U18s REPORT: BURNLEY 1-2 EVERTON

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Young Clarets fall to defeat against Toffees at Gawthorpe as winning run comes to an end

2021-10-02T16:00:00.000Z

U18s REPORT: BURNLEY 1-2 EVERTON

Young Clarets fall to defeat against Toffees at Gawthorpe as winning run comes to an end

2021-10-02T16:00:00.000Z

U18s FACE PARTNER CLUB AYR IN MID-SEASON FRIENDLY - Image 1

Tony Philliskirk and the youth team were beaten 2-1 by Everton at the training ground in the U18 Northern Premier League, a result which brings a run of three consecutive victories in all competitions to an end.

As he had done a fortnight earlier against the same opponents in the U18 Premier League Cup, Michael Mellon fired the Clarets ahead. This time around, two goals either side of half time saw the visitors leave with three points.

Having seen an effort go just wide in the opening stages of the game, Mellon made no mistake from the penalty spot on the quarter-of-an-hour mark when presented with the opportunity to give Burnley the lead.

Kade Ratchford threaded the ball through to Will Couch with the latter being brought down by Everton goalkeeper Zan-Luk Leban, and when the referee awarded the spot kick, Mellon tucked home.

A period of stability followed, with Clarets’ ‘keeper Charlie Casper yet to be properly tested, but a quick set piece from the visitors on 32 minutes had them level as Jenson Metcalfe curled a shot into the back of the net from the left-edge of the area.

Young Clarets come from behind to earn point on return to league action at Gawthorpe

Burnley defender Jack Leckie headed narrowly over the bar just before half time, but the sides went into the break level, and the Clarets opted for their first change of the game. Sean Etaluku made his return to the side off the bench, replacing Will Hugill.

After a cagey start to the second half, it was Everton who grabbed the all-important goal that turned out to be the winner. Martin Sheriff tapped the ball into the back of the net from close range to hand the visitors the lead with 35 minutes left.

Mellon went close with a free-kick shortly after which would have given Philliskirk’s side an almost instant response. And when Tremaine Eastmond came off the bench to partner Mellon, both saw efforts go agonisingly wide in quick succession.

Ryan Tioffo also came on as the Clarets final substitute as the youth team searched for a way back into the game, but despite Mellon’s final effort of the game producing a good save from Leban, it ended in defeat for Burnley.

Burnley: Casper, Leckie, McCullough, Bauress (Tioffo 77’), Sassi, Ward, Couch, Coppack, Ratchford (Eastmond 71’), Mellon, Hugill (Etaluku HT)

Subs: Moss, Williams

Young Clarets travel to Somerset Park this evening prior to international break

Post-match at Gawthorpe, boss Philliskirk was disappointed with the defeat but pleased with the overall performance levels of his players:

“We came into the game in real good spirits on the back of three victories, and in some of those games, things went for us that didn’t go for us today, but we make no excuses.

“We’ve won games this season already where it’s been nip and tuck, and it was like that again today, but we were just on the wrong end of the result.

“We just want the lads to give us everything that they can in every single game that we play, and today they’ve done that again, so I’ve got nothing but praise for them.

“We conceded two sloppy goals which we’ll look at, but it just didn’t fall for us in the final third.

“The lads – I can tell – are disappointed with getting beat and rightly so, but that’s football, it’s swings and roundabouts.

“I’m going away from here thinking that it was a very good game which we learned a lot from. Out of it, there are plenty of positives to take and we have to take them.”