MARK Tallentire hopes that Burnham can put a shock exit from the FA Cup behind them when Shortwood United visit The Gore this Saturday (3pm ko), writes Rob Stevens.

 

The Blues were dumped out of the cup by Hellenic League Division One West club Hook Norton after a 4-2 (aet) preliminary round replay defeat on Tuesday evening.
The original tie ended 1-1 at The Bourne on Saturday.
Tallentire believes that Burnham had enough quality to win in midweek, despite going down to nine men, but he admits his team could not turn their superiority into goals.
He told the Observer: "We were expected to go through but came up against a good side and you can't write it up any more than that.
"I felt that we could do the job back at our place and it was like The Alamo at times. We created numerous opportunities but couldn't turn our superiority into goals, and that's the currency in football.
"We deserved to win in normal time on Tuesday, and over the two games I would argue that we shaded it. We had enough about us and were looking to get the result, but we didn't have that little bit of luck that we needed.
"The referee definitely swung the game in extra time but I'm not making any excuses because we should be beating sides like Hook Norton really. That was the disappointing thing.
"Callum Whitty was sent off for a professional foul but he jumped out of the way knowing the bloke was going to throw himself to the floor. The referee fell for the simulation and was very quick, too quick, to bring out the card.
"Dave Fenton was then sent off and we were chasing the game with nine men in the last five minutes.
"The team that got their noses in front was always going to have the upper hand, and Hook Norton made it difficult for us.
"We shouldn't be losing to step six sides but Graham Malcolm (manager of Flackwell Heath) was there watching and said they were one of the best teams he has ever seen at that level."
Burnham host Shortwood in a league fixture this Saturday before making the short trip to rival club Slough Town in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup first round next Tuesday (7.45pm).
Tallentire said: "September was always going to be a hard month for us and we've got a tough run of games coming up now but I'm glad about that because it will make us work that little bit harder.
"It's nice to have a little bit of info on Shortwood and we will try to tighten-up a little bit because I feel defensively we've lost our way.
"We need to tighten up the nuts and bolts and give ourselves more of a structure to go on and win games.
"I hope the players will get the FA Cup out of their system and come back fresh and ready to get some points on the board against Shortwood."