lynch, a pinpoint Wilkinson cross was dispatched into the net by a powerful Bursford header.

The final ten minutes of the match were marred by the sending off of a home player for retaliation, the first time for this team who have largely been together since Under 8’s. However the remaining 10 players held out comfortably for a well-deserved victory.

Another early kick off for the Tigers to contend with, everyone hoping they could repeat last weeks excellent performance. Tigers started brightly and were controlling the pace of the game, the always lively Lynch looking dangerous from the first whistle. After 20mins of attacking Tigers found the goal they deserved, an excellent pinpoint corner from Wilkinson found Max Bromley who scored at the second attempt. For all the pressing the away side couldn’t find the second goal before half time.

Several chances went begging in the second period with the Cottenham keeper making some excellent saves to keep his side in the game. Through a sloppy 10 minute spell Cottenham came back into the match but the Tigers back line of King, Bromley , Lebbon and Smith held firm. Smith making some superb last ditch challenges.  Wilkinson put the game beyond doubt with a brilliant solo effort. Picking up the ball on the half way line beating his marker, then racing towards the oncoming keeper who saved but Wilkinson tapped home the rebound.

A severely injury-depleted Burwell were looking to maintain their good League start to the season, entertaining Newmarket Town of the Eastern Junior Alliance league in the Pye Cup. The home team started strongly, however much against the run of play Newmarket took a 1-0 lead when their quick and skilful forward players took advantage of a rare defensive error. However, Tigers continued to dominate the game, aided by a strong central midfield performance from Luke Hudson, Dominic King and Joe Moyes. The lively Ryan Lynch was more than a handful, and across the pitch the Burwell players showed their stronger appetite for the game. It was a fair reward when the scores were levelled through a well-taken Lynch goal. Burwell took the lead when a fierce shot from Lynch was deflected into the goal by a defender, and went into the half-time break with a 3-1 lead through another clinical Lynch finish. Goalkeeper Michael Mitchell made a fine point-blank save to deny Newmarket.

This Tigers side have occasionally shown that a 2 goal lead is not enough, and it looked ominous when Newmarket reduced the deficit to 3-2 very early in the second half. However, despite playing with only eleven players, some playing out of position, and with several of their more established players missing, Burwell did not collapse and carried on playing the better football. The Newmarket goalkeeper made a couple of good saves to keep the score line at 3-2. At the other end the Burwell central defence coped well with the pace of their opponent’s attackers. The final score was a well-deserved 3-2 victory to the home Team.

Injury-stricken Burwell visited Godmanchester, and did themselves no favours very early on, when a loose ball in their penalty area was not cleared and gifted the home team a soft goal. However Tigers quickly got into the game and were soon rewarded when a typically excellent Jordan Wilkinson corner was met at the far post by a fierce Max Bromley shot. There were further chances at each end, with both teams trying to play decent football, but the half-time score remained 1-1.

On balance, Burwell had the majority of quality possession in the second half, and could consider themselves a little unlucky to find themselves 4-1 down, following 3 largely breakaway goals. The home team continued to threaten, however Tigers almost dragged themselves back into the game when a fantastic Jordan King free-kick was well met by Ryan Lynch. Tigers continued to press, dominating the last quarter of the game, but through a combination of some fine goalkeeping and desperate defending, including a goal-line clearance, the final score remained a 4-2 victory to the home team.

Plenty of positive things to bring out of this game for this Burwell Tigers side, who are showing themselves capable of scoring good goals, becoming increasingly dangerous particularly at set pieces, and continuing to put in a level of commitment that will bear dividends as the season progresses.

Burwell were looking to maintain their good start to the season, and dominated play in the first half without finding a cutting edge to break through a determined Girton defence. When the home side did manage to get through the defence, the visiting goal keeper made a number of good saves to keep his goal intact.

Girton mainly relied on breakaways, and took advantage of an error from the otherwise reliable home goalkeeper and a relatively poorly defended free kick, to take a 0-2 away advantage into the half time break, largely against the run of play. The second half saw Tigers continue to dominate the game and, despite Girton continuing to defend in numbers, reduced the deficit to 1-2 when a good period of passing and attacking play saw Ali Edgar with another clinical finish.

