Didcot maintained their excellent recent FA Cup record by progressing to the third qualifying round for the third time in four seasons after a 2-1 victory over Burnham.

The Railwaymen’s odd-goal victory was a shade more comfortable than the margin suggests as ten-man Burnham, the higher league visitors, only scored with moments remaining.

Didcot, as underdogs, needed to start well and went in front within the first four minutes.

Pablo Haysham and static defending were the ingredients to the goal, a short throw allowing the frontman to glide from out on the left into a central position, before rifling the ball into the top corner.

The Railwaymen were getting some joy down Burnham’s right, Sam Parish drilling in two efforts at goal, one stinging the palms of keeper Sam Southerden, the other narrowly clearing the right-hand angle of post and crossbar.

At the other end, the Blues had a penalty appeal turned down and James Dobson also fired into the side-netting.

The hosts needed to make their superiority count while Burnham were slowly getting into the game, so a second goal just before the half-hour mark was timely.

Louis Joyce excellently trapped a long ball and released Haysham.

The opening was worked and a pass across the Burnham six-yard box was tapped in from short range by Nick Thorne.

Didcot should have stret-ched their lead six minutes after the restart.

A quick counter-attack allowed the influential Haysham to play Jemaine Ferreira into a one-on-one with keeper Southerden, who made a fine block.

But Burnham were guilty of a far worse miss shortly afterwards.

A high ball into the penalty area was unconvincingly dealt with by young keeper Keiran Beesley and Tom Willment was presented with a golden chance five yards out.

However, he blazed his effort well over the bar.

Willment’s afternoon was curtailed when he was dismissed in the 64th minute. The Burnham midfielder’s challenge on Michael McKirnan for a 50-50 ball was late, but probably did not warrant the 15-man fracas that followed.

Lewis Driver screwed a header into the side-netting and was also denied by an outstanding block by Jack Longford before Burnham did eventually pull a goal back in injury time. A neat move culminated in Danny Burnell finding space to stroke home a calm finish.

Didcot: Beesley, Longford, Parish, Meade, Carnell, Williams (Morris 68), Ferreira, McKirnan, Joyce (Blenford 82), Haysham (Janes 87), Thorne. Subs not used: Mills, Tucker.

Attendance: 103.