IN THEIR first real promotion clash of the campaign Farnborough slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Burnham at Cherrywood Road.

Boro have dispatched the division’s weaker teams with some style so far this season, notably in their 6-0 and 5-0 wins over Newport IOW and Slough.

But against some tough, organised teams who battle for every ball and are intent on grinding out victory, Boro are starting to look a little vulnerable.

Last week Windsor & Eton came to Farnborough, put ten men behind the ball and hit Boro on the break to send them crashing out of the FA Trophy.

It was a similar tale on Saturday as Burnham's sheer determination saw them out-muscle Boro and score two breakaway goals.

Boro manager Andy Clement made three changes to the side that thrashed Newport in mid-week, with Luke Evans, Ian Oliver and Neville Roach all starting.

Boro almost made the perfect start just two minutes in, when Ray Spence beat his man on the right and whipped a cross to the back post.

Mark Gamble arrived, but with the goal gaping his diving header flashed inches wide when it seemed easier to score.

Boro were dominating possession but the commitment of the Burnham players was plain to see with some crunching tackles.

On 17 minutes Roach latched on to a Spence cross, but his flicked header flew just wide, and ten minutes later Roach had another chance, lashing a volley across the goal.

Boro had a huge shout for a penalty after 30 minutes, when Gamble dinked a ball over the keeper and Spence smashed a shot a goal.

A Burnham defender threw himself at the ball and appeared to turn it behind with his hand, but the referee ignored Boro’s furious claims, and three minutes later the visitors were ahead.

Oliver’s freekick midway inside the Burnham half was cleared to striker Leon Yarnie and he was allowed to run forward unchecked by Oliver and Evans.

As Evans backed off Yarnie easily placed the ball inside the far post from the edge of the area with a tame effort to stun the home fans.

Boro tried to pick themselves up before half time, and came so close to an equaliser when Thurgood clipped a ball into the area and Roach’s header crashed off the underside of the bar and was hacked away.

After the break Boro had possession for long periods of the game but Burnham were defending resolutely and they struggled to break through.

Nic Ciardini almost levelled the game with ten minutes to go, when his shot was well saved and on 83 minutes their best chance came and went, when Spence lifted a cross to the back post and Evans misguided an easy header wide of the goal.

A minute later, the game was over.

A long ball was misjudged by skipper Dave Woozley, and lively striker Byron Bubb, the league’s top goalscorer, nipped past Evans, rounded Lyall Beazley and slotted home Burnham’s second goal to kill the game.

See Tuesday's Farnborough Mail for the full report, match stats and reaction.