BRACKNELL Town FC kept their first clean sheet of the season on Tuesday when winning 2-0 at Burnham in the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup, writes Dave Wright.

And the Robins achieved it without a regular keeper.

Chris Grace felt unwell with a stomach problem during the warm-up and was replaced by centre-back Callum Whitty.

Whitty wasn’t overworked by a team that have lost every game this season, but he was forced to make a couple of saves late in the tie.

“They were two great stops; Callum acquitted himself really well and earned his clean sheet, which was fantastic,” said manager Mark Tallentire.

“It’s sod’s law that we keep our first clean sheet without our regular keeper. That was a big plus for us.”

Whitty’s place in the side went to Taylor Sheehan, who was originally named on the substitutes bench.

The 17-year-old central defender, who has come up through the club’s junior ranks, has recently had a trial with League Two side Crewe Alexandra.

“He played a couple of games for them,” said Tallentire.

“He is back with us, but they are going to keep monitoring him.

“Taylor is a very assured and accomplished young player. He didn’t look out of place out there.”

Sheehan, playing alongside experienced skipper Carl Davies, didn’t put a foot wrong on Tuesday.

The Robins manager added: “There were some great individual performances tonight and I was pleased with the way we played as a team and the tempo we played at.

“We were a bit like our old selves, more so than we were on Saturday (2-1 win at Longlevens).”

Bracknell had won 5-2 at The Gore in a league game last month, but were given a much tougher test this week, with ex-Burnham manager Tallentire commenting: “They have improved 10-fold compared to when we last played here.”

Robins won the tie with two fine goals.

Adam Cornell crashed in a left-footer from the edge of the area after six minutes and midway through the second half TJ Bohane volleyed home a left-wing cross from John Gray.

“They were quality goals,” commented Tallentire.

Both came against different keepers. Joe Broadley started in goal for the hosts, but just before the half-hour mark he raced out of his area to slide tackle Khalid Senussi close to the touchline. He caught his studs in the turf, turned his ankle and was carried off on a stretcher.

Defender Paul Abbott took over between the posts and, despite his lack of inches, performed well, making one particularly good save from Cornell late in the match.

Bracknell, now unbeaten in 11 league and cup games, travel to Royal Wootton Bassett this Saturday.

Alex Rodrigues, who didn’t play at Burnham, is likely to return, but Dave Hancock looks set to miss out after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

The Robins are home to Brackley Town Saints at Sandhurst on Tuesday.

Ascot United join Bracknell in the next round of the Floodlit Cup following an excellent 1-0 win over a Thame side still unbeaten in the Premier Division.

Being forced to field under-strength sides these days, the Yellamen ended a run of three successive defeats thanks to a 68th-minute goal from Jesse Wilson, heading home a Jack Smillie corner.

Earlier, brother Luke Wilson had rattled the Thame crossbar.

The Ascot team included youth team starlet Tom Wensley, the 46th player they have used this season.

United visit Burnham this Saturday before entertaining Oxford City Nomads at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday.

Binfield are out of the Floodlit Cup after losing 4-2 at Oxfordshire side Ardley.

They trailed 3-0 before pulling two goals back through substitute Courtney Lawrence and Matt Jones, only to concede a fourth goal in stoppage time.