BURNHAM FC boss Gary Meakin has hailed the 2-0 win at Hitchin Town on Monday as one of the best performances of the season.

The Blues needed a replay to eliminate Hitchin from the FA Trophy after the original first qualifying round tie ended in a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Meakin told the Observer that Burnham should have won at The Gore, but says they used it a momentum to finish the job in midweek.

He said: “It was a rubbish game on Saturday because each team cancelled the other out, but I think we dominated both if I’m honest.

“I’m pleased that we have won and I would put it in the bracket of our best performance in terms of discipline and our shape.

“It was another game where we kept the opposition at arms length, and it feels like we are getting something over to the players.

“After all the listening and hard work in training the players are taking things on board.

“The boys just want to get out and play football, and they have been carrying things out in terms of how we set up.

“Sometimes you’ve got to be more disciplined and the players have had to sacrifice for the team.

“I’m happy that we’re winning games of football. We’re starting to build momentum and that comes from winning matches.

“We have been finding out about characters and I felt that it was coming because it had to at some point.

“It is an important win for the club because the prize money (£2,700) will go a long way.” Hitchin opened the scoring at The Gore when Ben Walster fired home a penalty midway through the first-half.

Burnham levelled in the second period as Tom O’Regan beat four defenders and slotted the ball into the goal.

The home side took the lead in the 74th minute when Nikke Kabamba slammed home after a partial save from the Hitchin keeper.

But Hitchin forced a replay two minutes from time as Charlie Smith netted from 20-yards.

The Blues took the lead on Monday when Kofi Lockhart-Adams slotted home on 39 minutes after great build-up play out of defence.

The visitors secured the tie in the 79th minute as Kabamba latched onto a long clearance from Alex Lynch to outwit the Histon stopper.

Burnham have been rewarded with a second qualifying round tie away at Weymouth on November 15 (3pm ko).

They return to Southern Premier Division action with a visit to Poole Town tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm) and Meakin admits both fixtures will be tough.

He said: “Poole and Weymouth are games where we can go and express ourselves but it will be a bonus to get anything from them.

“We’re setting up quite defensively at the moment, I’ve got no choice with only 13 fit players, but we are scoring goals.

“We’re limited to what we can do but we will be hard to beat and hopefully Poole will know that they’ve been in a game.” **PICK up a copy of the Observer, out now, for all the latest sports news and action including pictures from Burnham versus Hitchin** **FOLLOW the Observer on Twitter at @Observer_sports**