BURNHAM manager Paul Shone expects his side to learn from their 2-0 defeat at Sandhurst Town in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy on Saturday, writes Rob Stevens.

Sandhurst won the quarter-finals tie at Bottom Meadow thanks to goals in the second-half from Patrick Gardner and former Holyport striker Paul Rake.

Shone is disappointed his side has exited the Senior Trophy having targeted success in the competition this season, but he admits the Blues were not good enough as an attacking threat.

He told the Observer: "We had been in terrific form in the final third but were nowhere near good enough and Sandhurst scored two goals to progress, so credit to them.

"I'm disappointed to lose because it's a competition we prioritised quite high and one we were looking to win.

"It wasn't a good performance in the final third and, looking back on the chances we created, it was virtually zero. We weren't up to our usual standards.

"There was no Lucas Sinclair and Ollie Harris was unavailable, plus we had a few injuries, but put that aside because the team we put out was good enough to win.

"In terms of possession, we probably had about 85 per cent but that counts for nothing when you can't score. I would rather be like Sandhurst and have 15 per cent but win.

"Sandhurst deserved to win because we didn't have the quality up front and couldn't break them down."

Shone added: "We will put it to bed and learn from it. Sometimes you learn more from a defeat rather than winning all of the time.

"We've not been used to losing of late and it has been three months since the last one, so we will have to react when we're back in league action."

Burnham return to action in Hellenic Division One East with a trip to AFC Aldermaston this Saturday (3pm) and Shone admits you do not always know what you will get from your hosts.

He explained: "Aldermaston are always a tough side and it's always a tough place to go, but we've got to bounce back with a win in the league and I'm sure we will.

"Aldermaston are a funny side because you don't always know what you will get from them team-wise, so we are just going to prepare ourselves for what we're going to do.

"Aldermaston have always been good as individuals but it's whether or not they can click on the day. That has always been a thing for them. If they click they can be exceptional, so we've got to be prepared for that."

The Blues have a 13 point lead at the top of the table with nine league matches still to play this season although Shone does not believe it is theirs to lose yet.

He said: "Thame have still got games in hand so there will be twists and turns.

"We're not thinking past the next game and that has been our motto from day one.

"It's a good position to be in and I would not change it, but we've got to keep on going and take each game as it comes."