Expectation levels rise at Burnham Ramblers (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Expectation levels rise at Burnham Ramblers

4:45pm Thursday 13th December 2012 in Local Sport

BURNHAM Ramblers boss Keith Wilson admits expectation levels have risen since his side hit top spot in the Essex Senior League.

The Leslie Field pace-setters have a five-point lead at the summit, having been held to a 1-1 draw at home to Barkingside on Saturday.

But while disappointed not to take maximum points, Wilson felt the draw could prove a valuable result come the end of the season.

“Expectation levels have definitely risen and why not?” said the Ramblers boss.

“We’ve got our targets and, as things stand right now, we’re on target to achieve them.

“People will expect us to keep winning, because we’re top, but I don’t think we should be too disappointed to only draw on Saturday.

“Barkingside are a very decent side and it could prove a useful point.

“It would have been nice to extend our lead at the top but we’re no worse off, as (second-placed) Great Wakering also drew, at Clapton.

“Teams will come here with a heartened desire to win, because of where we are in the table, and they’ll want to play well on our outstanding pitch.

“But that goes with the territory of being top and it’s something we’ve got to get used to.”

Ramblers have another home game on Saturday, against Barking.

Meanwhile, Burnham are through to the semi-finals of the League Knockout Cup.

They lost 2-1 in last week’s quarter-final second leg, but still went through 3-2 on aggregate.

The draw for the semi-finals will take place on January 16.