The tone of the game changed half way through the second half, up until when play had been competitive but fair. After one Girton player was sent off for violent conduct and another Girton player booked for aggressive behaviour in the same incident, Burwell showed great character and commitment to persevere with positive attacking football, and were rewarded with a fine solo goal from Ryan Lynch.

The home team continued to press for a winner, but in the end had to make do with a share of the points.

Burwell welcomed an unbeaten Royston Eagles team to the Tigers Den, the home team dramatically affected by injury and illness, only able to field 11 mainly fit players. Tigers started nervously, not surprising perhaps with three new players having their first league starts, and a number of players forced to play out of position. However, they gradually settled and started to play the better football.

Tigers deserved to take the lead when a good passing move saw Charlie Tron put the lively Ryan Lynch into a good position, his fine cross well met by a powerful Alex Youngs shot which the visiting keeper failed to collect, leaving Jamie Lebbon to score. Not long afterwards a cleverly disguised Jordan Wilkinson cross was majestically put away by Lynch, leaving the home side with a 2-0 lead at half time.

2-0 has not always been a good enough half time lead in the past for this Tigers side, but they started the second half as they ended the first, in a positive fashion, Wilkinson forcing the ball into the net through a busy goal area to give the home team a 3-0 advantage. Royston did not make it easy, however, and managed to pull the score back to 3-1. Only the post

(twice) and some good saves from new keeper Michael Mitchell, having a sound game in only his second start despite carrying a thigh injury, kept Tigers lead at two goals. Burwell continued to play the better football, the midfield working hard to control much of the play in the centre, and were rewarded when a fierce Dom King free kick was parried by the Royston goal keeper into the path of Lebbon, to gift him a second goal and a 4-1 lead for the home team. The scoring was completed when a fine through ball from midfield allowed Lebbon to sprint clear of the visiting defence, to give him his hat trick and a slightly fortunate 5-1 victory for Burwell Tigers.

Plenty of things to build upon in this performance. Jack Smith adapted to a central defence role that he had last fulfilled at Under 9 level, combining well with Max Bromley and more inexperienced colleagues. All of the newer players made valuable contributions, Charlie Tron, Luke Hudson and not least the energetic Alex Youngs. The central midfield pairing of Dom King and Joe Moyes covered a lot of ground in controlling that part of the field.

Traditionally poor starters in Sunday morning kick-offs, top-of-the-table Tigers were again suffering from an injury crisis when they visited Aztecs for their first away match of the 2007-8 campaign. True to form, the visitors gifted Aztecs a soft goal in the first couple of minutes when the defence failed to clear a ball from the goal mouth. However, Burwell battled back and provided most of the good play during the first half. A number of good chances were narrowly missed, however Jordan Wilkinson added a fine finish to another good move, to put the visitors on level terms at half time.

A stiff breeze, bright sunshine and a hard pitch made conditions difficult, and the second half became more scrappy. Tigers took the lead when another good passing movement saw the lively Ryan Lynch through on goal for an excellent finish. Within a couple of minutes the visitors took a 3-1 lead when a Jordan King free kick was not cleared by the Aztecs defence, and newcomer Alex Youngs capped another fine performance with a well-taken goal.

Several more good chances were missed by Burwell, who did not make it easy for themselves when another poor goal reduced their lead to 3-2. However the visitors held out for a well deserved third consecutive victory to maintain their 100% winning start to the season.

A local Derby, Tigers welcomed Ely Crusaders to the Tigers Den and started brightly. The home team deservedly took the lead when Jack Smith sent the lively Ryan Lynch on the attack, with the latter¹s cross volleyed into the goal net by Ali Edgar. Whilst Burwell had the balance of play just in their favour, Ely continued to compete, and took control after an unfortunate injury to the excellent Michael Widdall. Two goals for the visitors saw them go into the half-time break with a 2-1 lead that could easily have been more.

The match continued to be very competitive, and Burwell dragged themselves back into the game when another excellent Jordan Wilkinson corner kick was put into the goal with a powerful Max Bromley header. Tigers continued to press for a winner and were rewarded when James Bursford was the first to reach a cleverly disguised Jamie Lebbon free kick, his header just evading the visiting keeper.

The Ely team worked hard throughout the match and whilst, on balance, Burwell were good value for their victory it could well have been a different outcome. Solid debuts from Luke Hudson and new goalkeeper Michael Mitchell were among the bright points, including committed performances from all of the Burwell midfielders.